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Slight changes to MHS addition The long anticipated eight classroom addition at Massapequa High School, undertaken in response to growing enrollment, has had some design changes, but is still expected to be completed in time for the 2007/08 school year, according to school officials. Massapequa Superintendent Dr. Maureen Flaherty gave a report on the progress of the final phase of the high school expansion in the east wing of the building at the Dec. 7 school board meeting, and said as a result of a high water table with the soil bearing capacity below the 2,000 pounds per square inch (psi) level, the district decided to implement some design changes from their original plans. Despite the design adjustments, which were implemented in mid November, Flaherty still anticipates a June 2007 completion date, which she added is a conservative estimate since it allows for weather delays that might occur in the winter months. “They are moving along, said Dr. Flaherty during her report. “The timeline is a conservative one.” Flaherty said that the original design for the addition, which called for concrete footings and reinforced concrete foundation walls, has been changed to solid concrete piers. According to Flaherty, the reinforced concrete beam will be formed and supported by the piers in the design change. The dewatering process at the construction site took place on Nov. 16 and 17 in order to reach the soil bearing capacity of 2,000 psi and testing was conducted throughout the process to certify the positive results according to Flaherty. The first concrete pier was poured on Nov. 17 with all of the piers competed five days later. Once the piers were completed, the contractor for the project began to install rebar (a type of steel used to reinforce building structures) for the grade beams. Flaherty said the pouring of the grade beams is still in progress. All windows, door frames, doors, bricks and mechanical items are in working order for the construction according to Flaherty’s report. She said the field conditions for their construction schedule are updated every two weeks. The Massapequa High School eight classroom addition is part of the district’s capital improvement project designed to expands and renovate school facilities mainly through funding from recent bonds that were approved by voters in response to a roughly 12 percent jump in enrollment since 1999. The district recently added four classrooms with new window installations at the Birch Lane Elementary School and expanded the ninth grade Ames Campus with eight classrooms and an elevator. The school board approved a change over in its budget to earmark funds for the Massapequa High School classroom addition project at its Nov. 16 meeting. New courses approved Massapequa High School students will have new courses to choose from next year after the school board approved five new classes that will mainly concentrate on career oriented fields. The approved new courses for the 2007/08 school year include SCALE Forensic Technology, AP/SCALE German, College Spanish and College French, Writing for College and Career and Introduction to Sports Medicine. Susan Woodbury, Massapequa Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education, said during a presentation on the new courses at the Dec. 7 school board meeting that the added classes will be taken mainly by seniors as electives and will give many an option for a career oriented class to help them either in college or in the workforce. She said it is important to offer career oriented classes since some students in the district may choose not to go to college and jump right into the real world. “We are looking at our programs with a very critical eye,” said Woodbury. “I think some of these will be big draws.” School board member Thomas Caltabiano said he was happy the district was adding a forensics class since it is such a hot topic these days but was worried only one section would not be enough for all the anticipated interest amongst the students. Woodbury agreed that one section will likely not be enough for the forensic course but they will reexamine the interest in the various courses over time. “Loved [Woodbury’s] new courses,” said resident Debbie Muller during the public comments portion of the meeting.
The next Massapequa school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. at Massapequa High School.
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