Webutuck School renovations track to finish before school year

Webutuck School renovations track to finish before school year

Rain temporarily halted playground construction on Wednesday, Aug. 7. It will feature traditional playground equipment and “ninja-style” elements.

Josie Duggan

AMENIA — Webutuck’s $12.6 million dollar capital renovation project is well underway for students’ arrival back to campus on Sept. 3.

Despite the recent rainy weather, Webutuck’s 680 students will be able to return to a revamped campus. The construction is being managed by Palombo Group of Poughkeepsie. Preliminary work began over a year ago, with district voters approving the project in 2022, and the New York State Education Department reviewing and approving soon after, Roy Castellani, the superintendent of schools at the Webutuck Central Schools District said. Construction started on June 27, the day after the class of 2024’s graduation.

Though the project is expansive, taxes will remain the same, Webutuck’s business administrator Robert Farrier said. “We were able to fund this with a loan bond ban for the $12.5 million but it replaces our old debt, so taxpayers will not see any new additional tax debt because of this,” Farrier said.

Following a state mandated building condition survey, taken every five years, the school’s administration and facilities committee as well as a team of contractors and architects were able to determine what changes to initiate for the Webutuck district. The survey prioritizes areas that need replacement. With this information, Webutuck Central School District was able to replace the original septic system. A generator was installed in the high school and the sidewalks in the front of the building have been repaved. New roofs and upgraded HVAC have been installed in the high school, intermediate, and elementary schools. The elementary school received new air conditioning as the campus hosts summer school. After that, Farrier said the school has approval to use some of its savings to add air conditioning to the high school building next summer.

Half of the new panels and LED lights have been installed so far in the high school gym’s remodel. Below, rain temporarilJosie Duggan

Additionally, the gym ceiling has been redone in the high school, including the installation of LED lights. The renovations inside the high school, intermediate, and elementary schools are highly anticipated and a long time coming for the Webutuck Central School district.

On the exterior, the once-cracked tennis courts have been transformed. They can now function as all-purpose courts, including pickleball and basketball courts. The net can be removed in order to accommodate a soccer pitch and kickball. The physical education classes will benefit immensely from this transformation. Lastly, the intermediate school can install a playground. The playground has “ninja-style components,” which the administration anticipates the students enjoying for years to come.

Latest News

Governor Hochul implements temporary statewide burn ban

The LED sign in front of Amenia's Town Hall on Route 22 warns passing motorists of the current temporary burn ban, in effect from Oct. 2 to Oct. 15.

Photo by Nathan Miller

A statewide burn ban is in effect as of Thursday, Oct. 2, the New York State Governor's office announced in a press release.

The temporary ban is in effect until at least Oct. 15, and the statement released by the governor's office said the restrictions will be re-evaluated prior to the Oct. 15 deadline.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barbara Meyers DelPrete

LAKEVILLE, Conn. — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 11:00a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 76 Sharon Rd., Lakeville.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stanford’s Haunted Fortress gearing up for opening day

Volunteers were hard at work putting the finishing touches on the crucial creepy decorations for the Haunted Fortress of Stanford on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Nathan Miller

STANFORD — Greg Arent led a devoted team of volunteers on Sunday, Sept. 28, in a final push to prepare Stanford’s Haunted Fortress for opening day.

Final touches included cleaning the bottomless pit, scrubbing the pirate ship, raking the graveyard and dressing the dolls. By 2 p.m., about 20 volunteers had assembled to creepify the beloved local landmark.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millerton Public Works Superintendent resigns, Police Chief takes the job

From left, Jim Milton, Spencer Parks and William J. Clark stand with Joseph Olenik on their first day working under him as the head of Public Works on Monday, Sept. 29.

Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The Village announced a leadership change at the Highway Department on Friday following the resignation of Superintendent Peter Dellaghelfa. Police Chief Joseph Olenik will step into the role, effective immediately, officials said.

Olenik will continue to serve as Police Chief.

Keep ReadingShow less