While workers are putting the finishing touches on the third phase of the $24 million capital improvement project, the Orchard Park School District received some good news this week.

The project was finished $1.5 million under budget and as a result, Assistant Superintendent of Business Jeffrey Petrus said there will be additional work performed next year.

“At this point, we are in great shape for the opening of school,” said Petrus, noting that cabinetry work is the last part of the current phase being completed.

The bulk of the work this summer was updating the science wing at the high school.

On Tuesday night, Petrus asked the board if it would approve allowing him to bid out for a number of additional projects at various facilities.

This includes putting in new pavement at the Freeman Road side parking lot at the high school.

Other projects include updating the cable infrastructure at the middle school, updating the district wide phone system, installing a new heating system at Ellicott Elementary and replacing the high school cafeteria freezer.

According to Petrus, he expects these projects to occur in 2011.

In other news, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Cam Morton told the board that while the final numbers are not in, it appears the district should be in good shape with class sizes this year.

Morton told the board that overall, there are about 5,500 students enrolled throughout the district.

“About 1 -percent less than last year at this time,” said Morton.

He said that this is a normal number for a district the size of Orchard Park, as district enrollment numbers fluctuate each year.

Morton is pleased at the average class sizes at each school.

“We are looking closer to our class size guidelines than any other year since I’ve been here,” said Morton.

The first day of school for students in the district is Tuesday, Sept. 7.

The Orchard Park Central School Board will hold its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14 in the meeting area at the District office, 3330 Baker Road.

e-mail: cgordon@beenews.com