THIELLS- Willow Grove Elementary School in the North Rockland School District has received a grant for $100,000 to upgrade the building’s HVAC system. The grant was secured by State Senator Pete Harckham through the Local Community Assistance Program, a grant program administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.
“When it is too hot or too cold, students have difficulty learning and paying attention,” said Harckham. “I’m proud to have secured this important New York State grant for the North Rockland Central School District to refurbish the HVAC system at the Willow Grove School, which will keep our students comfortable all school year long. Being able to remove some of the cost burden of the project from local taxpayers is a big benefit, too.”
Willow Grove Elementary School serves approximately 550 students in grades 4, 5 and 6 in a building that was once part of the Letchworth Village campus, which opened in 1911 for developmentally disabled residents and closed in 1997. In 2004, the North Rockland school district purchased the building.
The entire HVAC upgrade project at the Willow Grove school building, now over 50 years old, is set to cost $3.7 million and will include replacement of all existing unit ventilators, installation of two new chillers, replacement of an air handling unit in the cafeteria and refurbishment of two existing ceiling air handling units.
“We know that children learn better when they are comfortable and healthy,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kris Felicello.
