The $53.4-million project – which started in spring 2021 – will consolidate the district’s three elementary schools into a single campus on the current Fletcher Elementary School site. IMAGE COURTESY OF GORDON W. JONES ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS, P.C.
Tonawanda City School consolidation: A culmination of 15 years of planning BY LISA KOPOCHINSKI
W
ith a completion
ger period of time — to have all of our
date
for
students under one roof,” says Timo-
“We are striving to be responsible
2023,
thy Oldenburg, Tonawanda City School
and conservative to our taxpayers
District superintendent of schools.
while working to meet the changing
slated
summer work
continues
on the Tonawa-
nda City Elementary School project in
PROJECT BENEFITS
needs of all students.
needs of our students, school safety, and community support,” explains
This project is the culmination of
Oldenburg. “The newly consolidated
The $53.4 million project — which
nearly 15 years of analysis and plan-
facility will not require significant repair
started in Spring 2021 — will consoli-
ning. Facilities studies concluded that
or replacement for many years. We are
date the district’s three elementary
the school district’s three aging el-
taking proactive steps to be a sustain-
schools into a single campus on the
ementary schools would only become
able organization in a permanent tax-
current Fletcher Elementary School
much more expensive to maintain and
cap era.”
site, which is across the street from
remain functional in the coming years.
Tonawanda, New York.
Vaughn Maracle is a project execu-
the middle school/high school com-
The TONA2020 committee unani-
tive at Campus Construction Manage-
plex. The consolidation plan will close
mously recommended this consolida-
ment Group, which is overseeing the
the Mullen and Riverview elementary
tion plan, which addresses the school
entire project with regard to schedule,
schools and include a significant school
district’s increasing facility needs and
budget management, and overall qual-
upgrade at Fletcher Elementary.
allows the district to improve and ad-
ity of work. He says this consolidation
“It is more efficient — instructionally,
vance its educational programs, pro-
plan ensures that all elementary stu-
operationally, and financially over a lon-
vide necessary services, and meet the
dents will benefit from increased and
56
Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY, Inc.