The driveway and parking lot at Phelps School was one of several improvement projects done at Agawam schools during the summer. The Phelps repaving project included adding 20 angled parking spaces on the driveway’s south side.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
AGAWAM — Construction of the community wing for the new Agawam High School — scheduled to be completed in December — has been getting a lot of attention lately. However, during the summer break several other schools in the district get some attention with a number of maintenance/improvement projects.
At the School Committee’s first meeting of the school year, on Sept. 15, Robert Clickstein, the district’s business administrator reported on the “summer projects.” Clickstein, the district’s point person for operations and maintenance in the school department, works closely with the town building and maintenance director on all updates that schools need.
Clickstein said the summer projects were funded by either the town or the Agawam School Age Childcare — a before and after school program. The town funded the installation of carbon monoxide detectors at all schools and replaced doors and door frames at Granger Elementary School. Town workers also performed maintenance on existing electrical and plumbing equipment as well as taking care of painting needs at all schools. Funding came from the building maintenance fund.
The Doering Middle School Media Center received some upgrades with ASAC funds. The rug in the center was replaced with luxury vinyl tile. The room also received new round “collaborative” tables with versatile seating options. “Walking in there now, it’s a lot brighter and more homey,” said Clickstein.
Upgraded gym equipment — paid for with ASAC money — was installed for students at Granger, Sapelli, Phelps and Doering schools. The wall padding was replaced in the Phelps gym and padding was added to places that had not been covered. At Sapelli, a traverse climbing wall is now available for use by students.
The indoor climbing wall features color-coded holds for varying levels of difficulty. The wall promotes muscular strength and problem-solving. High-density blue safety floor mats and protective wall padding that are compliant with school physical education standards also were installed.
Doering, along with Granger, Sapelli and Clark schools, received a new adjustable basketball system. The new hoop architecture features:
- Clear tempered glass backboards that provide professional-grade rebound fidelity and modern aesthetic appeal.
- Breakaway red rim and netting with a spring-loaded pressure mechanism that can absorb dunk impacts and protect mounting structures.
Height adjustment system with integrated jack screw system to allow rim height customization from 8 to 10 feet. - Protective, high-impact blue wall padding that extends the full width of the wall to prevent collision injuries by students.
Phelps also received two major exterior improvements. The first was repaving the driveway entrance and parking lot. Work also included the adding 20 angled parking spaces on the driveway’s south side. The second improvement was upgrading the front green with a new gazebo and updated landscape lighting. These projects were funded through the ASAC.
The ASAC program is located at Doering, Phelps, Clark, Sapelli and Granger schools, The program emphasizes the process of learning through active play and facilitation. It is geared to meet the educational, social, emotional and physical needs of the children who are enrolled.
According to Clickstein, the ASAC program is not part of the district’s budget. “It is considered a revolving fund (revenues and expenses) We spent approximately $225,000 from the before and after school fund.”
Clickstein also told the committee that there are several school projects in the works for the 2026-27 school year. They include:
- Upgrading the lighting system at Sapelli. This will be funded through a Green Communities grant awarded to the town.
- Replacing the heating boiler system at Phelps. Work on the system — which will be funded through the ASAC program — is in progress.
- Moving two sets of gym bleachers from the current high school to the junior high school in December. As part of the new AHS building project, this work will be covered by the Massachusetts School Boiling Authority.
- Transitioning school safety systems — fire alarms, security, elevators and 911 emergency lines — from traditional landlines to cellular communications will be done by the town.
- Evaluating possible replacement of approximately 8,000 square feet of aging epoxy flooring at the junior high school.
- Replacing roofs at the four elementary schools under a MSBA program with the potential to add solar panels.
