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A group of third graders joined South Colonie School officials, contractors and members of the Board of Education today for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Forest Park Elementary School library.

The new library is part of Colonie 2020, a district-wide $13.8 million capital improvement project initiative approved by voters back in October, 2014. Library construction is expected to begin later this month. The district hopes to have the foundation in place over the winter, and outdoor construction to continue into the spring of 2017.

Last August, demolition crews tore down the former South Colonie Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) offices at the rear of the building in preparation for the library construction. The old “trailer-style” office units and classrooms, which were in disrepair and outlived their usefulness, had been vacant since January, 2016 when the PPS offices were moved to Lisha Kill Middle School.

Also last summer as part of the capital project, asbestos abatement and replacement of ceilings was completed at Forest Park and Veeder elementary schools, wireless Wi-Fi Internet was installed at all eight schools, along with other technology upgrades such as Voice-Over Internet Phone systems and improved building inter-communication systems.

Work will shift to Colonie Central High School later this school year as renovations are planned for the Art, Music and Technology wings, and the heating system will be converted from steam to hot water heat.

A new library will also be constructed at Roessleville Elementary School with that work scheduled to begin during the summer of 2017.

Colonie 2020 is a multi-phase capital initiative designed to maintain and improve school facilities, provide critical technology improvements/access for students, address health and safety issues and improve energy efficiency.

Congressman Chris Gibson recently got a tour of Golding Middle School, courtesy of our WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) Mentoring Program.

Mentors Rana Brown-Dimink, Jeffrey Crooks, Grace Dunham, Rylee Fancher, Isabella Lucear, and Mary Sierra showed the congressman the WEB room, Mr. Esposito’s technology classroom, the historic auditorium lobby and more, before Mr. Gibson addressed all 37 WEB mentors in the choir room.

Joined by Assemblyman Pete Lopez, the pair talked about leadership and responsibility, and took questions from the students. A6t the end of the visit, Lopez and Gibson were made honorary WEB Mentors.