By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
Administrators in the Upper Freehold Regional School District expect the state to pay about 34 percent of the costs associated with a referendum that will propose seven infrastructure projects in the district.
Residents in Upper Freehold Township and Allentown will be asked by the Board of Education to approve the work in a special election that has been scheduled for Sept. 26.
Information regarding the financial impact of the referendum on property owners in the two communities will be made available to members of the public as the process advances toward September, board President Patricia Hogan said.
According to an item that was approved by the board at its meeting on May 3, the state has reviewed an application from the school district for the following projects:
• Newell Elementary School, roofing replacement, estimated budget, $2,082,600. The project will remove portions of the existing roof down to existing deck and replace with a new roofing system. Portions of the roof will have a restoration coating applied. Masonry parapet walls above the roof will be repointed, according to a description of the project.
• Newell Elementary School, solar project, estimated budget, $806,000. The project will install roof mounted solar panels.
• Newell Elementary School, installation of a new generator, estimated budget, $203,125.
• Allentown High School, roofing replacement, estimated budget, $3,783,000. The project will remove portions of the existing roof down to existing deck and replace with a new roofing system. Portions of the roof will have a restoration coating applied. Control joints above the roof will be repointed, according to a description of the project.
• Allentown High School, solar project, estimated budget, $1,434,680. The project will install roof mounted solar panels.
• Allentown High School, auditorium renovations to include a new stage floor, new lighting and sound systems, estimated budget, $1,650,410.
• Allentown High School, fire alarm replacement, estimated budget, $246,618.
The seven projects total $10,206,433. A 34 percent payment by the state would amount to $3,470,187.
The board is working with the Spiezle Architectural Group on plans for the improvements.
Hogan previously said the roofs on all the buildings at the campus where Allentown High School and the Newell Elementary School are located are at the end of their useful life and/or in serious disrepair.
She said a referendum committee will be formed and will present additional information about the projects to residents.
Hogan said the board’s architect has added a solar panel component to the project to further offset the financial impact of the proposed improvements.