Board of Education Updates Construction Progress

Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein said that the majority of construction slated to be completed for the start of school is running right on time despite some "speed bumps" along the way–including unexpected rains that damaged roofs, faulty electric wiring inside the Ridge Elementary ceiling and the discovery of a water main under Stevens Field.

According to the superintendent, such hitches are normal occurrences during construction projects, and the district properly budgeted for work on the old schools–the newest building being 45-years-old–with change orders, essentially a 20% contingency fund in the event the agreed bid exceeds initial projected costs when necessary work is discovered.

Board members made it clear that they still must not exceed the voter-approved referendum budget, and most of the additional expenses were relatively minor.

The costliest change order involved additional work required by the variance issued from the NJ Department of Community Affairs in response to the asbestos abatement at Willard School; it cost over $24,000. Other work included unexpected turf work at the high school fields (totalling a bit over $12,000) as well as site work at RHS ($7,000), $32,000 in roofing work to cut rotted wood at Willard School, wiring changes at Ridge School (over $16,000), and over $11,000 to install a water prevention system on the Travell roof.

"We are still under budget," Board Vice President Robert Hutton said of the additional costs, none of which hit the full 20% allowance.

Hutton, however, did have concerns with approving a measure to award a contract for bleacher installations at other schools.

The board approved four bids to Landsite Construction Company to begin work on bleachers at RHS Stadium and the Ben Franklin Middle School track bleachers, locking them into agreed upon prices for the two. However, the board held off on immediately allowing for construction on visitor bleachers at RHS Stadium and Ben Franklin Middle School Track bleachers.

"We just want to ensure that we have enough room to spread it [the money] around," said Assistant Superintendent of Business Angelo DeSimone, adding that the district has expansion projects also beginning next year and this allows the district flexibility. They've locked the prices on all four bids, but will be merely delaying two bleacher projects as they evaluate other projects.

Hutton however, said that his only concern is the referendum time line. "We have the money today," he said and couldn't guarantee favorable bids for other projects at a later date. He was the only board member to vote no on the issue.

In terms of the construction updates, "Ridgewood High School looks like a war zone right now, but a lot of good things are being done," Fishbein said. The high school garnered the most funding from the $48 million referendum at $10.9 million.

The lockers are near completion, the two major roofing projects (one from the referendum, the other from the capital budget) "should be ready around this week," he reported.

The rain storms of a week ago did cause some roofing damage, he said, but the contractor is responsible for all damages incurred, and the damage appears to not have altered the time frame of completion. It marked the second time this summer rain caused damage.

The district is also doing work on the courtyard, steps throughout the property, toilets (said to be completed by the end of September) and of course, the athletic fields, which he said are progressing nicely. Stevens Field is "almost done" Fishbein said, and RHS Stadium isn't too far behind, slated to be completed sometime in September.

The expansion of Hawes has already seen the roof replaced on the old section, and the expansion project should be done by the end of September. Somerville, Ben Franklin, Travell and Willard have all had roof work as well, and all are complete aside from Travell, which is estimated to be about 85% done.

George Washington Elementary had a bus drop-off installed and the renovation of two bathrooms is estimated to be 90% complete.

There were of course some "speed bumps" throughout the referendum construction process–which was financed through taxpayer bonds, debt service and grants–but "building administrators did a great job in accepting those bumps," Fishbein said.

The board will meet next on September 13 at 7:30.