OXFORD – Fifteen flood gates will be installed at the Oxford Middle School later this year to help keep rising waters from causing further damage to the historic structure. According to the district’s architect, as many as 22 additional gates will be needed to provide more complete protection to the building.

At the board of education meeting on July 13, the school board awarded the $141,900 contract for installation of the initial 15 gates to J.N. Giammarino Construction, Inc. of Binghamton. According to Jason Jantzi, an architect with the Bernier Carr Group, the work will begin in late summer or early fall.