Capital Project - Middleburgh Central School District

About the Capital Project

Project Progress

Elementary School | Junior-Senior High School | Transportation Building

Overview

Front entrance of Middleburgh Central School, a red-brick building with white columns and a classical pediment.

In May 2025, district residents approved an $8.1 million capital project to fortify and improve facilities for current and future generations of students and preserve our buildings as an essential community resource. Through the use of state grants and $2 million from the MCSD Capital Reserve, the capital project has no additional impact on the tax levy.

Repairs and enhancements included in the 2026 Capital Project are focused on resolving and improving safety and services for students and staff, current facility repair needs, preparing our infrastructure for future needs, and supporting community services in our buildings.

Before the Build: Photos

As the work begins, take a look at the facilities that will be improved through the approved capital project. These investments are designed to support students, staff, and our community for years to come.

A cramped health office workstation area with desks, computers, and cabinets, and a doorway leading to a smaller examination room with a scale and medical equipment. — An expanded Health Center will include free medical and dental services for students in required safety-compliant wet/dry zones.

Old glass window with heavily chipped and peeling paint. — Upgrading stage and attic windows to energy-efficient models would lower energy costs.

A small, circular window with a wheel-spoke muntin design set into a dark attic. — Upgrades to preserve the building’s historic integrity would also improve safety and efficiency.

A view from a lighting booth featuring an ETC control console overlooking a theater stage with a green curtain. To the right, graffiti on the wall commemorates "Rick Coons & Jan Cooper" from 1992. — Updated lighting would modernize the auditorium space for both school and community events.

A section of theater balcony seating featuring vintage wood and fabric chairs, a yellow extension ladder resting on the stairs, and a large stage light on a stand. — Restoration of a missing balcony seating section would expand access.

An open door leads to a men’s restroom, highlighting the interior tile work. — Out-of-service bathrooms in the cafeteria will be replaced with ADA-compliant facilities.

Two yellow school buses are raised on hydraulic lifts inside a large maintenance bay with their hoods open for mechanical repairs. — Two bus lifts, which have already exceeded their life expectancy, will be replaced.

A heavy-duty vehicle lift in a garage bay, featuring a vertical chrome piston and a yellow safety locking rack. — Two heavy-duty vehicle (bus) lifts have outlived their service life.

Closeup of a concrete floor displays deterioration. — A sealer will be applied to the Transportation Building to preserve the integrity of the floor.

A parking lot displays deterioration. — Drainage will be installed to prevent water intrusion, and conduit will be installed under the parking lot to prepare for state-mandated electric vehicle charging.

A close-up of a brown-painted wooden post on a snow-covered playground, showing significant peeling paint and weathered wood underneath. — The current wooden playground structure shows significant wear and requires a replacement to meet modern safety standards and to ensure accessibility for all students.

A close-up of a brown wooden railing on a playground where a large section of paint has chipped away, exposing grey, weathered, and splintering wood. — The playground structure displays weathered and splintering wood, highlighting the need for safety and infrastructure solutions.

Bleachers in closed position against gym wall. — The gymnasium’s outdated bleachers, which have been unusable for years, will be replaced with a modern set featuring side rails and other enhancements.

Closeup of damaged column base. — The Junior-Senior High School will undergo critical repairs to preserve its historic integrity and improve safety.

Close-up of a white painted column base with peeling paint and visible rust damage. — Main entry columns bases display peeling paint and visible rust damage.

Project Timeline

Major construction began in May 2026, with smaller projects starting sooner. All work is planned to be completed by fall of 2026.

Timeline graphic showing steps of a school construction project from referendum vote in May 2025 through construction beginning in May 2026, including planning, SED approval, bidding, and award milestones.

Referendum Vote – May 2025
Architects Prepare Plans – May to August 2025
Plans Submitted to SED – September 2025
(Plans are sent to the State Education Department (SED) for review.)
District Receives SED Approval – January 2026
(The State Education Department (SED) grants permission to move forward.)
District Bids Project – February 2026
Bids Awarded by BOE – March 2026
(The Board of Education (BOE) officially selects and approves the contractors.)
Construction Begins – May 2026

Project Progress

Elementary School

Planned renovations at the elementary school focus on safety, services and accessibility.

