New compressors help school resolve temperature issues

BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD — The temperature issues in all but two of the rooms in the new middle school have been resolved.

The Upper Freehold Regional School District has been working with Stone Bridge Middle School’s architect, engineer and utility provider to balance temperatures in a small percentage of the rooms in the building. The temperature control issues did not have a pattern, but in most cases the rooms affected would not get warmer than 65 degrees, according to Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick.

Some of the affected rooms needed a new thermostat and others required a new compressor. Fitzpatrick said the school needed 16 new compressors.

“That’s a large number for a new building,” Fitzpatrick said. “No one seems to understand what the problems are. ”

As of the Jan. 19 Board of Education meeting, the temperature issues in all but one art room and one classroom had been resolved. In order to prevent the remaining problems from affecting students and staff, the school has been holding all art classes in the 3-D art room and relocated the other affected class.

Fitzpatrick said the district would continue working on and monitoring the temperature issues until they are resolved. He also reported on another finishing touch at the new school, which opened in September 2010.

“The [outdoor] fitness center at the middle school has been fully installed,” Fitzpatrick said. “We want to make sure kids have excellent equipment. It’s a very cool structure.”