Dear Community Members, 

We have work to do and we need to do that work together. There is a challenge in front of all of us, as a community, and we’ll be much better at solving it if we can do it together as a community.  

Over the past six months, we have been engaged in many discussions with community members about the athletic field project. We are now at a critical point due to new circumstances. The discovery of hazardous materials in soil samples was a significant event that merits a significant response. 

On April 22 we provided the community with two opportunities to come and learn more about what was found and what can be done about it. The Board of Education, District staff, architects, environmental engineers, construction managers, and representatives from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health (DOH) were on hand to share information and discuss the issue in great detail. Both sessions were very well attended and the dialogue was robust. Community members asked excellent questions and made thoughtful suggestions. Frequently asked questions are available on our website and will be updated as needed. The presentation from Wednesday can be be accessed here. We want to make sure that everyone has all of the information and has a sense for what was discussed. 

As has been the case throughout this process, we continue to be committed to transparency and engagement with the community. Again, we have work to do and we need to do that work together.  

We are open to all options in addressing this unexpected and unknown issue. We will engage with our neighbors and the community and continue to put everything on the table. 

Our focus needs to continue to be on safety: for students, staff, the community, and our neighbors; cost: developing a financial plan that does not increase taxes; and development of solutions together that meet the objectives of the approved project in light of these new developments. To accomplish those objectives, we will need to continue the process of testing, evaluation, and analysis with the DEC and DOH. We will direct our other consultants to develop a wide variety of options for consideration and we will solicit your feedback on designs and next steps.  

Thank you for your engagement. We are excited to be working with you as partners to solve an unexpected challenge. This community and organization have always operated in a trusting, transparent, and collaborative manner. Let’s focus on those values as we solve this problem together. Kids now, and for the long term, will be much better for it. 

Stay tuned for more information and regular updates. Let’s also focus on what’s most important right now, the budget vote and capital referendum on May 19, both unrelated to this current discussion and both exceptionally consequential for the future of programs in the District. 

We’re in it together and are most successful as a community when we truly move forward as one. 

Thank you 
Kevin 

Kevin McGowan, Ed.D. 
Superintendent of Schools