Selection of Architect or Engineer
The Board of Education is responsible for employing an architect and/or engineer if a project requires architectural or engineering services. The architect or engineer must be licensed in the State of New York and familiar with the laws, regulations and procedures relating to school construction.
Selection of an architect or architect or engineer to plan and design a new school building or additions or renovations to existing buildings shall be left to the discretion of the Board consistent with Board of Education Policy 5411, and the Board shall take into consideration the relevant professional qualifications, experience, and reputation of prospective architects and/or engineers. In addition, the Board shall consider the willingness of such individuals to work cooperatively with District staff.
Plans, Specifications and Cost Estimates
The architect and/or engineer shall develop plans and specifications which comply with the laws of the State of New York and the regulations and requirements of the State Education Department and any other governmental agency with jurisdiction over the project.
Such plans shall be submitted to the Superintendent of Schools for review and to the Board of Education for consideration and approval. Following approval by the Board, the plans will be submitted to the appropriate state and local agencies for their review and approval, if required.
Estimates of construction costs will be prepared by the architect or engineer and submitted to the Superintendent. After review, the Superintendent will present them to the Board for consideration and approval. The final determination of cost and budget of any project is the sole responsibility of the Board.
Educational Specifications
Where a proposed construction project involves all or a portion of a building where instruction takes place, the Superintendent of Schools will prepare educational specifications for the project. These specifications may be prepared with the assistance of the professional staff and the advice of outside consultants.
Upon completion, the specifications will be presented to the Board of Education for its approval and, upon acceptance, they will be furnished to the architect for use in preparing and drafting plans.
Educational specifications should take the following into consideration;
a) Applicable information on school organization and estimate enrollment;
b) Description of proposed curriculum and teaching methods and techniques to be used;
c) Space requirements, including a desired layout of special areas and equipment for such areas; and
d) Any references to standard codes and regulations which may affect planning.
These specifications should identify the nature of the educational programs to be served by the new construction, the desired relationships among the various major areas of the building, the design objectives and the various facilities required.
Naming Facilities
The Board of Education is responsible for naming any new facility. The Board, in its discretion, may establish procedures for the naming of any building or other district facility.
Adopted March 19, 2019; Revised December 12, 2023