D-NH facilities committee proposes $17 million improvement project

With a steady growth in enrollment over the past few years, the Dike-New Hartford School District has big plans to grow along with their student population.

Last week, the district unveiled an extensive $17.2 million facilities improvement plan that would make major improvements at both the Dike and New Hartford campuses.

“Dike-New Hartford is a growing school district, which is a very good thing,” said Superintendent Justin Stockdale. “However, with that growth comes some challenges we must address to ensure our students continue to have access to a high-quality education. We have some facilities that are no longer meeting the needs of our students.”

The facilities plan, which is only in the very preliminary planning stages, was created by a 28-member facilities committee made up of local community members, parents, school staff and administration, retirees, city employees and more.

The plan focuses on improvements and expansions to classroom space, security, parking, athletic space, mechanical repairs and ADA/fire safety compliance. Most importantly, it plans for future growth in the district.

“We’ve had a growing enrollment, and with the new 50-house addition being built north of New Hartford, I think it could bring a boom now that we’ll finally have available housing,” Stockdale said. “In any district you want to plan for future growth, and I think this is a great step in that direction for Dike-New Hartford.”

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