The School Board’s study session on September 4 was devoted to a tour of the construction work that was completed at Mamaroneck High School this summer.  This work, costing approximately $7.5 million, represents the last phase of construction from the $49.7 million bond that the community approved in 2001. 

              Before I begin to describe the highlights of the tour, I want to first recognize the incredible job our staff did, not only on the work itself, but by completing it in such a relatively short time period and in time for school to start.  I do not want to mention names because I fear I will leave somebody out.  First, a tremendous thanks to our custodial staff.  They worked day and night—including the night of the tour—some for thirty days straight without a day off, to get the buildings ready.  Thank you also to our facilities department, our construction manager and our building and central administrators.

             Now, to the work.  First:  we created ten new classrooms and renovated many others (more than I could keep track of on the tour).  The new and renovated classrooms--which boast new floors, ceilings, and lights--are bright and well-lit, and will provide a favorable environment for teaching and learning.   

Second:  The APPLE program has a brand new and improved space in the old cafeteria, including three classrooms, a large group instruction area, a computer room, a conference room, and its first-ever science lab.  The space will be large enough to house our expanded APPLE program.  The historic WPA murals have been preserved and the terrazzo floors have been polished.    

Third:  The first floor of the Post building is now host to a brand new band rehearsal room and a new chorus practice area.  The choir room was not ready for us to visit, but we saw the band room, which has a spacious practice space, a large instrument storage area, and possibly what will be the most popular room--a percussion room.  This is the first time the band has had a practice area of its own; it previously used the auditorium.  

Fourth:  The Palmer building is home to a new humanities center.  The Center hosts the offices of the chairs of the English, social studies, and foreign language departments, secretarial space, and a conference room.  The Center replaces separate English, social studies, and foreign language department offices, which have been converted into extra classrooms.  

Fifth:  The offices of the central staff administrators, including the superintendent and the assistant superintendents of business, personnel, and curriculum have been moved and renovated into spaces that are much more appropriate for conducting district business.   

Looking ahead, the District filed its five year capital plan with the State Education Department in August 2005.  Since then, the building committee has been examining the findings in the plan and developing recommendations for future construction.  We expect to share the results of our work with the Board and the community at our meeting in November.

Richard Marsico