BHS/TCMS Plans and Documents

Oct. 23, 2026 Update

Dear Members of the Brighton School Community,

We have great news to share with you regarding the Athletic Fields Project. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has approved the Interim Remedial Measures and top-soil testing plans that were required to be in place prior to resuming construction of the athletic fields at Brighton High School.

Beginning next week, you may notice equipment and activity in the area behind Brighton High School as our environmental consultants begin additional soil testing to determine what can be used as vegetative cover in the areas that will not be covered by turf. Please note that this is not the start of any actual construction. The activity is solely related to sampling and testing required as part of the ongoing investigation. All activities will be executed in accordance with plans and procedures approved by the NYSDEC.

NYSDEC-approved community air monitoring will be conducted throughout the testing work to help ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, neighbors, and the broader community.

Once test results are available, we will share the findings and provide an update on the next steps with the Project. The results will be filed in the document repository on the District’s Citizen Participation Plan website, which also contains copies of all documents approved by the NYSDEC.

The District will host a community forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Administration Building, 2035 Monroe Ave. Representatives from the NYSDEC and Terracon, the District’s environmental consultants, will be in attendance to answer questions and provide additional information. In addition, the NYSDEC will be distributing a fact sheet that will summarize the environmental preparation and planning work that has been done to allow this Project to move forward.

Pending the results of the testing and any required approvals, construction could begin as soon as within the next several weeks.

Thank you,

Kevin McGowan, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Background and Regulatory Action

On February 7, 2024, voters of the Brighton Central School District approved a major construction project at Brighton High School. The project included improvements to traffic flow and pedestrian safety, redesigning parking lots and entrances, making upgrades to meet ADA accessibility requirements, improving athletic facilities with new synthetic turf baseball and softball fields, and upgrading stormwater drainage systems.

During construction in January 2026, contractors discovered soil and fill materials containing ash, cinders, glass, and other debris. As a result, construction work at the high school was temporarily stopped.

The District then conducted an environmental investigation. Test results showed that some of the soil and fill materials on the site contained contaminants at levels that exceed New York State standards for unrestricted use.

Because of these findings, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) issued an agreement, called an Order on Consent, for the District to sign. Under this agreement, the District must prepare and submit several plans for NYSDEC approval, including plans for managing the site, conducting additional investigations, and carrying out cleanup work. The District must also perform any required environmental remediation before and during the remainder of construction.

The Board of Education approved the NYSDEC agreement on July 21 and therefore, the District is able to move forward with and complete the project while addressing the environmental issues identified at the site. 

That approval of the NYSDEC agreement obligates the District to complete the following key action items: 

1. Legal recording notice with County Clerk
2. Public Participation Plan
3. Records Review
4. Interim Site Management Plan
5. Site Investigation
6. Remedial Measures
7. Environmental Easement

This webpage will be used as a repository for all future documents and project updates.

Please click here to view the Citizen Participation Plan