Work at Athletic Facilities and Superintendent Search Move Forward at Somers Schools

SOMERS, N.Y. - The new tennis courts at Somers High School are expected to be in “ready to play” condition by next month and folks are anxious to christen them before the season’s over.

Ground was broken for the $1.4 million capital project last May.

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The work should be completed by Oct. 15, according to Mike Lantier of H2M architects + engineers and Kevin Sawyer of Triton Construction Co., who gave the Board of Education a status update on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

“With construction there’s always delays,” noted Christopher Platania, assistant superintendent for business and operations.

“So far the weather’s been holding out for us, but you just never know between now and then,” Lantier agreed, adding: “Plan for the worst, but hope for the best.”

The courts’ surface is being installed and paving has been done. Drainage is “95 percent” complete.

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Still in progress are fencing, electrical systems, security cameras, court striping, and ADA parking.

Work at the new baseball field is expected to be complete by Nov. 15. However, the bleachers there and at the new softball field won’t be ready for fans until February, Lantier said.

“There’s longer lead times in fabrication,” he explained, adding: “You’re not the only school (district) to suffer from this.”

The new softball field should be complete by the end of December.

Previously, Tusker tennis teams had to play at the public courts in nearby Reis Park.

Many had complained about the plastic mat surface on three courts there which, they said, was dangerously slippery whether it was wet or dry and also caused balls to bounce differently than traditional concrete or clay courts do.

The other three courts were made of astro turf and sand, which got into players’ shoes.

Being bused back and forth from the school to the park interfered with practice times and players had to change in the library’s bathroom, which only has two stalls.

Some were penalized for being late to their matches.

Student athletes also felt that Tusker spirit was suffering because being located off campus cut back on the number of spectators. They also claimed that other teams teased them for playing on non-traditional courts.

The new courts can fit two dozen players at a time, which means they could play doubles.

Next up – perhaps for the 2025-26 school year – are modified tennis classes for middle-schoolers, athletics officials said this past spring.

There is a good possibility that the courts may be made accessible to the general public.

One caveat. There are no outdoor lights so night games are out of bounds.

Comprehensive Plan

Lantier and Sawyer also updated the board on the district’s comprehensive plan for 2024-2025.

This May, the community will be asked to vote on $60-65 million’s worth of financing to update structures and spaces.

The payments on the new financing start at the same time that the previous bonds will be paid off. This means that there will be “no additional costs” to taxpayers, they said.

The district also plans to take up to $3 million from its Capital Reserve Fund.

Building condition surveys have been completed and the work has been prioritized and categorized. Eventually, the scope of work will be finalized.

The goal of modernizing its facilities is to have learning spaces that, the district said, support students academically, socially, and emotionally.

One of the things mentioned in the presentation were “flexible” spaces where design and furniture help teachers “easily create small or large group activities that drive collaboration.”

Technology improvements were also important because they provide students with the chance to “enhance their 21st-century knowledge and skills” in order to “prepare for the future.”

It will be the district’s task to communicate the “need and costs” to the public.

According to Platania, a steering committee for the overall project will be formed and then broken down into building level groups.

Committee members will include community stakeholders.

“It will be a robust committee,” he promised.

Superintendent Search

In August, the board appointed School Leadership LLC as the district’s consultant for its search for a new superintendent.

Harry LeFevre has been interim superintendent since July, when then schools chief Dr. Raymond Blanch left after 14 years to head the Katonah-Lewisboro School District.

“This is the first step in a lengthy and deliberate process the board will undertake this year,” noted board president Amanda Kandel. “In the coming weeks, we’ll meet with the team and plan out our next steps as a board.”

Part of the process will involve gathering input from all stakeholders. This will be done through surveys, focus groups, and other means.

The district also plans to put a “Superintendent Search” tab on its website where folks can go for regular updates, she said, adding that it should be up and running by late September or early October.

“I just wanted to give everyone a sense of the process going forward and as a board, I want you to know we’re committed to keeping everyone informed about where we are in the process and taking everyone’s feedback into consideration,” Kandel told colleagues.

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