The Montauk School Board has a self-imposed deadline of its first meeting in January to decide whether to proceed with the latest draft of its proposed building renovation. Kevin Walsh of BBS Architects presented the $37 million plan to the board on Tuesday night.
Initially, the cost of renovation was up in the air, topping out at $55 million. At its Nov. 12 meeting, the board asked Mr. Walsh to narrow it down and better define its scope.
Mr. Walsh told board members that his firm had since cut some 7,000 square feet from the project, and saved an additional $1.313 million in overlapping construction. The biggest change involves the present gym, which will be “repurposed but not completely renovated,” rather than building a new gymnasium as originally proposed. A mobile partition would be added, allowing the current gym to be separated into two working spaces if needed.
The gym is currently used for both athletics and performing arts. “If we’re going to peel off the athletics somewhere else,” said Joshua Odom, the school’s superintendent and principal, “I would like that [space] to be more geared toward the performing arts.”
“It could be a multipurpose room on one side and music on the other,” Mr. Walsh replied, “or, they could flip.”
Sarah Roberts, a board member, was also keen on turning over the space to performing arts and music programs. “Is there anything, a nominal amount, that could be done to set up the area for music?” she asked. Even a small thing — maybe an area set aside for instrument storage — could make a difference, she said.
Yes, said Mr. Walsh. With a new greenhouse in the construction plans, the current one off the gym could be converted into a dedicated instrument storage area.
With the architects meeting the board at its preliminary budget, there is little chance that the broad scope of the plan will change before January. “If there’s things in here, trades somewhere, let me know,” Mr. Odom told the board. “Kevin and I can communicate and see what it looks like.”
“I think the big trades now are — and I don’t mean to sound silly — a couple hundred thousand here and there,” Mr. Walsh replied. “It’s not millions.”
Assuming the board proceeds with this plan, several months of public input and meetings lie ahead, with the hope of a bond referendum next May. Any environmental impact, for one thing, will need to be considered.