Board of Education discusses auditorium, security and gymnasium work

PINE PLAINS — Along with preparing for next year’s budget, the Pine Plains Board of Education (BOE) dedicated part of its meeting on Wednesday, March 20, to discussing its progress regarding upcoming projects and contracts.

As an update on the energy performance contract, Pine Plains Superintendent of Schools Martin Handler said the solar panels and conduit have been delivered to the district and will be set up along the Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School roof and along the side of the school building. 

Regarding the district’s auditorium renovation project, Handler reported that the seats in the junior/senior high school auditorium were removed within a two-day period. With the help of the Stissing Theatre Guild, the riggings and other similar equipment in the auditorium were taken down. At this time, the district is preparing the area with security and safety barriers; once the barriers are set up, the demolition work can begin.

In terms of security, Handler said the district is currently in the process of securing the services of True Security and is now working on negotiating prices. Included in the company’s services, he explained that True Services provides threat assessment, a process in which the company will try to infiltrate all three school buildings in the district to test its security. Next, the company will offer training to all faculty and staff members to prepare them for certain situations. Once the school district registers as a True Services client, Handler said that anytime it needs security advice, it can call True Services and receive ongoing consultation at no extra charge.

While the renovation of the junior high school gymnasium was originally included in the district’s capital improvement project, Handler said it was removed from the project when the district realized there was no way to fund it. To date, The Palombo Group has estimated the project will cost approximately $412,000.

Handler said, “Here’s the choice that the board needs to think about… We have the money in capital reserves to cover this, but once again, we need the voter approval to spend this money.”

He asked if the board wanted to put the vote for or shelve the plans, reminding BOE members that the plans were already approved by the New York State Education Department and are ready for bids. As a downside in moving forward, he acknowledged that the public has already been accommodating with previous proposals, such as the auditorium renovation project.

“I don’t want to wear out my welcome or our welcome,” Handler said, “so that’s a dilemma.”

However, he remarked that the floors will have to be replaced within the next three to five years.

BOE President Chip Couse questioned the gym’s utility, and Handler replied that both the junior and senior high school gymnasiums are used on a daily basis. Couse then asked if the BOE could arrange a walk-through to assess the situation. Handler agreed that it could be done before the next meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, after this paper went to press.