Summer capital projects are already underway in Huntington UFSD. Some of the work is outdoors and visible to passersby while other initiatives are hidden from the public eye, such as asbestos abatement at J. Taylor Finley Middle School.
“There is a significant volume of capital work underway this summer following $7 million in approvals in May 2018,” Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “This will include noticeable infrastructure (e.g. roof) and security (e.g. vestibule) improvements, as well as a restructuring of the Woodhull parking lot and the Finley large group instruction (LGI) room. We thank in advance those visiting our buildings during July and August for their patience and understanding.”
The Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School’s outdoor basketball courts were renovated this week, with a thick layer of new asphalt put in place. The district will later stripe the area to create three full court playing areas. New nets will be hung from each of the six baskets currently in place.
A new four foot high fence extends from the corner of the building and surrounds the courts. Plans are in place to install a thick nylon net stretching along the parking area for several feet above the top of the new fence to protect cars parked along the courts.
The STEM school’s south parking field has also been repaved. It, too, will be completely restriped for parking spaces by district personnel. A new eight foot high fence and new gates have been installed along the south side of the property to improve security.
The renovated court area will be used by physical education classes, students at recess and possibly secondary grade level athletic teams for after school practice on days when field conditions would otherwise force teams to move indoors.
The entire parking field at Woodhull Intermediate School is being replaced along with sidewalks and curbs. All of it is original to school, which opened in January 1967.
Work began within hours of dismissal last Wednesday. Existing curbs and sidewalks were removed by heavy machinery. The areas were prepped and new cement reinforced with rebar was poured into the forms.
Support beams holding the front canopy in place were also reinforced where needed. A new security vestibule is scheduled to be installed outside Woodhull’s existing front doors this summer.
The current north auxiliary parking field consisting of bluestone will also be paved with asphalt to improve its functionality.
Two new modern boilers have been installed at Woodhull, replacing units that were more than 50 years old. The district expects the new boilers to be more reliable and efficient.
The work is being overseen by George Austin, the district’s lead operations manager.
