The East Hampton School Board provided updates at its meeting this week on evacuation scenarios in the event of an emergency at the battery energy storage system, or BESS, on Cove Hollow Road and on the $128 million trio of bond propositions that voters approved in May, which fund major capital improvements across all three district schools.
The board met with Gerry Turza, the East Hampton Village fire and emergency medical services administrator, on Sept. 22 to better understand how to evacuate the district’s three schools in case of an emergency at the BESS facility. Mr. Turza was at the scene of a fire there in 2023 that has since been pinpointed as the source of forever chemicals found in nearby Suffolk County Water Authority wells.
“Our singular focus is students’ safety and well-being. If we’re designing an evacuation plan, what is it going to be?” said Adam Fine, the superintendent. “The question really becomes, ‘Do you have enough buses to evacuate all three buildings at the same time?’ And that doesn’t exist right now. Can I get all my kids on my buses? Yes. But it would have to be in stops. Even our neighbors, who have been more than happy to help -Springs, Amagansett, and Montauk -could never get their buses here in time to do that.”
The school board’s leadership is going to meet with Village Mayor Jerry Larsen and Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez over the next few weeks, before speaking with the town and village police.
“It stops and starts with safety. We need our partners, the town and village, to guide us through how to evacuate our buildings in a timely and safe manner,” said J.P. Foster, the school board president. “It’s really that simple. We’re going to rely on the experts to tell us what they expect of us.”
“You’re talking about moving 2,000 people plus staff,” added Christina DeSanti, a school board member. “That doesn’t happen immediately. You also have to find places that are large enough for them to go. You’re talking about a lot of buses all at once and multiple locations because you have to fit them.”
Regarding the capital improvement projects, the board said that a new gray turf field has been approved by the New York State Education Department. The athletic director and coaches have reviewed the field markings, which meet Section XI guidelines.
“We’re working on the track resurfacing, and the new scoreboard for the big field. Lights are being prepared for submission to the N.Y.S.E.D. Lock systems for the building are being researched. The boiler has also received N.Y.S.E.D. approval,” Mr. Fine said.
The district explored adding lanes to expand the track, but there is not enough room. The new track will, however, include a steeplechase water jump. Mr. Fine hopes the work can begin this summer.
“Things are moving!” he said.
The board also had the opportunity Tuesday to pose with the Hampton Coffee Cup. Todd Gulluscio, the athletic director, brought the trophy to Tuesday’s meeting. It was awarded to the Bonac boys soccer team on Friday night after they defeated Southampton 2-1 to win the tournament sponsored by the local coffee company.