Maine-Endwell School Getting Air Conditioning and More Classrooms

Construction has started on a major project at a Maine-Endwell School District building that will provide more air conditioning and additional classroom space.

Work on the improvements at Maine Memorial Elementary School began in July.

The project at the school on Route 26 in the town of Maine is part of a $64 million capital project package that was approved by school district voters in December 2022.

A building-wide air conditioning system is being installed in the school, which opened in the fall of 1960.

The project also includes the construction of 6,500-square-feet of space for the school's universal pre-kindergarten program. Four more classrooms will be added. New playground fencing is to be installed as a safety improvement.

Maine-Endwell School District superintendent Jason Van Fossen said some sitework has been done for the planned classroom addition. He said construction on that part of the project will get underway after the district has received approval from the New York State Education Department.

Van Fossen said ceilings throughout the building have been gutted in recent weeks to clear the way for the installation of the air conditioning equipment.

The air conditioning component of the improvement project has taken on added significance with the state legislature's approval of a measure setting standards for maximum classroom temperatures.

Under the measure - which is awaiting the governor's signature - schools would be required to take action when temperatures reach 82 degrees. Students would have to be evacuated from classrooms if the temperature reaches 88 degrees.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: School superintendent Jason Van Fossen spoke about the construction work now underway at Maine Memorial Elementary.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.