Bids for the renovation/construction of Plainedge's new middle school were approved in December by the Board of Education. The first meeting with the contractors was held Jan. 17, and construction is expected to begin this month. It is anticipated that the project will be completed within 24 months.

In preparation for the new construction, interior demolition of the east and west wings of the former Northedge School was completed last fall. While the core of the building remains, all building systems -- plumbing, mechanical and electric--were also removed.

In order to bring the total capital construction project in line with $53 million referendum approved by voters, Superintendent of Schools Dr. John A. Richman and Deputy Superintendent Jeffrey Burns recently held several day-long meetings with the architects, engineers, consultants and construction manager personnel. Approximately $5 million in renovation projects were pared across the board from the original bond issue project.

One of the more significant changes was the decision to leave the administration offices in the west wing of the high school, rather than move them to Packard, a savings of over $600,000. According to Burns, with a shift in thinking and use of space, it is anticipated that there can be adequate space to accommodate increased enrollment at the secondary level.

As a result, there may be several options available for the Packard building, once students move to the new middle school. Being considered is the establishment of a central supply receiving area, and use by BOCES and/or other educational organizations. According to Dr. Richman, it is still too early to actually begin exploration of these options at this time.

State approval is expected within the next six weeks for the high school auditorium and transportation compound renovations; that work will begin this summer.

Plans for the construction of two new chemistry labs at Plainedge High School were submitted to the state in late November, and it is expected that they will be completed and ready for use by Sept. 2003. The new labs would replace the current home economics room and the old board meeting room. The new labs are being built to accommodate enrollment increases in the high school, where the student population is expected to rise by 100 students this year.