Kings Park School District approves $41.4 million bond; H2M to perform improvements

Melville, NY On Dec. 8^th, the Kings Park School District community approved a $41.4 million facilities bond with an overwhelming approval rate of 73% in the public vote. This bond will fund 120 individual projects across all of the district’s schools, giving H2M Architects + Engineers, the Kings Park School District’s architect, the green light to perform building infrastructure renovations, security and safety upgrades, technology improvements, educational projects and athletic enhancements. The proposed scope of work was decided upon by a facilities committee comprised of Kings Park School District board members, administrators, staff, parents, community residents and a King’s Park High School student to offer insight into the day to day improvements needed when the students are in school. The committee worked with H2M to analyze the facilities in the area of health, safety and security, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, needed instructional space upgrades, athletic fields, preventative maintenance, energy efficiency and technology. The scope of work was based on the committee’s recommendation to the board of education. “It’s great to see the community come together with over 73% of voter approval and the overwhelming support for the District’s needs. H2M is proud to be a part of the project,” said Saverio Belfiore, assistant studio director of education on the project. Now that the bond has been approved by the voters, the project will be submitted to the New York State Education Department for approval. The team is hopeful that some items included in the bond will begin to be implemented this upcoming summer. The construction will not disrupt the education of Kings Park students, as it will be done over the summer, during nights, weekends and regularly scheduled school closures. H2M has been involved with the Kings Park School District for many years, starting in 2004 when they worked with a $26 million bond to work on the facilities. Since then, the District has developed additional needed improvements. The District recently completed the 2015 Building Conditions survey and the results identified the current needs of the schools, resulting in the proposition of the new bond.