MONROE — Officials opened Applegarth Elementary School this month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and student orientation.
The Sept. 4 ceremony was the culmination of months of remediation and renovation of the former middle school on Applegarth Road. In the months leading up to the opening of the school, parents raised concerns about a myriad of issues, including asbestos and lead abatement, air quality, transportation, fire safety, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
The school was closed for the 2011-12 school year for the renovations. Initially, the board sought to prepare eight classrooms for use for the 2012-13 school year, but the current plan is that 12 classrooms are ready, accommodating 300 students. In addition, the school’s cafeteria, library, gym, and music and art rooms will be available. However, the school’s 1930s- and 1970s-era wings, science labs and industrial arts rooms will not be available, according to officials. Despite parents’ concerns, the school has opened its doors with a clean bill of health, according to school officials who spoke at the Aug. 22 Board of Education meeting.
“I’m proud of the progress,” said Applegarth Principal Dennis Ventrello, who lauded staff, teachers and district officials for working together. “They’ve all been very, very supportive.”
Superintendent of Schools Kenneth R. Hamilton was confident of the school’s prospects.
“We are certain that Applegarth will provide an exceptional learning environment for the students that will be entering in September,” Hamilton said. “We believe the building is educationally and structurally prudent.”
Robert Lynch, school environmental consultant and a certified hygienist of environmental safety management, addressed the water concerns and said filters have been installed in water fountains with a high-level filter installed in the building main where the township water enters the school.
“We’re satisfied with that course of action,” Lynch said.
In addition to the water concerns, other residents criticized the number of expenditures related to the reopening of the facility that were not in the Applegarth budget.
Business Administrator Michael Gorski noted that the renovation of the facility has cost $1.17 million to date.
Among the costs not budgeted were $40,000 for a demographics study, $55,108 for door and security hardware, $88,000 for playground equipment, and $41,700 for site improvements, including paving, fencing, sidewalks and railings.
Gorski said items not budgeted were funded through the capital reserve as well as savings realized by a purchase-order freeze, as well as energy and plowing savings due to the mild winter last year.
Gorski responded that the 2012-13 budget was under the 2 percent tax levy cap and noted that the district had used $230,000 in extra state aid for tax relief.
Parent Chrissy Skurbe, who has repeatedly questioned the district with regard to the remediation during the renovations, came to the board’s defense in financing the work.
“It’s not a lot of money that was spent. The building needed a lot of work. I do thank the board for how far we’ve come,” Skurbe said.