Schuylerville students, staff and community members may notice some changes on campus as the school year begins on Thursday, Sept. 5. Over the summer, contractors were busy completing the first phase of the district’s $24.7 million capital project.

“The first phase of the project involved a lot of foundation work,” said Director of Facilities Peter Riggi. “While signs of construction are visible on campus, much of the work over the summer involved taking steps to prepare for construction in phase two.”

The first phase included the relocation of the middle school generator and transformer in anticipation of construction on the middle school addition, as well as the expansion of the retention pond to accommodate additional water run-off from the roofs of the future middle and high school additions. Crews also made modifications to improve the elementary school drainage swale.

Signs of construction are visible at the former site of the administration building, where crews have begun working on the high school addition. The addition will house two new agriculture and technology classrooms featuring flexible space and a greenhouse. Crews are currently laying the foundation for the middle school addition, which will house a new music room, library, science lab and additional classrooms.

Additionally, modifications were made to the turf field entrance to ensure the safety of fans traveling between the field and the new concession stand and restrooms. The concession stand will be open throughout the year for both indoor and outdoor sporting events, as well as concerts and productions.

Phase two is now underway with construction continuing on both the middle school and high school additions. The agriculture and technology addition is scheduled to be completed in mid-December 2019, with the space available for student use after the holiday recess. Progress on the middle school addition will continue throughout the spring.

“Our focus is to keep phase two on track while being cognizant that school is back in session,” Riggi said. “We want to minimize the disruption for students and staff.”

When the agriculture and technology addition is complete, crews will begin renovating the old technology wing in the high school into the new administrative offices. Both the middle school addition and administrative offices are expected to be complete in July 2020.

The district will be posting frequent updates throughout the project to keep the community aware of progress, as well as any limitations on campus.