Bolandi announces finalized agreement with bonding company
By: Kip Berman
HIGHTSTOWN It’s a done deal.
Schools Superintendent Ron Bolandi has announced a finalized agreement with a bonding company to complete renovations on the Perry L. Drew Elementary School and Melvin H. Kreps Middle School and enclose the new elementary school next to the Ethel McKnight Elementary School by the end of March.
Mr. Bolandi made the announcement at Monday’s meeting of the East Windsor Regional School District Board of Education.
"We have been conducting ongoing negotiations with Ohio Casualty over the last couple of weeks. Robbie MacPherson (the board’s construction attorney) had negotiated a tentative agreement now that agreement is official. We signed off on the deal on Friday," he said. "Ohio Casualty will take over the projects and they’ve hired Forcon International (as general contractor)."
Forcon International has offices across the country, the closest in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, according to the company’s Web site.
Originally the district had hired TriRidge Construction, of Ridgewood, to perform $9.9 million worth of renovations to Kreps, $3.5 million in renovations to Drew and about $8 million to build the new elementary school, according to Business Administrator David Shafter. Ohio Casualty essentially insured that work.
However, as a result of construction delays that forced Drew to open two days late, the district fired TriRidge in late September. In October, TriRidge countered by canceling its contract, claiming fraud, mismanagement and nonpayment of some bills on the part of the district.
Mr. Bolandi emphasized Monday that the new contractor will complete the work at Drew and Kreps at no extra cost to the district.
The major work that still needs to be completed at Drew comprises the cafeteria, gymnasium, flooring, and heating and ventilation, according to Mr. Bolandi. At Kreps, he says, there is still work to be completed on the auditorium, four science rooms, the art room and the front of the building.
Negotiations are still ongoing as to the ultimate completion of the new school, though Mr. Bolandi said he is hopeful a final agreement with Ohio on that issue can be announced at the Jan. 9 school board meeting.
As for when construction will resume on Kreps and Drew, Mr. Bolandi said he is optimistic that work will begin before the holiday break.
"We’ll be meeting next Thursday with a representative of Ohio and I’m hopeful that construction will begin right away," he said Wednesday. "I’m expecting to have a lot of work done during the holidays, when students and staff are not in school."
TriRidge has not responded to requests for comment for several months.
In other news, Monday’s school board meeting has been canceled. The board will meet next on Jan. 9.