On Thursday, August 29th, the Ken-Ton School District celebrated the completion of long-awaited capital construction projects at Edison Elementary and Hoover Elementary during a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside Edison’s new six-classroom kindergarten addition. The event took place immediately prior to the building’s school supply drop-off, which provided families their first opportunity to meet their teachers and see their classrooms for the very first time.
The work was part of the district’s ongoing Capital Project, which began in 2021. Edison Elementary and Hoover Elementary both received improvements which will dramatically improve traffic flow and safety during arrival and dismissal: a new bus loop and pick-up/drop-off lane at Edison, and a new pick-up/drop-off loop at Hoover. Most importantly, both schools also received classroom additions which will meet the need for additional classroom space. A great deal of work was also completed at Kenmore East High School, including a redesigned parking lot and bus loop which will also enhance traffic flow and safety in the mornings and afternoons.
“Today is about much more than simply construction,” said Sabatino Cimato, Superintendent of Schools. “We are coming together in the realization that Ken-Ton is on the move. We are also reaffirming our commitment as a school district to making our schools the center of the community and continuing to contribute to the beautification of the Town of Tonawanda and the Village of Kenmore.”
Superintendent Cimato was joined by State Sen. Sean Ryan; Village of Kenmore Deputy Mayor Paul Catalano; Cathy Piciulo, Executive Director of the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce; Board of Education members Fred Floss, Karen Whitelaw, and Lee Ann Vogt; Shawn Siddall, Principal of Edison Elementary School; district administrators; and representatives of the district's construction and architecture partners, Campus Construction and Clark Patterson Lee.
Additional work is on the horizon. At Kenmore East, this includes a new front entrance, a much-needed new roof, new tennis courts, and directional LED lighting at its new artificial turf athletic fields to facilitate expanded sports scheduling options. In spring 2025, construction will begin at Lindbergh Elementary which, like all schools, will receive new water pipes and a new, more secured single point of entry. Lindbergh will also receive a reconfigured main office layout. Additionally, cameras are being installed throughout the district and continued upgrades are being made to PA and door access systems for enhanced safety and security. This is in addition to all the work that has already been completed in previous years at our other buildings, including Franklin Elementary, Holmes Elementary, Franklin Middle, Hoover Middle, and Kenmore West.
A future capital project is also on the horizon which focuses on instruction at every level. There will be multiple priorities for this project, including much-needed improvements at buildings such as Lindbergh Elementary and Kenmore Junior/Senior High as well as strategically planning for grade-level configurations that are anchored in sound, research-
based practice. Planning will begin by the end of this year so the district can be in a position to present a solid proposal for our community’s consideration.
“Ken-Ton is already an amazing place to live and raise a family,” Cimato said. “We have beautiful neighborhoods and parks, unparalleled municipal services from the Town and Village, great schools, a strong community, a thriving economy, and a proud, rich history. Ken-Ton also remains an extremely affordable place to live, and we continue to see the real estate market flourish. People are taking notice of Ken-Ton and we are extremely excited about this trajectory. Thanks to our partnerships with the town, village, and with our county and state representatives, we are destined to make it even better.”
