MARCH 22, 2024

The Millbrook Minute

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CONNECTEDNESS

Today's Blazer Bulletin highlights the ways in which our proposed capital project aims to further MCSD's focus on continuing to foster a sense of belonging and well-being in our schools as well as a connection with the Millbrook community.

MCSD's Strategic Plan is the foundation of our capital project planning initiative, with

components of our mission, vision, values and pillars permeating every aspect of our

proposed project design.

Tune in after Spring Break to learn about how the capital project focuses on our next pillar:

SUSTAINABILITY

Building Belonging: How MCSD's Capital Project Proposes to Improve Connectedness

When Millbrook Central School District Superintendent Caroline Hernandez Pidala decided to test the chair lifts on the middle school’s stairways, she knew it would be a slow ride. What she didn’t expect, however, was exactly how long it would take her to travel from the bottom to the top level of the building.

“I was shocked at the amount of time it took just to get up one staircase,” she said. “I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be for students and staff who need to use them on a regular basis.”

The lifts’ sluggish operation has been a common complaint among those who attend classes, visit or work at the middle school throughout the years. Anyone in the building who has experienced limited mobility, whether long-term or temporary, has also faced the reality of using these outdated and barely-functional lifts in the stairways.

This is why Millbrook Central School District is striving to address these issues in its proposed capital project. The large-scale initiative focuses on achieving the goals laid out in the district’s strategic plan, which looks to methods, connectedness, sustainability and discourse as key elements of the district’s future.

The capital project calls for such improvements as updates to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for safety and optimized energy consumption, instructional space upgrades, outdoor space improvements and equipment and infrastructure that better complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – such as the purchase and installation of an elevator to replace the lifts.

A key aspect of the project addresses accessibility concerns in the middle and high schools. Travel for those with impaired mobility is especially problematic at the middle school, where the chair lifts not only disrupt traffic flow by occupying almost half of the hallway while in use, but also require up to 12 minutes of travel time – cutting into the 41-minute class periods by almost 25%.

“Traversing the building is a huge time sacrifice for those who need to use the lifts, and that’s just for the students and staff who are here every day,” said Assistant Superintendent for Business and Personnel Elliot Garcia. “It also speaks to how welcoming we are to our entire school community including families, guardians and the general public.”

“We need to be sure that people who are paying taxes and supporting our district are able to enjoy the offerings that we provide,” he continued. “It does a disservice to taxpayers when they can’t access things like musical performances, plays and special events like the annual Veterans’ Breakfast. People with limited mobility can get cut out of enjoying those experiences.”

The district also hopes to boost connectedness by updating the lighting and sound equipment in the middle and high school auditoriums, which have been disrupting performances and presentations for years.

“Is there a clearer connection to the community than the events that invite people into the auditoriums?” Garcia said. “Performing arts spaces are a classic example of a tangible way to connect. It’s a shame when the hard work of our staff and students can’t be properly showcased because of the poor equipment.

“We want to support the students and show their families and community all that they have been doing.”

The capital project also includes upgrades to the middle school library media center that will transform it into a hub for exploration and collaboration. These improvements will offer students the chance to access a greater variety of educational opportunities including green screen recording studios, podcasting spaces and collaborative areas for project-oriented work. Addressing the poor ventilation in the high school weight room is also a focus, making the space healthier and more usable for physical education classes and athletics alike.

Though these upgrades are vital for the school community, they only appear in the capital project’s second proposition. Garcia said that members of the public have questioned why these plans – especially the areas addressing ADA compliance – aren’t included in the first proposition, which is the most likely component to be approved.

“There is a recurring question about why ADA Compliance doesn’t take top priority,” he said. “The reason is that the lifts are technically considered ‘functional,’ so the ventilation, energy-saving and structural components in our buildings need to come first.

“Where it becomes challenging, though, is that the lifts’ design and age put them beyond their useful life – so though they’re technically working, they are absolutely hindering our ability to promote the sense of belonging and connection to the school community that we strive to prioritize.”

Lighting issues in the

middle and high school auditoriums.

One of the proposed stairway redesigns.

CLICK HERE for more information on our Capital Project!

Don't Forget:

Summer Scholars Registration is now open! This program is designed to continue the acquisition of literacy and numeracy usage in order to prevent a slide in skills that can typically be attributed to a break from learning and practice. Open to children entering grades K-9, this program is not mandatory and is free of charge to families.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

* Please submit a separate form for

each child registered.