Facilities & Capital Projects

Vol.1 Issue 2

The Quarterly Facilities, Building, and Capital Project Updates newsletter is back!

The purpose of this newsletter is to provide accurate, timely, and transparent updates of the ongoing capital and maintenance projects underway across the Valley Stream District 30.

Together with our Director of Facilities, Michael DeLuca, our Maintainers, John Genna and Joseph Ferraro, and all our custodial staff, we highlight the main activities happening in our facilities department across our buildings.

If you have any questions about the topics below, or any facilities questions, suggestions or ideas, please feel free to email us at mdeluca@vs30.org or to mmoran@vs30.org.

Thank you for reading.

Joseph [Joe] is our new District-Wide Maintainer! He is replacing Mike Deluca who was promoted to the position of Director of Facilities and Operations. Joe brings a decade of experience as a carpenter who also has experience working in school districts. His friendly disposition makes him a perfect match to join our talented and committed Facilities crew at Valley Stream 30.

Joe impressed the hiring committee with his technical acumen relating to managing and troubleshooting issues with HVAC and heating, boilers, and overall maintenance of all areas in the school district.

Now, with a full crew in Facilities and Operations, we continue to strive at making the District a Safe, Welcoming and Beautiful Workplace. Welcome Joe!

Capital projects are significant investments in the construction, renovation, or expansion of physical assets in our buildings, infrastructure, or equipment, typically intended to improve or expand the capabilities of our buildings.

Currently at Valley Stream District 30 we have the following Capital Projects:

• Air Conditioning Across All Building

The District’s facilities department has been working diligently on the AC Capital Project across our three school buildings. The project is a major project that involves construction in all classrooms, offices and spaces in our schools.

Since the project involves heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), the work is scheduled to happen over the few years culminating in June 2026. This project will allow all our schools to have central AC that will help with heat waves and allow the school day to run smoothly and comfortably.

Why is the Valley Stream 30 investing in an Central Air Conditioning System across all buildings:

• Health Reasons and Improved Air Quality: Central AC systems include air filtration components that help remove allergens, dust, and other pollutants from the indoor air, promoting better air quality and reducing the spread of airborne illnesses among students and staff. Additionally during the warmer months there is less risk of heat exposure.
• Safety and Security: Central AC systems can contribute to the overall safety and security of school buildings by eliminating the need for open windows or doors for cooling purposes, reducing the risk of unauthorized entry and providing a more controlled indoor environment.
  
• Efficiency: Central AC systems can be more energy-efficient compared to individual window units or other cooling methods, especially when properly maintained and optimized. This efficiency can result in cost savings for the school district over time.
  
• Centralized Control: With a central AC system, temperature control and monitoring can be centralized, allowing for easier management and adjustment of indoor temperatures based on occupancy, weather conditions, or specific needs in different areas of the school buildings.

This project was approved by our Community as a way to enhance, upgrade and beatify our District.

We will keep you updated of the project as we progress.

Last year, the Board of Education approved the upgrading of our playgrounds in our three elementary school buildings.

We are happy to report that all three building have now received their new playground equipment and our Global Leaders of Tomorrow are enjoying the use of a renovated, exciting and fun equipment. Please see the pictures of the inauguration at our three schools.

It is imperative that we keep a maintenance program to ensure the following:

• Safety First: Regular maintenance ensures that our buildings remain safe for everyone who utilizes them. From structural integrity to fire safety measures, proactive maintenance measures can prevent accidents and keep everyone secure.
• Preserving Property Value: Well-maintained buildings not only provide a pleasant living or working environment but also maintain or even increase property values. By investing in maintenance now, we're safeguarding the long-term value of our community assets.
• Enhancing Aesthetics: A well-kept building creates a positive impression for residents, visitors, and potential investors alike. Pride in our surroundings contributes to a sense of belonging and unity.

The following pictures will show you ways in which the Facilities Department has worked in keeping our buildings pristine.

● Install smoke alarms on every level of your home

● Test smoke alarms every month. If they're not working, change the batteries

● Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year

● Unplug electrical items not often in use

● Avoid electric heaters if you can. If you need them, use them only when necessary

● Make sure when leaving the house that all electric heaters are off and unplugged

● Inspect electrical cables to make sure no wires are exposed

● Use surge protectors

For the 2024-2025 the community will have the opportunity to vote for the following proposed Capital Projects to be expense from the Capital Reserves Funds (at a 0% increase of the tax payers levy)

• Construction of Dedicated Gym & Cafeteria at Shaw
• Security Vestibule at Forest Road School
• Security Vestibule at Clear Stream Avenue School
• Security Vestibule at Shaw Avenue School
  

More information to come and be shared with all Valley Stream #30 Community Members.

You may now fill out the application and permit forms online and then save them to your computer. They are found on the Valley Stream 30 website under “Capital” and “Buildings & Grounds Department.” You can then email them along with rosters, and insurance forms to the respective schools to the contact person (If requesting more than 1 school, then you must fill out your forms for each school.)

The principals at the schools will then sign-off on the applications' permits and forward them to Central Office. The forms will be processed and sent to the Board of Education for final approval at the next possible meeting. Please make sure your application is in on time so that approval will happen before you begin to plan the use the facilities, otherwise you will be delayed until the following meeting. Facilities usage that has been approved will be logged into the District calendar for all three schools to view.

For confirmation on permit approval please contact Mrs. Suzanne Brady at sbrady@vs30.org and/or (516) 434-3613.