HOPEWELL SCHOOLS: New HVAC upgrade planned

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
A completed upgrade of the HVAC system at Hopewell Elementary, new bleachers at the high school athletic field and an ongoing major renovation of Central High School’s robotics classroom were features of the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year for the Hopewell Valley Regional School District.
School opened Sept. 4.
At Monday night’s school board meeting, held at Stony Brook Elementary in the Brandon Farms development, Superintendent Thomas Smith reported that the district’s enrollment on opening day was 3,691 students.
Nearly all of them — 3,330 students — are transported to school as the Hopewell Valley district is spread over a 60-square mile area. Dr. Smith added the district’s eight buildings also house 387 teachers, 221 other staff, plus 22 administrators.
Now that the HVAC work is done, "all our elementary schools are air-conditioned," board President Lisa Wolff said at the meeting.
School Business Administrator and Board Secretary Robert Colavita said the new bleachers at the high school’s turf athletic field were completed, due to be inspected Tuesday and ready for the first home football game of the season tomorrow (Friday) night.
"Sections of the bleachers are alternately painted black and gold (the school colors)," Mr. Colavita said. "It looks impressive."
Dr. Smith said the conversion of the high school’s metal shop into a classroom and workroom for the school’s robotics program and other science curricula is underway and is expected to be completed soon.
Central High School’s new student representative to the board is Christine Persichetti. Principal Michael Daher said Christine is an outstanding student, athlete and Student Council member.