By Mary Malloy
The upgrades and improvements will be seen in all of the district's schools and at all grade levels. "The high school and Centre Avenue Elementary will see the bulk of the work being done now," said Dodge. "Rhame Avenue Elementary is housing all of the activities and programs for the district." Rhame Avenue hosted the driver's education course, the PAL Summer Program, Camp Invention and the new teachers orientation meeting, among other events.
East Rockaway Junior/Senior High
"At the high school, we're constructing a 14,000-square-foot, two-story wing in the back of the current building," said the school's architect, John Grillo. "This extension will provide eight additional classrooms, which may include state-of-the-art science labs and art rooms. In addition, the flooring and lighting in many parts of the building are being refurbished, and we're installing new boilers and replacing roofs."
"Bulkheads are being rebuilt in the back of the school," said Dodge. "We used to have drivers move some of their cars when it rained because the parking lot got flooded." The parking lot is also being regraded. The gymnasium will see new bleachers and locker room expansion and reconstruction.
"Most of the demolition work was finished this summer," said Michael Peck of School Construction Consultants. "Some jobs are completed, and others will be ongoing throughout next year and into the summer of 2007." A new chimney was being completed in the weeks before school was to begin.
Centre Avenue Elementary
The school has a new circular driveway in front, redesigned to make student drop-offs and pickups easier and safer. The back of the school is being readied for the construction of a new library media center and an elevator system. "Everything must be done according to code," said Project Manager Joe Grandov. "We'll be doing roofing work and adding parking spaces outside. On the inside, we've been working on new ceilings, lighting, and the second-floor balcony of the all-purpose room will be converted to add more classroom space."
Pat Poppe, an East Rockaway resident and a librarian at Centre Avenue for 17 years, stopped by the work site to see the progress. "This is watching a 17-year dream come to life," she said, gesturing to the mound of soil that will soon become the new library.
Other projects in the works for the district include the public address systems at both schools, fire alarm and window panel replacements, roof replacement phase I and II, athletic field reconstruction, electrical panel upgrades, masonry and bathroom reconstruction. Overhead lighting and ceilings have been replaced throughout the district.
According to Dodge, the Rhame Avenue School bond work will begin next summer, and will include conversions of existing internal space to classroom use, as well as roofing and other infrastructure improvements. "We tried to do the bulk of the major reconstruction for the district during the summer months when the students were out of school," said Dodge. "There will be some inconvenience, but it will be worth it."
He said school officials hope to have all the work completed by next fall.
Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
Photos by Mary Malloy/Herald
