Proposition 2: Siwanoy Infrastructure and Expansion, including ADA Upgrades & Air Conditioning

Siwanoy is currently operating over capacity. Kindergarten is held in undersized rooms that were not originally designed to be classrooms. Offices and small group instruction are held in small rooms, some of which were originally built as closets/storage spaces. At times, intervention, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy services are even delivered in hallways due to space limitations. Adding three additional classrooms would allow more classes to be held in full-size rooms, would provide flexibility for annual fluctuation in sections,  and provide more functional space for important intervention and support services.

This expansion is part of a comprehensive plan to address many issues with Siwanoy. This plan includes renovating space throughout the existing building, upgrading infrastructure including heating systems and other core infrastructure and adding central Air Conditioning. The expansion will create 8 new classrooms that are sized and constructed based on current standards and programming, which allows for flexible furniture, collaboration space and student-centered instruction. Reclaimed space in the existing building will allow larger spaces for important services, such as reading/math support, Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy. A dedicated cafeteria will enable the gym to be available for other uses, such as enrichment, assemblies and more. The expansion will also provide additional bathrooms for students and staff.

The architects explored different locations for elevators at Siwanoy. Siwanoy is a split level design with several different levels within the school. In order for the elevators to access the various landings at each level, they have to be adjacent to the stairs with vestibules on either side. Unlike at Prospect Hill, there is no direct access to the stair landings from either the front or back of the building due to the location of stairs and classrooms. As a result, there are no viable locations to install the elevators that would allow full access to the school without losing existing classrooms. 

The new expansion will reduce the current outdoor space by approximately 6000 sq. ft. Importantly, the District has brought on a landscape architect, who will help maximize the outdoor space that we have, providing ample opportunity for play and recreation.

The District has inquired about property near Siwanoy School that could add to the site’s outdoor space or provide other opportunities. As has been done in the past, the District is open to strategically pursuing property acquisitions.

Construction is anticipated to begin in June 2027 and will likely last 3-4 years, with most work being completed during the summer months when school is not in session. After a successful vote, the District will work with its construction manager on more specific timing, staging of projects and logistics.

We recognize that the work proposed, especially at Siwanoy, would occur in a tight residential neighborhood. Prior to construction beginning, the District will work closely with the construction manager to develop a plan that is as minimally disruptive to neighbors as is feasible. Two-way communication with neighbors is important and the District will inform neighbors about the construction plans and timelines through direct mail and email updates. This model has proved successful in recent projects at Prospect Hill and Hutchinson School. We will also maintain daily dialogue with the on-site construction manager to ensure that the established construction plan is being followed.

The project proposes to reduce the impervious surfaces, add pervious surfaces, and add stormwater retention systems to improve drainage on the site. Additionally, we have been in discussions with Pelham Manor and believe we can align our efforts with their stormwater projects in the neighborhood, resulting in less disruption while working together to more efficiently resolve storm water issues. Additional approaches could be considered once we enter into the full design process.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) oversees approval and permitting for school projects. Throughout the construction process the District will adhere to all required permitting and approval processes (e.g. stormwater, historical preservation, etc.).

early on in the process, the District’s architects presented a possible design, known as “Option A”. This design would have only addressed ADA accessibility and created a small expansion to replace the four classrooms that would have been lost due to the installation of elevators. This proposal, however, would not have addressed other capacity constraints that currently exist at Siwanoy School, including undersized basement level classes, insufficient room for small group/individualized instruction and the gym being the only large group space for lunch, recess, P.E., assemblies and enrichment, etc. For these reasons, the Facilities Committee and Board of Education decided to focus on a larger expansion to more comprehensively address the identified concerns at Siwanoy.

As part of its due diligence, the Board explored a larger expansion known as “Option C.” This design would have replaced the existing “wings” where the current library and gym are located and created a new expansion that would have given Siwanoy an “L” shape. This design was proposed as it would have created some efficiencies within the design and provided more new space for Siwanoy students. Ultimately, with input from the community and given the greater logistical challenges this proposal created, the Board decided to focus on a smaller scale expansion.

The number of special education students in Pelham Schools is growing. Based on students’ individualized needs, they may receive special education services in several different ways, including Integrated Co-Teach classes, in which a special education teacher joins a general education class or in a more specialized class with a smaller student-teacher ratio. To meet our current enrollment in these programs, the District is adding one of these specialized classes at Hutchinson this fall in addition to three other existing special education classes, rendering Hutchinson at capacity and unable to accommodate additional classes. Siwanoy currently has  a special education class and adding new capacity to the school while construction to address ADA accessibility and other capacity issues is already occurring would help optimize that program. This would allow students to start in kindergarten and remain at Siwanoy through their elementary years, offering both them and their families greater involvement in the school community and providing stability with fewer transitions.