Construction FAQs

We anticipate the Phase 1 abatement to take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete, which will take place during the summer of 2025.

Phase 1 is currently scheduled to be complete by July 18, 2025.

Based on the time estimated and the asbestos scope identified, we do not foresee any issues.

We do not anticipate a need for remote instruction.  

We will follow the same protocols we use currently, and in no circumstance, will children or staff be in unsafe areas.

We are not anticipating any issues that may cause a building closure.  If there are any concerns, we will notify the staff and families. 

No, we will not abate without notifying families. Abatement will not take place while students, staff or community members are in the school building. 

We investigated  some concerns brought forth by staff. There was moisture and impacted plaster.  It was deemed safe for occupancy by the Industrial Hygienist that was retained in order to deal with this important issue. 

Construction activities follow local and national standards designed to protect everyone in the building. Qualified environmental and health experts monitor the site to identify and manage any potential risks promptly.   It does not call for daily monitoring.   

In order to ensure the safety of those in the building we are using extensive dust barriers and will be conducting frequent site inspections. We will provide the community with frequent updates on the construction progress and safety measures in order to maintain transparency and trust.

No

If there is a reason for concern, we will notify families and staff.

An environmental engineer  determines areas that will need to be addressed. Based on the findings, a plan will be developed to address these issues.

The partitions will be inspected daily.

The temporary partitions are constructed of fire-rated materials and are fully sealed at both the floor and the underside of the overhead structure. They are also infilled with sound attenuation insulation, and a sound deadening blanket will be installed on the construction side of the partition.

The district will provide filtered air purification units to each occupied classroom during the construction.

We are applying safety measures that address health and wellness needs of students, staff and the community.  

We will add filtration to classrooms.  MERV rating has yet to be determined.

Construction is scheduled to take place Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Major demolition is scheduled during the summer when the building is unoccupied. There is also an indoor air quality plan in place which includes creating a negative air environment within the construction area and filtering the exhaust air, the use of negative air machines and HEPA filtration will be used to minimize any dust migration from the construction area to the occupied area.  

Per SED regulation 155.5 60 dBA would be the maximum allowable. 

We currently have a chain of command in place which would be as follows:  your child's teacher will notify the principal who will then notify the field superintendent. The field superintendent will then cease any work exceeding the limit.

There are no historical data that we are aware of.

Arris, the construction manager, has successfully overseen many projects that have involved construction during the school day, with students and staff in the building, without issue. 
Notable examples are renovations at Kingston High School, Bedford's Fox Lane Middle School, Ossining's Park Early Education School, and AMD Middle School.

The project, as proposed,  is not deemed as unsafe. 

We explored a variety of options for our students which included Transfiguration and St. Theresa. We also discussed the option of a modular building to house students.

The district is committed to maintaining its standard of supporting students from Pre-K through 12th grade. Therefore, reducing the Pre-K program was not considered an option.

Yes, but unfortunately this was not an appropriate option for us at the time. Significant safety measures would need to be addressed along with necessary upgrades in order to utilize the facility.

Unfortunately due to space restrictions we are unable to accommodate Morse students in either JP or Tappan Hill.

We are not aware of any that would meet our existing needs, and State certification of those spaces to be suitable for PreK-12 occupancy takes time.

We are currently developing phased plans for this scope of work. A 12-classroom addition is scheduled at WI for the 2026-2027 school year, with interior renovations planned for 2027-2028.

All workers and visitors associated with the construction are required to check in at the construction trailer to receive a badge similar to entering the school building. The badging process includes a sex offender screening before being allowed on site. Workers or visitors who do not have a visible badge are removed from the site. A database will be maintained with all workers and authorized visitors.

The construction that will be occurring in the basement next to the cafeteria will take place in three areas: boiler room, exterior alleyway, and the classroom addition.

Given that first grade parents will have a walk-through of Tappan Hill-and that Morse parents have previously requested one-will the district schedule a walk-through of Morse for second grade parents to see what areas will be walled off and where partitions will be placed while our children are in the building?   

Yes.
 

 We will dedicate time in mid/late August 

The pathway to and from the playground is not changing from the current.

The HEPA filtered exhaust of the negative air system will be located towards the rear of the construction staging area or back of the building and will not impact play areas. 

No cleaning of the playground or fields will be required. All abatement will be performed within containment areas. 

No, it was not.  

We expect the times to remain the same for the next 2 years, although they are always subject to change.

We will have a dedicated space for bus drop-offs, and students waiting for the buses will be shifted to the playground area. 

We would have students line-up on the green field as we did this past fall when buses were late.

Cars will be allowed in the parking lot for drop-off after buses, as we have this year.  Cars will be exited out Pocantico and our traffic control will make sure it's safe.  No cars are allowed in the afternoon, just like now and in the past.

Currently, in the morning, walkers line-up by the black fence with their parents until the school is opened. That process will remain the same. Afternoon walker pick-up will remain the same for the next two years.