Comments on: Public Presentations Planned

By: Dorene Shepherd

Dorene Shepherd — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:48:10 +0000

There is a 3rd option – consolodation. Many districts have a Jr/Sr High School. By adding an addition onto the High School shared services such as Administration, Health Services, Food Prep, Cafeterias, Libraries, Computer Labs and an addition Gym could be added at a lower cost than a self-containing Middle School. The old spaces in the High School could be turned into classrooms. The Historical Middle School could be retained. The second floor as District Administrative Offices (eliminating rental costs of their current space) and the 1st and basement used as income producing space (District offered Day Care and Pre-K Programs, the YMCA may want to rent space and fields for serving the NP, Gardner,Highland residents, or SUNY NP may rent it as an annex) The public would appreciate an effort to produce income from sources other than School Taxes.

By: Johann Koenig

Johann Koenig — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:38:30 +0000

As a former NP student (Duzine -> HS) and a current SUNY NP student, I believe whole heartedly in keeping the school in it’s current location. The proximity to the center of town allows students and teachers who live nearby to walk or bicycle anywhere in town in a short amount of time. Moving it out to the high school location kills this for most people. Since public transportation is … lacking … in New Paltz, these are the only real means for people without licenses (the students) or those who do not want to drive to get around.

I would personally like to see New Paltz become more accessible to people without vehicles (or those who would like to forgo them), and moving the Middle School out of town is a big step away from that.

By: Terence P Ward

Terence P Ward — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:12:59 +0000

The community forum brought two things to crystal clarity: building new will absolutely cost far more money (not only will the percentage of aid be lower, but the bond for a new building will be compounding interest over thirty years instead of fifteen), and the cost to our community would be incalculable.
It was made abundantly clear that renovations will be able to address the needs of the children and staff as completely as building new could.
Despite Mr. Mulcahy’s optimism, I am not convinced that the Board was swayed. Dismissing the impact on our community as “nostalgia” by Mr. Swagert is extremely troubling to me.

By: Margaret & Richard LaMark

Margaret & Richard LaMark — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:02:27 +0000

We feel repair or renovate is the way to go with the present middle school. This facility is meant to be an educational learning center for so many through the years and we feel it would be a great loss to the community to shut down and rebuild elsewhere.
NOTE OF INTEREST: Mohonk is old but you don’t hear of shuting it down. Maintenance is the key and we should value what we have.

By: Bill Mulcahy

Bill Mulcahy — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:34:44 +0000

I was asked to videotape a community forum on the future of the Middle School building for our Time Warner public access channel 23. It was great to see so many of my fellow New Paltzians so concerned with the future of this building. In my opinion any school board members who thought building a new middle school was good idea changed their mind during that meeting. I must compliment the school board members for arranging such a good public forum. Special kudos in particular for school board member Edgar Rodriquez who made sure that this important event was recorded for future viewing for those who couldn’t attend in person.
Basically the issue was whether to renovate or build an entirely new building. As the latter does not appear to be going to happen, the issue seems now to be how to renovate and upgrade the present building without disturbing the education of hundreds of middle school kids. All I can say is I’m happy that my son will be graduating (hopefully) this year and going on to our high school. I can’t believe, as one board member told me, that it would take “two years” to replace heating pipes. I think the board should get a second opinion.

By: Brian Tourville

Brian Tourville — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 05:46:15 +0000

Please provide for the January 16th presentation a table with an enlargement of the Middle School Structure Blueprints to gain a better understanding of the shape and size of the Middle School Buildings Foot Print.

A Xerox hand out of the Buildings outline – length x width of exterior Building Walls, listing
the existing square footage of each floor – in total – and the existing square footage of open areas between bldg. wings that could provide extra classroom square footage is requested.

By: Brian Tourville

Brian Tourville — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 04:03:05 +0000

View the existing Middle School Building as an existing ‘Foot Print’- not a jumble of walls and walkways as it now exists.

Do not tour the interior as it exists forgetting that only the main structural components that hold up the roof, floors and walls will remain once professionally gutted.

Once gutted, you are then looking at existing open space square footage in a well built Brick Building – as would any competent New York City Developer would view such a project.

Take the overall Square Footage of the existing Middle School – and lay out a ‘Progressive Floor Plan’ – and have that installed within the overall M-S ‘Foot Print’.

By: Walter Earl

Walter Earl — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:24:28 +0000

I’ve worked in the Middle School for 14 years now, and really think its time for a new facility. Repairs or upgrades to the existing buildings only happen now on an emergency basis, long after they are requested and often incorrect. I would hope that if the change occurs whoever is in charge of planning will have the foresight to ask for the input of those who actually use it.