The Dunkirk City School District EXCEL aid building project has evolved since it began more than three years ago - one phase was turned into two phases and that second phase was further broken into two phases.
In October, the Dunkirk City Board of Education expects to ask city residents to vote and approve the third phase of the project.
While the first two phases, with a $30 million-plus price tag combined, looked to make improvements that have long been overdue to each of the districts six buildings, this new project will focus more on the district's 5-year facilities plan.
"It's basically everything that's on our new 5-year plan. That will clean us up and we'll be good to go for many years to come," Superintendent Gary Cerne said, adding that no particular building is targeted as of yet.
The project is in its early stages so Cerne said there isn't a lot of detail available yet. More is expected to be discussed during the next board of education meeting in August.
"Every five years you have to submit this plan to the state and the big project we just finished up is all stuff that was lagging for many, many years," he said of the project. "Now we have a fresh update and we want to stay on top of things."
A committee comprised of administration and community members was formed for the first EXCEL project but Cerne said because of the smaller size in phase III that will not be the case this time.
"It's going to be much smaller, similar to the first EXCEL project ... between $7 and $10 million," Cerne said of the expected cost.
As the district looks to roll out the third phase it pays witness to the extensive work happening at Schools 3, 4, 5, and at the high school.
"We're in good shape. They're just about ready to turn the second floor over at School 4 and 5 to us so we can start waxing the floors," Cerne said of phase two. "The windows are going up like mad and we should be finishing up the windows at School 5 in another week or so and then move over to School 3. Things are happening at a rapid pace."
The main gym at the high school is currently torn apart and that will be down for a year which Cerne said the district had planned on. The football field, he added, is right on schedule.
"The turf is going to be delivered any day now. The people putting the turf in for us from A-Turf are also working at Ralph Wilson Stadium right now, so we're getting the same crew. They will start July 26 and will be done in 14 work days. It's kind of cool we're getting the same crew that is working at the Ralph ... it kind of makes us feel important," Cerne joked.
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