PANAMA — Following a recent special meeting and vote, Panama Central School is moving ahead with its planned capital improvement project.

The project will focus on two main areas at the school: the main entrance and the cafeteria. Superintendent Aaron Wolfe said the plan is to focus on security for the main entrance, specifically turning it from a single entrance to a double.

“Most schools have a double secure entrance, which means there are two sets of doors that are locked,” Wolfe said. “We currently have a single entrance and we will be renovating that to a more secure, double entry.”

Wolfe said this will mean guests to the school will come in through the first set of doors, be checked in and vetted, and then allowed entrance. There will also be safety film installed on windows.

The second area of focus for the district’s capital project is the cafeteria and kitchen areas.

“We will be doing a complete renovation of the cafeteria and kitchen,” Wolfe said. “It will be updating some areas that are generally in need of improvement. It will also change the flow of food service, allowing us to serve more students more quickly.”

Additionally, the cafeteria is set to be changed to a “warmer environment,” including changes such as replacing some fold up tables with booths. Wolfe said the project focuses on safety and security, while also allowing for the cafeteria to become an improved public space that students, staff and guests can benefit from.

“The project will also result in no tax increases for the community,” Wolfe said. “The focus is on increasing the safety of our buildings.”

The project will partially be financed by $300,000 from the district’s capital improvements reserve fund.

A tentative timeline at the moment sees the school continuing to work on the overall plans with the architects as the next step. Wolfe said the plan is to have everything submitted to the New York State Department of Education by the end of May or beginning of June 2024. It usually takes 16 to 18 weeks for approval, but Wolfe said it can take up to 28 weeks.

“We hope to be approved by December 2024,” Wolfe said. “In 2025, we want to start bidding for contractors and break ground for construction and demolition in April 2025.”

The district hopes the project, if approved, is finished by December 2025.