Phase I Work to Begin Spring of 2025
As of March 2025, the district has received approval and will begin Phase I of the voter-approved capital project this spring. Phase II work will go out to bid in April 2025, with anticipated work to begin in late spring/early summer 2025 and continuing to the fall of 2026. Below are the timelines and a list of projects slated to be included in Phases I-III. (All plans are contingent upon SED approval.)
Phase I Work (Spring/Summer 2025)
- BH-BL High School: Replace cafeteria and gas house roofs.
- O’Rourke Middle School: Create a new road from bus loop to High Mills Road, repave bus loop, and replace roofing on first floor of Special Education wing and choral classrooms.
- Charlton Heights Elementary School: Separate bus loop from car traffic by expanding parking in front, repave side parking lot & address drainage concerns, and replace library roof.
- Pashley Elementary School: Replace gym and library roofs.
- Stevens Elementary School: Replace gym and gas house roofs.
Phase II Work (Spring 2025-Summer 2026)
BH-BL High School
- Spring 2025: Install septic system at Centennial Field concession stand.
- Summer 2025: Renovate bathrooms 123A-E and 223A-E, renovate the school’s oldest science lab classroom and install a science chemical storage ventilation unit.
- Summer 2026: Renovate the Family & Consumer Sciences classrooms/wing, install air conditioning in the woodshop classroom, and upgrade the swimming pool equipment and ventilation units.
O’Rourke Middle School
- Summer 2025: Renovate the old library area; renovate the locker room bathrooms; upgrade classrooms 112, 114, and 120-128 (through October 2025); begin gymnasium renovations (painting in Sept. 2025); renovate bathrooms 113 and 131 (through Sept. 2025)
- Summer 2026: Renovate first and second floor bathrooms into single use, replace school’s exterior doors, and renovate the Family & Consumer Sciences classrooms/wing (through October 2026).
Charlton Heights Elementary School
- Summer 2025: Install a new dividing wall in the gym, replace selected exterior doors, repair exterior masonry fin work, renovate bathrooms in rooms 15, 26, 27 and in the kindergarten area, and renovate classrooms and bathrooms in the D-Quad (through October 2025).
- Summer 2026: Renovate bathrooms (A5, A6, B5 & B6), replace selected exterior doors, and renovate classrooms 7-12 (through Dec. 2026).
Pashley Elementary School
- Spring 2025-Spring 2026: Build an addition (4 classrooms)
Stevens Elementary School
- Spring 2025: Replace intercom system and arch-top windows.
- Summer 2025: Install a new dividing wall in the gym, renovate the administration/main office area, renovate bathrooms in rooms 110, 122, kindergarten area 122, 32A, 32B and 34A, and renovate classrooms 11, 12, 32 and 33 (through October 2025).
Phase III Work (Spring 2026-Fall 2027)
BH-BL High School
- Spring 2026: Install new entry drive lighting and install new cafeteria lighting and controls
- Summer 2026: Replace Alumni Hall floors, renovate Instructional Technology rooms/suite, replace flooring in the main offices and guidance counseling offices, renovate bathrooms 189A and 189B, renovate receiving area located near the kitchen and custodial areas (through Sept. 2026), and construct a multi-purpose field (through fall 2026).
- Summer 2027: Renovate bathrooms 152, 153, 190 and 191; renovate gym hallway; construct a secure vestibule in C110 lobby; renovate the team room (near gym); repair the gym roof, renovate the gym (through early fall 2027); and renovate the kitchen area (through early fall 2027)
Pashley Elementary School
- Summer 2026: Renovate parking lot, replace windows in original section of building, install a new dividing wall in the gym, renovate bathrooms in Quads A & B, replace hallway tile, and renovate C Quad classrooms and kindergarten room (through Sept. 2026).
- Summer 2027: Renovate bathrooms in rooms 18, 20, 30 and 32; renovate resource room and classroom on second floor; hallway tile replacement; and renovate the administration area, nurse’s office and Strive classroom (through Sept. 2027).
