Southold School District broke ground this afternoon on a $9,765,750 capital improvement project that will upgrade security features, reconfigure classroom spaces and add a synthetic turf multi-sport athletic field and track.
Southold School Superintendent David Gamberg led the proceedings, which took place on the Richard M. Osmer Memorial Field.
“Given what’s going on in the world and even in our country,” Gamberg said, “It’s worth noting how grateful I am both personally and professionally, expressing gratitude to the taxpayers and community members of Southold, who I believe are very wise to protect their investment in their schools and in their community.”
“It’s my hope and expectation that what we begin today in this official ground breaking is in fact an investment,” he said. “An investment in the future of the young people of Southold and an investment for everyone. We stand here on the athletic fields and this is but one part of an interior/exterior capital project that will improve the health and safety of our students, staff and community members.”
School board president Paulette Ofrias thanked her fellow board members and added, “I’m really excited about the next chapter of where our school is going to go. It couldn’t have happened without our community support all the time, year after year after year.”
The event was attended by school board members, administrators, teachers, members of the student council and representatives from the project team.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity to see the enhancement, the growth and the development that’s taken place to support our students with their overall learning, sportsmanship and so much more,” said William Galati, Southold Jr. Sr. High School principal.
The capital improvement project, which the district will offset the cost of by using $2 million from a capital reserve account, consists of the following components:
Junior-Senior High School
• security upgrades to doors, cameras and technology
• upgrades to tech lab, library media center, TV studio and computer lab
• convert gym equipment storage to weight room
• refurbish ROTC classroom
• upgrades to art room and photo studio
• renovate cafeteria/dining area
Elementary School
• security upgrades to doors, cameras and technology
• upgrades to library media center
• creation of flexible learning spaces
• reconfigure computer lab and update interior finishes
• exterior reconstruction work of fascia
Districtwide
• addition of six-lane track and synthetic turf multi-sport athletic field with organic infill
• parking lot reconstruction
• upgrade parking lot lighting
• new voice over IP phone system
• outdoor dining area pergola
SoutholdLOCAL photos by Katharine Schroeder
