Emergency repairs underway at elementary school

The main topic of discussion at the Pine Plains Board of Education meeting Sept. 17 was the continued efforts to repair deteriorating masonry on the front and rear of the Seymour Smith Elementary School building. Assistant Superintendent Michael Goldbeck gave the board a progress report.

Already the contractor’s crew has removed loose pieces of stone, enhanced overhead protection for pedestrians and has increased perimeter fencing. Engineers have also designed waterproof structures to protect more susceptible parts of the building from poor weather.

In a previous interview with The Millerton News, district Superintendent Linda Kaumeyer said “four capstones on the top needed to be removed. They were loose because water had gone into some of the bricks of the capstones.�

The masonry capstones are on older sections in the rear of the building, which was built in the 1930s.

Last May, school district residents voted down a $3.29 million capital project referendum that included masonry and drainage repair. The decision forced the school board members to approve $200,000 for emergency repairs to the building last month.

As for future plans, the structural engineer wants to probe additional parapet walls and reexamine already-repaired areas to ensure the same problems won’t need to be addressed again. Observation and testing of the extent of deterioration would be used to complete repair estimates.

The district’s attorneys will take a look at the proposed contract, and, if approved, structural engineer Ryan Biggs will proceed with the studies and tests that will determine the cost estimates for a long-term repair plan. The district hopes that complete repair plans will be available for board and voter consideration as soon as possible.

Also in talks at the meeting Wednesday night were two proposals for a study of the costs and benefits of consolidating the elementary students in one building. This is a companion proposal to the recommendations of the Elementary Facilities Utilization Committee. The board asked for additional cost and reference information and will review the issue again at the next meeting.