NEWS
It's been a busy summer in the Cohoes City Schools...
Aug. 26, 2010 - New parking patterns, new classrooms and new recreation space are all part of the changes that students, parents and community members will notice at the schools this fall.
Work began in the Cohoes City School District in 2007 on voter-approved capital projects that total $45 million. The improvements that will result from these projects include new, modern learning spaces, energy efficiency upgrades, improved parking and student drop-off areas, handicapped accessibility, mechanical and basic infrastructure improvements and improved recreation areas.
Because the district was able to take advantage of the one-time state money and its substantial building aid ratio, property taxpayers are being afforded the opportunity to see more modern facilities for our students and the community with NO TAX IMPACT. The current capital projects were approved by voters in three separate votes in May 2006, March 2007 and June 2008.
"The opening of school each year is always exciting," said Superintendent of Schools Robert K. Libby. "This year, however, with all the work that has happened during the summer, faculty, staff, students and parents will have new and improved buildings to return to this fall."
Along with the construction and renovations comes new traffic patterns at some of the schools, including Abram Lansing, Van Schaick Grade School and Cohoes High School.
"We know the new traffic patterns will be a change and could cause some confusion,” Libby said. “However, we’d like to ask everyone to be cautious and patient while everyone adjusts to the new patterns."
Abram Lansing Elementary School
At
Abram Lansing, a new four-classroom addition will open in the rear
of the building. Parents of UPK students are encouraged to use this
new entrance, while drop-off and pick-up procedures for the older
grades are still being determined. For the beginning of school,
please use the main doors. Further instructions will come from the
principal regarding any change in procedures.
The expanded parking lot is expected to alleviate the parking problems that parents and staff have had for several years, and should facilitate a smoother student drop-off and pick-up process.
In the front of the school, parents and faculty will notice a new parking pattern as well. Instead of parallel parking at the curb, there will be back-in angle parking. (See diagram.) This should ensure faster exits of the campus, which has been an issue. A traffic study of the area also suggests the new method will address the need for additional parking and isolation from the city street. In addition to these changes, the school will also have renovated student bathrooms in the fall, as well as an updated main office, art gallery and gym.
Harmony Hill School
Harmony
Hill School will start the school year with a freshly paved parking
lot, and progress on the two-story classroom addition.
The parking lot will only be accessible through Madelon Hickey Way until Friday, Sept. 3. After that date, the entrance from Columbia Street will open.
Van Schaick Grade School
A
major change in the traffic pattern will be apparent at Van Schaick
Grade School this fall.
Parents will now be able to use a drop-off and
pick-up lane directly in front of the school. To drop students off,
parents will enter
from Myrtle Avenue (which will now be a one-way street) and exit
onto Continental Avenue (which will be one way in front of the
school).
Students will have an expanded playground area and access to the park across the street, which is also being renovated.
These roadway redesigns and updates will give Van Schaick much more of a campus feel and provide a safer drop-off/pick-up of children.
Cohoes Middle School
The most noticeable change from Columbia Street is the new approach to Cohoes Middle School. The previous approach, which was not safe for students, was taken down over the summer. Students will now have a wider sidewalk to walk on while traveling down Columbia Street. In addition, a new entrance canopy was added to the main entrance and several updates were made to the building exterior, including new benches, bike racks and concrete.
The middle school also has a large, new classroom, created to facilitate large groups of students, as well as a weight room.
Cohoes High School
Construction
is slated to continue at Cohoes High School through this upcoming
school year. Once again, the parking lot will require patience and
flexibility on the part of the community.
This year, there will be a separate student parking area to the left of the main faculty parking area.
It is recommended that students walk around the large parking lot on the sidewalk instead of on the road. The main building entrance will once again be located by the locker rooms.
This winter, the auditorium, new gym and suspended track and the new entrance lobby are expected to open.
The new classrooms and guidance suite are expected to be complete in the spring.
