The Kingston City School District is currently undergoing a $162.5 million capital bond construction program across multiple phases, which started in 2025 and is set to continue until the summer of 2029.

At the Nov. 4 school board meeting, Armand Quadrini, the managing principal at KSQ architects, along with Ellen Abraham, the senior project manager for the work at Kingston’s schools and Jeff Anders from the BBL construction firm gave updates to the board about the progress made during this program with a slideshow presentation.

Crosby Elementary School has installed and started new boilers. Currently, the team is working on completing floor and wall finishes in the boiler room.

Chambers Elementary School received a new secure vestibule entry with a new bullet-proof glazing, entry door and concrete pad for entry. Chambers also received new doors, ceilings and lighting in the lobby entry, and new ceilings, lighting and light-dimming tape for the cafeteria. The new administration office storefront, kindergarten storefront, secure vestibule interior, admin office corridor, office meeting area and eye wash area were described as a “work in progress” by Abraham.

Anders said by this week, they will start on the rooftop for the office space, and new doors should ship in the third week of November.

“There are some items as it relates to the floor finishes in the bathrooms that we've had issues with in the classroom spaces that we're trying to work through before we finish up the bathroom spaces within the admin space,” Anders said. “The storefront, we're trying to work on a plan with the general contractor. We're meeting with them on Friday to try and figure out how we can keep the work consistent, keep the school protected and do the work while we're going on right now.”

Anders said they are also monitoring the heat capacity in classrooms based on outside temperature to make sure the boilers have capacity. While there is currently heat in the classrooms, Anders said they “still have some work to do as it relates to getting the new air source heat pump in place.”

George Washington Elementary School’s entry now has a new concrete stairs and platform, and EVA ramp. The secure entry has a bullet-resistant door. The temporary rail currently at the entry of the building should be replaced by a galvanized rail delivered next week. The contractor has experienced delays with shipping doors and frames, which will now be on site Nov. 19.

A new elevator pit and shaft, auditorium reconstruction and finishes, bathroom renovations, admin suite spaces and finishes are still works-in-progress for GW. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible railings at front and rear ramps and railings at interior stairways are scheduled to be completed at a later date.

For Harry L. Edson Elementary School, new railings, concrete stairs and slab were added to Entry B. The bathrooms were painted with new finishes, flooring and privacy panels, with ceiling lighting in progress. Reduced height for Edson’s cafeteria stage, exterior Stair B railing, cafeteria wall infills and fixing “any other restroom remediation or issues” are in progress.

J. Watson Bailey Middle School received a new storefront and curtain wall at Entry A and new ceilings, lighting, finishing and accent walls in the cafeteria. The bathrooms are undergoing new finishing, fixtures and privacy partitions. The ground floor received a new corridor and wall with highlights. The art room has new ceiling and lighting, and the concrete floor will be patched and sealed. The computer room will also receive new ceiling and lighting. Work at Bailey includes improvements to the music room, auditorium and cafeteria corridor.

School board Trustee Herb Lamb expressed concern about damp floors at Bailey, which he said he noticed two days ago.

“Where is that coming from? We haven’t had rain,” Lamb said. “You put up old cabinets right behind you, there is moisture. If you take a Kleenex and put it against it, it's damp. So there is moisture there.”

Anders said they hose-tested the curtain wall and did not find water coming through, instead blaming the dampness on trapped mop water before the space was turned over, though this is not confirmed. Lamb said there are cracks in the floor. The project team said they would investigate the issue and report back.

The next school board meeting will be held on Nov. 18.