South OKs architect for build plan

Hiring the architect is one of the steps needed before the district asks voters to approve a referendum.

By: Linda Seida
   WEST AMWELL — The South Hunterdon Regional School Board of Education has approved the hiring of an architect, one of the preliminary steps needed before the district asks voters to approve a building referendum.
   The board voted unanimously Jan. 20 to hire The Thomas Group as the architect of record for pre-referendum services, including updating the school district’s long-range facility plan. The plan is due to be submitted to the state Department of Education in October.
   The Thomas Group has offices in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia and New Jersey, including one in Princeton. The company has experience working with educational institutions from elementary schools through the university level.
   One of the selling points for South Hunterdon in choosing the firm was the firm’s track record with "smaller projects" in smaller school districts such as South Hunterdon, Superintendent Lisa Brady said. Locally, The Thomas Group worked with Lambertville Public School to install new doors and windows after the elementary school was flooded in 1999 during Hurricane Floyd, according to Ms. Brady.
   The amount to be paid for architectural services was not announced. The contract is under review by the school board’s attorney.
   The board was "inundated" by letters of interest from firms hoping to work on the project with South Hunterdon, Ms. Brady said. In December, the board invited 11 of those firms to submit proposals. From those 11, the board chose five to interview in early January.
   "All of the firms are very reputable. They all have lots of experience," Ms. Brady said. "What it came down to was the best fit for the district as well as the kinds of work the community will embrace."
   In February, a district task force will begin to look at the needs of the district and decide what items to include on a referendum.
   School officials say the building, which serves 346 students in grades seven through 12, has not undergone any major renovation since it was built in 1959. Among the more pressing needs are science labs and a library and media center, officials have said in the past, although no specific need has been singled out yet for inclusion in the referendum.
   Voters in recent years twice rejected building referendums for South Hunterdon. Only six votes defeated the measure in 2002.
   September 2001, the board asked voters to approve building projects that totaled $18.8 million, including the cost of a new gym and auditorium. When that failed 969-857, the board returned to voters in March 2002 to ask for a pared down referendum for renovations that excluded the gym and auditorium and totaled $11.8 million. That also failed, 861-855.