Sep. 25, 2013:  The consensus among Bronxville School administrators and Bronxville Board of Education members is unanimous--the 2013-2014 school year is off to a great start.

President David Brashear opened the board’s September 19 meeting by thanking the administration, principals, teachers, and students in the middle school and high school for their cooperation and spirit during the completion of ceiling replacements on the school’s third floor.

After a plaster ceiling in the school’s B wing collapsed in July during asbestos abatement work, a subsequent inspection of ceilings revealed weakened and compromised plaster in the A wing that also needed replacement.

"Despite the temporary dislocation of several classrooms, the students came ready to learn," said Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone. "It wasn’t the smoothest possible opening, and there are still some bumps in the road, but we feel the year is off to a good start."

Dan Carlin, assistant superintendent for business, reported that the ceiling work has proceeded within the approved $977,428 budget and on the planned timetable. Classrooms were completed and fully occupied on Monday, September 23.

Concession Stand: Fans of Bronxville High School Bronco football who expected to see a brand-new concession stand in operation for the beginning of the season will have to wait at least another month for the building to be completed. Carlin informed the board that construction is at least a month behind schedule.

"A secondary goal is to have the concession stand finished by homecoming" Carlin said, "and, to be truthful, that’s not looking too good."  Bronxville High School homecoming/alumni weekend will be October 17 through 19.

Carlin reported that, due to the contractor’s slow work, the district’s attorney will contact the contractor’s bonding company to try to move construction at a faster pace. Carlin and Mike Lee, superintendent of building and grounds, have monitored the progress of concession stand work on a daily basis.

The administration will meet with district architects KG&D to discuss ways they might help the contractor streamline the construction process.

Board president David Brashear proposed the possibility of opening only the completed portion of the concession stand, but Carlin stated that the district would most likely not be able to obtain a certificate of occupancy if only part of the building is completed.

New bleachers have been installed. A second set of bleacher entry and exit stairs for each end unit, part of the original specifications but not initially delivered by the supplier, are expected and will be set up as soon as possible.  "It’s not a problem code-wise," said Carlin, "but for crowd flow we would prefer to have them."

Carlin announced that bids for the athletic field maintenance shed have opened and, to date, the lowest bid received is for $279,000, significantly higher than the original budget. "We’ll have to discuss what we’re going to do," he said, and added that there would be no work on the maintenance shed in the immediate future.

The Bronxville Board of Education will meet on Thursday, October 17, at 7:00 pm in the school's multipurpose room.

Pictured here (L to R):  David Brashear, president of the Bronxville Board of Education, and Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone.

Photo by Carol P. Bartold