Summer Construction scene at the Beacon High School where a softball field used to be. Softball and baseball fields are getting turn and improvements to their conditions.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

As the school year gets closer, summer construction continues on planned projects of the Beacon City School District's Capital Project approved by Beacon voters in 2024. "This is a complex, multi-year project that addresses a wide range of improvements across the district," BSCD's Superintendent Matthew Landahl wrote to district families in his Weekly Update email. "This capital work helps cool our buildings, modernize our entryways and internal PA and fire systems, and brings upgrades to some athletic facilities and the Seeger Theater at BHS. It positively impacts all of our students and staff in our schools."

For those new to the district or are reading from afar, the Beacon City School District has 6 schools: 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school and 1 high school.

Upgrades That Have Happened Or Are Underway:

According to Dr. Landahl's update, the following improvements have completed or are in progress.

All 6 Schools:

PA and Fire Alarm systems will be replaced. Current systems will be used while replacement upgrades will happen at night during the school year.

Beacon High School

The HVAC (chiller) has been replaced at Beacon High School.

The boilers are being replaced.

New lighting infrastructure and new curtains coming soon the Seeger Theater. Look for this to be complete in late winter.

Softball and baseball field improvements. Baseball infield is getting turf and the outfield conditions are being improved. Smaller softball field is also getting turf. Look for this to be done next spring.

Glenham Elementary School

The boilers are being replaced.

New playground equipment being installed, possibly into September.

Sargent Elementary

New playground equipment being installed, possibly into September.

JV Forestal (JVF) Elementary

New playground equipment that was part of this project was installed in years prior.

South Avenue Elementary

New playground equipment that was part of this project was installed in years prior.

Rombout Middle School (RMS)

Playground equipment additions delayed at Rombout Middle School. A new timeline will be developed for some play upgrades at RMS this upcoming year.

Projected Air Conditioning Work and Cooling Centers

There are intentions to air condition the cafeterias and gyms in all 4 elementary schools and the middle school. Dr. Landahl explained: "Our original plan was to add cooling centers in the cafeterias and gyms of our four elementary schools and Rombout Middle School. We decided to expand the project and add air conditioning to additional classrooms at all five schools.

“We do not have the funds to fully air condition all of our schools, but this will be a great help. Adding classrooms to this project has increased design complexity and necessitated improvements to the electrical infrastructure in some of our buildings, so we are adjusting the timeline."

Delay On Entryways

All entryways at the schools was going to be revamped (Glenham's was completed last year), but "we could not get assurances that the work would be completed by the start of the 2026-27 school year," Dr. Landhaul said. "Some of the materials needed for this work have been experiencing long shipping delays. This work will now be completed in the summer of 2027.”

Delay On Tennis Courts

“Our tennis courts were slated for resurfacing this summer, but we are delaying the work until the summer of 2027. The proposed schedule had the work running through late October, so we devised a better schedule for next summer that will have less impact on the tennis teams' schedules.”

Pool At Beacon High School To Reopen Soon

After a successful and impressive emergency rescue of a student by the Beacon Fire Department on April 28th whose finger got stuck in a small opening in the side of the pool, the pool at the high school was closed in order to repair it after the fire department cut away part of the pool to free the child. Dr. Landahl explained that the district is working with their insurance company and a pool contractor to finalize a timeline to complete the repair work, and re-open the pool at a later date to be announced.