Water Testing | Integrated Pest Management and Asbestos Management Plan Notifications | Capital Bond Projects
The Operations and Maintenance Department is responsible for approximately 1 million square feet of building space across nine facilities on more than 200 acres of land. This includes cleaning, regular maintenance, snow removal, overseeing all construction work, and complying with all New York State Education Department health and safety regulations. The department also handles all deliveries within the district.
Testing Water for lead
Public schools in New York are required to test ALL water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes for lead levels. The law makes New York the first state in the nation to require all of its public schools to conduct lead testing on all sources of potable water.
In accordance with the law, if the lead level from a water outlet exceeds the state’s action level of 5 parts per billion, the district will take immediate action. The state’s regulations require that all such outlets be taken offline, or otherwise restricted, until a remediation plan is implemented and further testing indicates that lead levels are below the action level. At that time, the identified outlets will be put back in service.
For the district’s latest water testing results, please click here.
Integrated Pest Management and Asbestos Management Plan Notifications
Asbestos Management Plan
In accordance with the EPA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, the Bethlehem Central School District has in place an asbestos management plan to identify and manage asbestos building materials. The Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) is kept on file at the district office at 700 Delaware Ave, Delmar. These records are available for review during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or by making an appointment. For more information, contact the Chief Business and Financial Officer in the district business office at 439-7481. Information about required inspections and any scheduled asbestos projects occurring this school year is contained within the AMP.
Integrated Pest Management
New York State Education Law Section 409-H and State Education Department Commissioner’s Regulation 155.24, effective July 1, 2001, require all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools to provide written notification to all persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year. The district is required to maintain a list of parents, faculty, and staff who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications. Download, fill-out and return this letter [PDF] if you wish to be on this list of persons receiving initial notifications.
Capital Bond Projects
Wood warps. Stone cracks. Roofs leak. Over time, buildings need maintenance and improvements. The same wear and tear you encounter in your own home also happens to the Bethlehem Central School District’s buildings. From time to time, BCSD will put a capital bond project proposal out to voters in order to address the labor and cost of maintaining the district grounds or doing improvements on a large scale that falls outside of regular day-to-day maintenance.
2021 Facilities Improvement Capital Project
All construction updates can be found here throughout the project.
In October 2021, residents of the Bethlehem Central School District approved a Facilities Improvement Capital Project that includes approximately $40.7 million in priority projects including:
- BCMS auditorium renovations
- BCMS Library Media Center renovations
- BCMS Family & Consumer Science classroom renovations
- BCMS Digital Tech classroom renovations
- Replace grass athletic field at BCHS (outside E wing) with synthetic turf field
- BCHS Gym A renovations
- Playground improvements at all elementary schools
- Shade structures at all schools
- Slingerlands kitchen renovation
- Hamagrael kitchen renovation
- Transportation office renovation
- Roofing replacements at BCHS, BCMS, Elsmere and Hamagrael
- Boiler replacements at BCHS, Elsmere and Hamagrael
- Security upgrades at entrances at Glenmont, Hamagrael
- Additional security cameras districtwide
- Technology infrastructure upgrades
- Tennis court upgrades at BCMS
The project will be budget neutral, with debt service costs fully offset by New York State building aid and significant use of the district’s capital reserve fund. Construction is expected to begin during the 2022-23 school year. Updates will appear on this page as these construction projects get underway.