South awards construction contracts

No date has been set yet for the completion of improvements to the music and weight rooms at the high school.

By: Linda Seida
   WEST AMWELL — The Board of Education of South Hunterdon Regional High School has agreed to award contracts to two firms for improvements to the high school’s music room and weight room.
   During a special meeting Aug. 12, the board awarded a contract of $17,123 to Mathusek Sports Floors of Bergenfield to replace the flooring in the weight room, which is located next to the gymnasium.
   The weight room’s floor needs to be replaced because of age and wear.
   "It’s getting ragged," said board President Douglas Coleman.
   The board also awarded a contract for $7,350 from Partyka Construction Inc. of Raritan for the installation of acoustic walls and ceiling panels in the high school’s music room.
   Improvements to the music room were needed because the acoustics there are poor, according to Mr. Coleman.
   "It’s hard on everyone’s ears in there," he said. Sound "reverberates all over the place, including outside of the room, I imagine. The music teacher will be happy, I’m sure."
   No date was available for the completion of either project, according to Mr. Coleman.
   The district hopes to have the weight room floor replaced over the Christmas holidays, although confirmation of that timeframe hasn’t been received yet from the contractor, according to Business Administrator Julie Mumaw.
   No date for completion of the music room’s improvements was available, according to Ms. Mumaw. The work most likely will not cause disruption to classes because it shouldn’t take the contractor too long to install the acoustic walls and ceiling panels, she said.
   Both projects have been on the district’s list of needed improvements for at least a year.
   "Probably longer than that," Mr. Coleman said.