(Throughout the school year, distinguished members of the administrative staff contribute columns to this space. This week's column is by Tom Galinski,supervisor of Buildings and Grounds.)

It is now about five years since the Roslyn Public Schools began planning for the building improvement plan that was approved by the district's voters in April of 2000. I am very pleased to report that all of the many capital projects in this $25,540,480 plan are coming to a close and that we are significantly under budget.

The district's conservative approach to planning and managing this very comprehensive capital improvement program has enabled us to consider a number of important items that we did not believe we would be able to accomplish at the beginning. The board reviewed these items at its meeting on April 10, and I'll describe some of them a little later.

First, I would like to review where we are relative to the projects being completed in this final phase of construction and renovation.

The Roslyn Middle School is in the "punch-list" phase, with all of the major construction on the building completed last year. The middle school was by far the biggest part of the building program. We knew five years ago that, come the fall of 2002, the building would need to be expanded to accommodate nearly 800 students. We achieved that challenging goal last fall, and held a rededication ceremony for the school in November.

The only remaining major work is on the outside of the middle school, where a new track and tennis courts, to replace those displaced by construction, are being rebuilt this spring.

Likewise, the high school is also in the punch-list phase. All renovated spaces are now available and occupied, including the Guidance Center, English Study Center, Commons and science labs. Renovated athletic facilities, including the very popular new track, have long since been completed.

The only significant building construction remaining is the expansion of the Board Room and renovation of the parking areas at the Administration Building. Now that the winter weather has finally abated, these items are scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks, with much of the final work occurring during the Spring Recess.

Another item that, weather permitting, will be completed during the recess are window replacements at the Heights School. As you remember, Heights experienced a major interior renovation that was completed the year before last, in an earlier phase of the building program. The new windows will complete the work at Heights.

On April 10, the Board of Education reviewed a number of projects that could be completed with the $1.1 million that remain from the funds dedicated to this capital program. State regulations permit certain projects to be undertaken with these funds as they relate to the original plans submitted to the state.

For example, the bond program included some roof replacements and heating and ventilation upgrades at the high school. In the intervening years since the program was approved, additional roof and HVAC issues have arisen, and we propose to address some of them now. At the middle school, some additional roof replacements will also be completed. The remaining funds will also enable the district to purchase some additional lockers, furniture and safety items.

Without the tight financial management that led to the availability of these funds, the district would face the prospect of including these capital items in the regular school budget this year or in future years. Instead, there are no additional funds for capital projects in the 2003-04 school budget.

In many respects, especially financially, the Bond 2000 program has turned out even better than expected.