In wake of voter-approved referendum, start and completion dates are presented
By: Emily Craighead
By July 2009, facilities projects approved in the recent referendum should be complete at West Windsor-Plainsboro schools, according to a phasing plan proposed by Faridy Veisz Fraytak architects.
The schedule presented at Tuesday’s meeting of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional Board of Education calls for three phases, the first of which would take place this summer.
"It isn’t very far away, at least in my world construction," architect David Fraytak said.
In addition to refining design specifications and bidding contracts, the district must obtain state Department of Education approval for major changes to instructional space before construction can begin. Projects requiring state review are scheduled for the second and third phases to allow time to complete the paperwork.
The schedule also takes into account financing, and allows the school district to keep annual debt service payments in the budget at about $11 million. District officials promised that the referendum projects would not add to the current level of debt service payment because new bonds will be issued as old bonds are retired.
"We feel that timing is entirely consistent with being able to deliver on that promise," Assistant Superintendent Larry Shanok said.
At High School South this summer, contractors will undertake just one project, erecting partitions to close off the open classrooms.
All referendum projects at Wicoff Elementary School would be complete by the end of the summer, according to the plan. Those improvements include installing ventilation systems, interior finish upgrades, ceilings, lighting and flooring in the modular sections housing the library, computer room and several classrooms.
Similar improvements also will be made to the modular units at Dutch Neck and Maurice Hawk elementary schools this summer.
Major construction projects, including the additions at Dutch Neck and at High School South, would take place during the second phase, scheduled for summer 2007.
Projects expected to be complete by the start of school in September 2007 are: the six-classroom addition at Dutch Neck; laboratory renovation at High School North; heating, ventilation and air conditioning system replacement at Maurice Hawk; and boys’ locker room renovations, boiler room upgrades and replacement of the pool "bubble" at High School South.
By fall 2007, the only referendum projects remaining will be at High School South.
During phase three, from March 2007 through July 2009, the district will have to juggle classroom space and scheduling as the performing and visual arts spaces are constructed.
"There’s going to be disruption," Mr. Fraytak said. "But we’re going to control that to the best of our ability."
New art rooms and the auditorium are scheduled for completion in 2008, with music room renovations to wrap up in July 2009. The gymnasium addition should be complete in July 2008.
Artificial turf fields at both schools will likely be installed next summer, with field work beginning in May 2007.
"I would like to have it as soon as possible," athletic director Martin Flynn said. But he said it is more important that the job be done well, and that disruptions be minimized. With a May start date, the end of the track season would be affected, but the athletics department has already approached Mercer County Community College about using its track for practices, he said.