GOSHEN- As students prepare to return to school, Orange-Ulster BOCES is continuing work on a $158.8 million capital improvement project that includes significant investments in campus safety, infrastructure, and modern career and technical education facilities.
The voter-approved project spans the BOCES campuses in Goshen and Campbell Hall and has entered a major construction phase at the Career and Technical Education Center on Gibson Road.
In addition to expanding instructional space, the project includes several upgrades aimed at improving safety and the learning environment. Planned improvements include enhanced building security, modernized heating and ventilation systems, electrical and plumbing upgrades, new lighting, roof and window replacements, and improved indoor air quality.
According to Mark Coleman, Orange-Ulster BOCES assistant superintendent, improvements to student safety for the upcoming school year are not limited to the building construction projects. A recent audit by the New York State Comptroller’s Office made recommendations to BOCES about how to better manage building access badges for school employees. Coleman said BOCES will implement the best-practices and process improvements recommended by the Comptroller’s Office ahead of the upcoming school year.
In addition to the security upgrades, construction projects will add new shop classrooms, upgraded science and technical labs, a digital film studio, a multipurpose room, and renovated instructional spaces. Career programs including welding, HVAC, carpentry, electrical, cosmetology, computer networking, architecture, engineering, heavy equipment operation, and digital media are expected to benefit.
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