Bleachers

The gymnasium’s outdated bleachers, which have been unusable for years, will be replaced with a modern set featuring side rails and other enhancements. This work is anticipated for summer of 2026.

Health Center

Space will be expanded at the school-based health center to provide free well-care and dental services to students. The new design will include the required wet and dry areas to ensure a safe environment. Health services support student learning and participation in athletics. Bids for this portion of the project were awarded in March with work began in May 2026.

June 2026 Health Center Construction Progress

An A-frame ladder and construction lift stand in an unfinished room under bright overhead lights, featuring exposed wall framing, loose building materials, and protective white sheeting taped along the baseboards.

A room undergoing renovation is filled with construction equipment, featuring a red rolling scaffold, a wooden utility cart, and exposed framing walls prepped with blue painter's tape and plastic sheeting.

An industrial shop vacuum sits on a dusty concrete floor inside a room under renovation, which features exposed wall studs, an orange tool box, a red fire extinguisher stand, and large windows looking outside.

Playground

In 1989, the Middleburgh community came together for five days of ‘labor and love’ to build the iconic Maze Craze playground. As we look toward the 2026 Capital Project and the creation of a new, fully accessible play space, we invite you to look back at the incredible community spirit that started it all. Read The Maze Craze: Community Construction Leaves a Lasting Legacy and how the playground continues to inspire our vision for a barrier-free future for all students.

With community input helping to guide the process, the district will construct a new playground on the former Little League field — to meet current codes and create joyful, barrier-free experiences for every MCS student. Weather permitting, the district will welcome children to the new playground in October 2026.

June 2026 Playground Construction Progress

A chain-link fence encloses a grassy school field holding stacked playground or construction components, a white trailer, and soccer goals in front of a brick building.

A steamroller sits on a flatbed trailer next to a fenced-in school field containing a modular trailer, a soccer goal, and wrapped construction materials.

An empty field with a carved dirt platform.

Wrapped construction materials and teal plastic slide segments sit on wooden pallets within an orange-fenced staging area on a school field, with a construction trailer in the background.

A construction staging area on a grassy field featuring large, circular, teal-colored components wrapped in clear plastic with caution tape surrounding.

Junior-Senior High School

The Junior-Senior High School is set to undergo critical facility upgrades to preserve its historic integrity and improve safety, efficiency and accessibility.

Efficient Windows

Stage and attic windows will be replaced with energy-efficient models that will reduce energy costs.

Auditorium

Updated lighting will modernize the space for both school and community events, while the restoration of a missing balcony seating section will expand access. Work will begin right after graduation and be completed by Oct. 2026.

Preservation

Over the summer of 2026, the building’s main roof will have gutter repairs to address drainage issues and deterioration of the Yankee gutter system.

Cafeteria Bathrooms

Out-of-service bathrooms in the cafeteria will be replaced with ADA-compliant facilities. This work will begin in the summer of 2026 and is expected to be completed by October 2026.

Building Columns

The main entry columns will receive structural repairs to ensure their longevity. The district is awaiting bids on this portion of the project.

Transportation Building

Several upgrades will ensure the bus garage remains safe and efficient.

Bus Lifts

Two lifts, which have already exceeded their life expectancy, will be replaced during the summer of 2026.

Floor

During the summer of 2026, a sealer will be applied to preserve the integrity of the floor.

Grounds

Additional drainage will be installed to prevent water intrusion, helping to protect both the structure and surrounding grounds. This work will be completed during July and August 2026.

Conduit Installation

Conduit will be installed under the parking lot to prepare for state-mandated electric vehicle charging. This work will also occur over the summer of 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Coming soon.

About the Capital Project

Project Progress

Overview

Before the Build: Photos

Project Timeline

Project Progress

Elementary School

Bleachers

Health Center

June 2026 Health Center Construction Progress

Playground

June 2026 Playground Construction Progress

Junior-Senior High School

Efficient Windows

Auditorium

Preservation

Cafeteria Bathrooms

Building Columns

Transportation Building

Bus Lifts

Floor

Grounds

Conduit Installation

Frequently Asked Questions

Project Funding Breakdown