Voters approve building renovations, grass fields, reject turf proposition

The Red Hook Central School District will move forward with $13.31 million in improvements to each of its school buildings, including a renovation of its high school gymnasium and grass field space, after voters overwhelmingly approved two of three propositions during a special vote Tuesday. 

Residents, though, rejected a plan to create of a multipurpose artificial turf field with lighting, a resurfaced track and fencing repairs at the main athletic field at the high and middle schools. 

“Our buildings can be made safer and more accessible to the entire population through the projects covered in Proposition 1,” said Dr. Janet Warden, superintendent of schools. “We thank voters for supporting those projects, as well as the plan to rejuvenate two of our grass fields.”

Board of Education President Russ Crafton said, "The goal in this special proposition vote was to enhance our facilities for the enrichment and safety of our school community. The Board thanks residents for joining us in that effort with their above average turnout at the polls Tuesday and approval of two proposed projects. We look forward to continuing the work of growing our district through these upgrades and future projects."

The fields at the high and middle schools are compact and uneven, making them inaccessible and in need of repair. They are used for physical education classes and various athletic teams’ games and practices.  

While voters opted to fix field spaces using natural grass, repairs proposed for the main field, at which many varsity and junior varsity games are held, will not move forward. 

“It’s disappointing we cannot provide students and community with the space as envisioned, which would have made it accessible to all while drastically increasing how much it could be used,” Warden said. “Outdoor recreation is a vital part of maintaining physical and emotional well-being.” 

Warden said the district will take time to consult with its architects and other project partners before deciding how it can address the needs of the main field. 

Proposition 1 passed 1,422 votes to 616, while Proposition 3 was favored 1,282 to 735. Proposition 2 failed 1,146 to 875. 

The district will begin the process of finalizing designs and details for the projects, and obtaining state Education Department plan approvals, with hopes for beginning construction in summer 2026. 

Proposition 1 includes:

• Replacement of the high school's gymnasium bleachers and wall padding, and renovation of its floor.

• New LED lighting for Red Hook High School and Mill Road Elementary School.

• Expanding and upgrading the air conditioning at Mill Road.

• Bolstering the boiler system at Linden Avenue Middle School.

• Expanding ease of access to the lockdown system in each school.

• Repairs to the four front columns of the Linden Avenue building. 

The combined work is estimated to cost roughly $7.835 million, with all but $2.79 million covered by state aid.  

The high school’s gym floor and bleachers are original to the building’s 1963 opening and are out of Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. The floor has been repaired often over six decades. The renovations will not only provide a new floor and bleachers that would be safe for all fans but the stage area on the south end of the court would be removed and replaced with more seating. That should create a safer situation for the players on the court who previously may collide with the stage’s knee wall. 

The lighting upgrades are projected to save $30,486 annually at the middle school and $22,349 at the high school, with the savings projected to pay for the cost of the upgrades in six and eight years, respectively. 

The expanded lockdown system will include push buttons in a handful of strategic locations around each building. The change from the existing system will increase the chances of a potentially dangerous situation being reported and decrease the time it takes to alert the rest of the school. 

The two field propositions followed two previous votes in which residents failed to support plans that centered on an artificial turf installation at the main field inside the track. Following the rejection in May, district leadership engaged residents in a survey, a listening session and a workshop meeting featuring industry experts and architects before the Board of Education shaped the propositions put forth. 

Proposition 2 called for the renovation of the main athletic field between the high and middle schools to create a multipurpose artificial turf space, which would have included new lighting installation, a resurfacing of its track and repairs to perimeter fencing. The proposition required the field to be constructed “with recyclable materials” and “without the use of intentionally added PFAS.” It would have cost $7.67 million, with taxpayers shouldering $2.73 million. 

Proposition 3 encompasses the renovation of two other field spaces with natural grass and drainage strategies aimed at eliminating flooding issues. It was proposed to cost $5.475 million, with taxpayers responsible to $1.95 million. 

The district will consult with its architects and partners to determine which spaces will be renovated and how they will be used, with a goal of beginning construction in summer 2026.