School Board Approves Over $275K in Capital Projects

A total of eight projects designated in the Capital Improvement Plan will soon be tackled by the school district after the Salem School Board granted approval to various bids on Tuesday.

The projects will see a total cost of over $275,000, based on bids made to the district.

We have listed each project below, including the total budgeted cost and the amount of the bid that was accepted. Each project was presented to the board by Director of Maintenance Jack Messenheimer.

HAND RAILS

These will be installed at a number of locations at Salem High School and Woodbury Middle School. The railings will be made out of galvanized steel.

Messenheimer said that there was very little bid response, but that he did reach out to A.J. Wood Construction of Salem. Superintendent Michael Delahanty said that he suspected the budgeted amount was below what the market rate is for the work.

Budgeted Total: $28,000

Bid Awarded: $45,000

PAVING AT HAIGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Messenheimer said that this work is expected to take place on the entry loops around back of the school, along with the staff parking lot. Asphalt curbing and restriping of all areas will also take place.

Renovations at Haigh School, no matter the timetable, will not damage the new pavement.

A total of three companies – Busby Construction Co., Hooksett Paving and Petra Paving were taken through the site. A bid was awarded to Petra Paving Inc., located in Hampstead.

Budgeted Total: $102,635

Bid Awarded: $95,460

PAVING AT NORTH SALEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

This paving project will take place in the playground and basketball area, which was damaged during the school's renovation and also by some of the plowing in the area.

Petra Paving Inc. and Hooksett Paving visited the site and submitted bids, with Petra Paving Inc. being granted the bid.

Budgeted Total: $16,830

Bid Awarded: $14,334.

HVAC CLEANINGS

The scope of this work will take place at Woodbury Middle School, on the newer side of the building facing the fields, along with at Fisk Elementary School.

Vacuum cleaning will also take place, along with spraying down the heat coils.

Two companies placed bids on the work – Tri State Fire Protection LLC and Armstrong Air. Tri State was awarded the bid.

Renovation work at Fisk Elementary School will also not interfere with the HVAC systems.

Budgeted Total: $33,600

Bid Awarded: $14,500

DOORS AND FRAMES AT WOODBURY MIDDLE SCHOOL, SALEM HIGH SCHOOL

Messenheimer told the board that this item was identified in the facility audit.

He said that many of the doors set to be fixed at the two buildings are either punctured or rusted.

Despite renovations scheduled in the future for SHS, both Messenheimer and Delahanty assured that the doors still need to be replaced, even if they are re-purposed if and when the high school gets an overhaul. Delahanty said that the doors tapped for replacement are at a "failure state."

Messenheimer added that issues of security, pest management and keeping out the elements have all been factored in to the decision to replace the doors.

New England School Services of Medford, Mass. placed a bid on the project, which was awarded by the board.

Budgeted Total: $13,500

Bid Awarded: $13,760

FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES DEVICES

These will mainly be installed in bathrooms at SHS, Woodbury and the SAU building.

The scope of the work is to update and install smoke detectors, horns and strobes in several of the area that have been identified as needing additional protection.

A bid was received from and awarded to East Coast Security & Fire, LLC of Salem.

Budgeted Total: $89,600

Bid Awarded: $68,171

MASTER CLOCK SYSTEM

Messenheimer said that this work is phase two of a project started last year at both SHS and Woodbury.

This year, clock systems will be taken care of at SHS in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing, main office and 12 modular classrooms.

A bid was placed and granted to Longchamps Electric Inc. of Manchester.

Budgeted Total: $16,500

Bid Awarded: $16,744

SCIENCE LAB SURFACES AT SALEM HIGH SCHOOL

After one lab was resurfaced at SHS last year, the district will tackle two more for the coming school year. Perimeter surfaces in the two laboratories (Rooms 127 and 125) will be replaced.

A bid was received from and awarded to Jack's Custom Woodworking of Woburn, Mass.

Budgeted Total: $23,380

Bid Awarded: $25,380