Katonah-Lewisboro School District officials eye site for Universal Pre-K

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - Katonah-Lewisboro school officials are looking at plans to preserve part of the former Lewisboro Elementary School as a site for universal prekindergarten classes even as they demolish much of the decaying building.

The school board was expected to take up the $20 million proposal when it meets tonight (Nov. 20) in the John Jay High School library.

Representatives of the architecture and engineering firm H2M outlined their concepts for the structure at the school board’s Nov. 6 meeting.

LES was a KLSD elementary school from 1940 to 2014. Since then, some of the building has been rented to the Town of Lewisboro for use as office space.

Michael Lantier, a professional engineer with H2M, told the board his firm had looked at several concepts, ranging from complete demolition to preserving at least part of the building and converting it to pre-K classrooms.

While the concept H2M ultimately chose was not the least expensive option, Lantier said, it “really provides the district with the most flexibility without demolishing the entire building. It actually keeps a good amount of your square footage while being really as cost-effective as we possibly can.”

The proposal provides enough classroom space for 152 pre-K students while also retaining the existing gymnasium and adding a soccer field. He put the estimated cost of the project at $20,638,190 and said it could be completed in just over a year’s time, following what he called a “very aggressive” but “realistic” schedule.

Board President Lorraine Gallagher, a proud LES alumna, applauded the idea of “bringing laughter and life back to such a great elementary school.”

School Superintendent Ray Blanch said H2M had found “really good bones” in the preserved section of the building. The board will take up formal consideration of the plan at its Nov. 20 meeting.