By Amber Cox, Special Writer
SPRINGFIELD — A timeline for the Springfield Township Elementary School referendum — including the actual vote March 13 — has been set along with a steering committee to overlook the project.
Elementary Supervisor Jared Fudurich explained the steering committee is made up of Joseph Miller, superintendent and principal; Board of Education President James Specca; two teachers who also are residents; two Home and School parents; a member of the Township Council; and a community member.
”The purpose of the committee is to make recommendations to the Board of Education regarding suggestions to go forward with on the project and to actually select the construction teams,” Mr. Fudurich said. “The committee members will also have the job of publicizing how the project is going to move forward, what renovations have been suggested and the need for them and, hopefully, to seek the support so that this referendum can pass.”
Mr. Fudurich also outlined the six-month timeline to get the referendum ready for the voters.
This month was used to implement the operation of the steering committee, hire a bond counsel and construction management firm and advertise for RFPs from a project architect and engineer.
”In August, we will receive our RFPs from the architectural and engineering firms, screen and interview possible firms and hire the architect and engineer,” Mr. Fudurich said. “In September, the architect and engineer begin Phase I of the designing and planning.”
In December, the plans for the referendum will be finalized, presented to the public and submitted to the state Department of Education for approval, and officials will investigate state funding.
In January, the school will announce the referendum date of March 13 and also apply to the county clerk to hold the vote.
”February to March 2012 is the public campaign to pass the referendum, and March 13 is the actual day for the referendum vote,” Mr. Fudurich said.
The board also passed a resolution to approve a contract with Greyhawk Construction Managers and Consultants “to assist with the organization and structuring of the referendum project.”
The board did ask for letters of recommendations from organizations and school districts that have used the company. They also requested a letter from the county about Greyhawk’s work on the new Burlington County Fairgrounds.
The district has decided a referendum is necessary to keep the 72-year-old school safe for students.
Mr. Miller has said that for the safety and welfare of the students, it is important a referendum be passed to make significant improvements to the physical condition of the building. Mr. Miller said improvements would include the roof, windows and heating and ventilation systems.
Referendums to improve the building failed in December 2009 and March 2010. In December of 2009, the board was asking for $11 million to renovate the school, build a new gym and install solar panels on the roof. The school’s old gym would have been converted to a cafeteria, and the current cafeteria would have been turned into a media center.
After the 2009 referendum failed, the board scaled the project down to $9 million and included renovating the school, building a new gym and installing solar panels on the roof.