2023 Capital Project History
BH-BL Community Checks ‘Yes’ Box for 2023 Capital Project
Residents came out today to cast their vote in support of the district’s $53.93 million “Renewing Spaces, Inspiring Futures” capital project resulting in 1,100 yes votes and 219 no votes, which yields a passage rate of 83 percent. This is the largest passing percentage in capital project vote history at BH-BL.
Renewing Spaces, Inspiring Futures: It Starts with K-5
On Tuesday, Oct. 24, residents will go to the polls to vote on the $53.93 million “Renewing Spaces, Inspiring Futures: It Starts with K-5” capital project. The project carries an overall estimated tax rate increase between 2.44 and 3.41% or, roughly a 0.5 to 0.7% annual tax rate increase over a five year period. (The estimated average tax increase is contingent upon the sale of property on Jenkins Road and a final determination by the State Education Department on the aidability of the classroom addition at Pashley Elementary School.)
Additionally, the district will maximize the New York state building aid that is available for the maintenance of school facilities. BH-BL is slated to be reimbursed 76% of eligible expenses bringing the local share of the proposed $53.93 million project down to $12.94 million. Given that, the district estimates this project would result in a $125-175 total tax increase to a property in the district with a median market value of $275,000, which would likely be phased in at $25-35 per year over five years.
A History of Excellence
The most recent referendums, approved by voters 5 and 10 years ago, were centered around projects needed to bring BH-BL’s secondary schools into the 21st century. The upcoming proposal is concentrated primarily on upgrading and modernizing the elementary schools and districtwide critical infrastructure repairs (i.e., roofing and HVAC repairs, new bathrooms, bus loops, etc.). The project also includes a full renovation of the high school gymnasium. Other smaller projects include athletic and physical education spaces and field upgrades, and additional classroom renovations at both the middle and high schools.
“More than 100 years ago, the BH-BL School District was created from our residents’ desire to provide an opportunity for their children to receive a high-quality education in their own community,” says Superintendent Dr. Patrick McGrath. “Community pride and continued support have sustained this effort, helping it to grow and flourish from one-room schoolhouses to a place people seek to live specifically for the schools. Our community’s desire to keep our district up to date was evident with the passage of the last two improvement projects, and now it’s time to focus on the spaces where our newest learners begin their academic journey.”
What am I voting on?
- Elementary Schools Redesign to Support Learning: Fully renovate and redesign numerous old and worn down classrooms; build a four-classroom addition at Pashley and renovate the facade; replace old windows, doors, fixtures, and furniture. [Click here for details and photos.]
- Instructional Innovations Improvements: Fully renovate O’Rourke’s FACS classrooms, Special Education suite, and several other old spaces; upgrade the oldest high school science labs. [Click here for details and photos.]
- Critical Infrastructure Upgrades for Efficiency: Renovate the oldest bathrooms districtwide; exterior site work at elementary schools; build new bus exit at O’Rourke; replace HVAC systems districtwide; repair roofing on all district buildings; upgrade IT server center; replace perimeter fencing at all five schools. [Click here for details and photos.]
- Physical Education Spaces & Athletic Field Improvements: Fully renovate high school gym; upgrade O’Rourke gyms; install new dividing gym walls at the elementary schools; install an all-weather, multi-purpose field at the high school; upgrades to softball field. [Click here for details and photos.]
A detailed budget newsletter will be mailed to residents in early October. [Download a copy of the newsletter.]
To learn more about this project and ask in-person questions, please attend the Oct. 11 Capital Project public forum at 6:30 pm at the high school [Click here for the live stream] or attend one of these other event:
- October 2: BH-BL High School PTSA, 7 pm, Principal’s Conference Room
- October 5: Stevens Elementary School PTA, 6:30 pm, Library
- October 12: Pashley Elementary School PTA Meeting Presentation & Building Tour, 6 pm, Cafeteria
- October 16: O’Rourke Middle School PTA Meeting & Building Tour, 6:30 pm, Library
- October 17: SEPTA, 6:30 pm, Pashley
- October 19: Charlton Heights Elementary School PTA Mtg & Building Tour, 7 pm