Brentwood UFSD details widespread facilities upgrades and summer 2026 capital priorities

Miguel Cruz, the district’s director of facilities, told the Brentwood Union Free School District Board of Education on Jan. 22 that buildings-and-grounds staff and contractors have completed a broad set of renovations and are planning a list of projects for summer 2026.

Cruz said completed work includes security vestibules, cafeteria flooring replacements and new unit vents in multiple rooms; he listed staff and supervisors involved in the work (custodial supervisor Jason Brown; ground supervisor Mike O’Donnell; maintenance supervisor and construction manager James Conquest; clerical staff Diane Sorrentino and Jerilyn Kosovsky). He also summarized work at Loretta Park and Oak Park — including shower-area abatement and the creation of four offices for PPS staff — door replacements at the high school (18 sets), wainscoting and gym lighting projects, bathroom replacements at West Middle School and partial roof replacements done while school was in session.

Looking ahead to summer 2026, Cruz highlighted planned capital items: football-field complex lighting and soccer field installations; phase 1 of air-conditioning installation in large areas; fire-alarm and sound upgrades; removal of portables to make way for new classrooms at the Freshman Campus and Southeast Elementary; renovations to cafeteria serving lines; and a food-service warehouse with refrigeration and an emergency generator. Cruz said some projects (for example, pool mechanicals and units) will require roof sequencing and are “complicated” to complete safely while school is operating.

Cruz and board members emphasized that many cost increases in current budget lines are due to supply-chain pressures and a new exterminator contract with additional requirements. Cruz said about 10 unit vents were completed at Southwest and several others in annex rooms, and he previewed additional unit-vent replacements planned across the district. Board members thanked buildings-and-grounds staff and urged continued cross-department coordination — especially between facilities and IT — so that renovation work does not require later rework.

The presentation closed with Cruz noting the district’s summer capital list and asking for continued support as budgets are finalized. No formal vote on these capital projects occurred at the workshop; several items were identified as contingent on later budget planning or community propositions.