The Lawrence Township Public Schools Boards of Education awarded four contracts to install air conditioning in the seven school buildings, totaling a combined $11.9 million, at a recent meeting.
The installation of air conditioning in areas of the schools where it does not exist is part of a $25.1 million bond referendum that was approved by voters in January 2018.
During the meeting that was held on Jan. 23, the school board awarded a $2.2 million contract to Performance Mechanical to install air conditioning in the Eldridge Park and Ben Franklin elementary schools. The three bidders submitted bids that ranged from $2.2 million to $3 million.
A contract for $3.1 million was awarded to Preferred Mechanical for the air conditioning installation project at the Lawrenceville Elementary School and the Lawrence Intermediate School. The three bids ranged from $3.1 million to $3.5 million.
Preferred Mechanical also was awarded a $3.1 million contract to install air conditioning at the Lawrence Middle School. There were five bidders for that project, whose bids ranged from $3.1 million to $4.6 million.
Finally, Preferred Mechanical was awarded a $3.5 million contract to install air conditioning at the Slackwood Elementary School and Lawrence High School. The bids ranged from $3.5 million to $4 million.
Work on the air conditioning projects will take place during the summers of 2019 and 2020, Business Administrator Thomas Eldridge said.
Air conditioning has been added to classrooms, gyms, cafeterias and auditoriums over the past few years, and the bond referendum will cover the costs of installing it in classrooms and spaces where it is lacking.
In addition to installing air conditioning, the bond referendum earmarked money to install an elevator and to make restroom modifications at the Lawrence Middle School.
There is money to replace windows and siding on the modular classrooms at the four elementary schools, along with improvements to the stairs and ramps.
The bond referendum included money to install security vestibules at the main entrance to the Slackwood and Eldridge Park elementary schools, and at the Lawrence Intermediate School and Lawrence Middle School. All of the other schools have security vestibules in place.
School district officials said the State of New Jersey will pick up 40 percent of the tab for the $25.1 million bond referendum.