EAST SYRACUSE-MINOA SCHOOLS – On back-to-back evenings last week, the East Syracuse Minoa Central School District celebrated the completion of renovations to two more of its schools with ribbon cuttings and staff-led tours.

Constituting the second phase of the $49.8 million “Our Elementary Objective” capital project approved in 2018 by district voters, the updates to Park Hill School and Minoa Elementary were meant to transform the facilities into 21st century learning environments with higher degrees of security and flexibility.

According to ESM Superintendent Donna DeSiato, the designs for the project have become reality on time and on budget with 78% of the funding derived from state building aid. She said “outstanding work” and detail had been committed to both endeavors, regarding the resulting redesigns as especially impressive given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other sites modernized over the two-year span of construction have been Fremont Elementary, Woodland Elementary and, to a lesser extent, East Syracuse Elementary, a comparatively newer building.

Park Hill Pre-K
The ribbon cutting for the refurbished Park Hill School on Roby Avenue took place on Monday, Aug. 29.

While students and staff were relocated to the former St. Matthew’s School on Kinne Street, $4.7 million was put toward renovations centered around the wing beyond the school’s main entrance, which has been brightened up with primary colors. That section was torn down from the inside and rebuilt with more spacious classrooms and bathrooms.

Kate Skahen, the district’s executive director of school business administration, started the ceremony by thanking ESM’s board of education and administrators, Park Hill’s parent-teacher organization, the teaching union presidents in attendance, and the architects, contractors and consultants who partnered with the district to make the project possible.

During his remarks at the podium, ESM School Board President D. Paul Waltz called the finished product behind him “Disney World recreated.”

“We’ve always had the brightest, most creative staff members, and now we have learning space to complement our wonderful staff,” Waltz said.

DeSiato said the reopening and rededication of the building marked the beginning of a new chapter in Park Hill’s 84-year history.

“This is truly an amazing, exciting day for ESM and for Park Hill,” she said.

In addition to thanking the district’s attorneys, the elected officials of the Village of East Syracuse, and state representatives, DeSiato gave a nod to fellow speaker Skahen for her role in spearheading the two-phase capital project and helping to secure funding and swing space.

After the Spartan Sound Machine performed a pair of tunes, Park Hill Principal Pamela Buddendeck extended appreciation to faculty and staff members for their input, adaptability and positivity throughout the design process. She also acknowledged the community of parents and families for their “unwavering support.”

“It was truly a collaborative effort and I’m so grateful for everyone who helped make this renovation possible,” Buddendeck said.

This fall, ESM is offering its first full-day pre-K classes at Park Hill alongside its half-day program.

Minoa Elementary
Because of rain, the ceremony for the reopening of Minoa Elementary the following evening was held indoors in front of a packed crowd of students and their families.

The $13.1 million project for that school on North Main Street entailed a full gutting of the building, fresh coats of paint, redone terrazzo flooring and an increased footprint with its cafetorium, which will be used for school assemblies and choral concerts.

The school also contains connecting, collaborative classrooms and breakout spaces in the hallways with tables and markerboards.

Principal Gary Gerst said the teachers’ involvement with the process and their meetings with architects were “key pieces” of the renovation project’s success.

DeSiato pointed to the integration of upgraded technology as a step that will better engage students.

“We’ve gotten away from the 770-square-foot box that has all the rows of desks,” DeSiato said. “These designs are much more in keeping with the way in which children learn and the way in which children can be successful in their learning.”

She said the Village of Minoa has been “tremendously supportive” of the renovations to the elementary school.