BOE anticipates septic system’s completion, reviews safety plan

WEBUTUCK — Ready to move forward with projects to benefit the North East (Webutuck) School District, the Webutuck Board of Education (BOE) reviewed the next steps for installing a new septic system in the Eugene Brooks Intermediate School (EBIS)/Webutuck High School (WHS) building as well as the updates made to the district-wide safety plan on Monday, Sept. 16.

During a presentation by the school district’s architect, Tetra Tech Architects & Engineers, the BOE learned that the New York State Department of Health granted the approvals needed to proceed with the design for the new septic system, which was designed in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s recommendation. At this time, the district expects to begin working on the septic system’s installation once school is out for the summer with completion anticipated for next summer. 

Under the agenda’s personnel section, the BOE reviewed and approved the safety plans designed for the Webutuck Elementary School building and the EBIS/WHS building. According to Webutuck Business Administrator Robert Farrier, the plans were specific as to what the district and each school building would do in response to an emergency in the school district. Details pertaining to the plans shall remain confidential at this time.

Regarding the district-wide safety plan, Farrier said the plan would address the safety components that the district would follow in the event of an emergency or natural disaster as well as any incidents of criminal activity or intruders in the school district.

“Of course the safety of the students and staff are the foremost things, so we’re constant in reviewing the plan for ways to improve,” Farrier said on a later date. “It always focuses on how we can safely get the students and the staff in a classroom where they are least vulnerable from any incident.”

While he was unable to disclose specific details related to the plan’s updates, he noted that the district has been looking at access points in terms of where the students and staff would go in the event of an emergency. A public hearing will be arranged in the future to give community members an opportunity to review and comment on the plan.