Architect proposes $22 million worth of projects at High School South, $3 million worth at High School North
By: Emily Craighead
Several more big-ticket referendum items are on the table following the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District architect’s presentation Wednesday of facilities needs at the two high schools.
As the Board of Education continues to build a list of projects for a possible referendum in December or January, it will have to prioritize projects ranging from a $7.59 million gymnasium addition at High School South to $400,000 in science classroom renovations at High School North.
Board members have said they plan to keep the price tag of the referendum projects including projects at the elementary schools near $25 million.
"That way we will not be extending our debt," Board of Education President Hemant Marathe said.
Architect David Fraytak went into detail about projects at each of the high schools, but board discussion of the projects and how to prioritize them will take place over the next week and at Tuesday’s board meeting.
"There are a lot of decisions to be made," Facilities Committee Chairwoman Ellen Walsh said. "Some of these items are not referendum items. You don’t bond on short-term items."
At High School South, the architect proposed about $22 million worth of projects.
These projects include building a gymnasium addition, upgrading and enclosing the pool, providing wheelchair accessibility to the gym, and installing a synthetic turf field and a new track. The proposal also calls for renovating the boys’ team room, music and art suites and classrooms, as well as building a performing-arts addition and installing partitions in some of the open space areas. Paving repairs and parking lot expansion were also on the list.
Proposed projects for High School North added up to about $3 million and include converting the learning center to a science lab, upgrading sports lockers and installing a synthetic turf field and a new track.
"Any item that directly affects the services we provide the kids has to be at the top of the list," Mr. Marathe said.
In other action Wednesday, the board applied for a state grant that would partially fund a $1.7 million roof replacement project at Community Middle School. The state share would be $683,341.
The board also awarded a bid to Millennium Communications Group to install wireless access infrastructure at the high schools for $34,000.
"It’s to augment a project that has already been discussed as part of the technology refresh," Assistant Superintendent for Finance Larry Shanok said.
The board will meet Tuesday to discuss the referendum list further and trim the list of proposed projects.