Schools

Malverne Gets Approval For Davison Bond Project

Continues work on high school and middle school athletic facilities.

The Malverne School District recently received the green light from New York State to move forward with a plan to renovate one of its elementary school buildings.

"We got state approval for [Intermediate School] and expect [Primary School] any day now," Malverne Superintendent James Hunderfund told Patch Tuesday.

Hunderfund explained that this development allows the district to send out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the work that will be performed at Davison and begin accepting bids from contractors.

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The plans for Davison Avenue School include the construction of a new cafeteria (moving it out of the basement) upgrades to the kitchen and renovations to the basement. Elevators will also be installed, along with other features, to make the building conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The funds from the bond would also be used to replace the exterior doors, repair steps and ramps, and improve other basic components of the building to make them safer and function more efficiently.

Throughout the building, classrooms and libraries will also be revamped to better acommodate the older students (Grades 3 and 4) that now occupy the building (Grades K-2 are now consolidated at Downing) and the fifth graders who will be moving in next fall.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The project is part of a $14.1 million capital bond that residents approved in November 2010. It contains two parts - Proposition #1, which addresses crucial repairs and rennovations at the elementary school buildings, and Propositon #2, which includes improvements for the high school and middle school athletic facilities.

Earlier this month, construction crews began working on the first phase of Proposition #2, which received state approval earlier this year. They are currently installing a turf field at Malverne High School, and giving the practice fields a much-needed makeover. The district expects the football field to be completed by Sept. 15. Installation of new bleachers and a press box, renovations to the locker rooms at the high school and middle school, and repairs to the tennis and basketball courts should be done by Nov. 1.

Spiro Colaitis, the assistant superintendent for District Operations, had been overseeing the construction, along with a the district recently hired. However, Colaitis, a Navy reservist, was recently called to duty.

Hunderfund said Colaitis will need to spend two weeks in Greece on assignment, but Tom McDaid, the district's business administrator, is "filling in on the facilities side."

Stay with Patch for more updates on the bond projects.


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