School Construction Proceeding on Schedule
• Asbestos Removal Contractor Hired Last Night by BOE
 |
Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
New heating and cooling ventilators at the Spring Garden School are inspected by Schools' Superintendent Joseph Zarra and building and grounds supervisor Phil Nicolette.
|
Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Construction workers oversee work on the exterior of the new gymnasium at the Spring Garden School. The old gym's back wall will be taken down for safety reasons and will be replaced as part of this summer's construction program.
Jul 14, 2010 – The Board of Education last night (7/13) took a major step assuring that problems with asbestos will be resolved before schools re-open in September. Trustees voted unanimously to hire B&G Restoration Inc., a family-owned firm in Lincoln Park, to abate and remove asbestos in the Radcliffe, Spring Garden and Nutley High School.
The $211,000 contract awarded last night also includes demolition work and disposal of construction related materials in the three schools.
Meanwhile Schools Superintendent Joseph Zarra and building and grounds supervisor Phil Nicolette escorted NJHometown on a tour of the schools and highlighting the major areas where rooms are being reconfigured and facilities improved in preparation for Nutley's first all-day kindergarten classes slated to begin in September.
Zarra said despite the current appearance of many schools because of on-going construction, all work is on schedule and will be completed in time for September's opening.
For those passing by Spring Garden School this week, for instance, one might think think the building is being torn down and rebuilt. While it's not that drastic a change, the much-needed new gymnasium is nearly ready, while new windows and heating and ventilation systems are moving along on schedule despite the summer's heat.
Zarra said discussions on how preparations for the all-day kindergarten classes are progressing along with other major repair repair work now in progress at both the high school and Walker Middle School. A report on progress will be detailed at upcoming Board of Education meetings.
During the NJHometown visit to the Spring Garden School, the new gymnasium looked almost ready to use on the inside while a majority of classroom windows were still in the process of being replaced. State-of-the-art univent heating and ventilation systems were also being installed as part of the project involving new boilers at the school.
Zarra said of the new gym, "They did a nice job," and explained that the basketball hoops can be easily and automatically adjusted in height down to 6-feet-high for use by elementary pupils. After much controversy, the new gym is finished, Zarra said, and the former gym area can be used for other purposes. The basketball court is two feet short of high school regulation size, Zarra said.
While showing the new univents, Nicolette explained how the units will force air over a heating coil in the winter and bring in fresh air in the fall and spring.
"The old radiators were uneven," Nicolette said. "Now the univent will brings in set amounts of cubic air with an equal amount removed. "This will result in a much healthier indoor air quality," Nicolette explained.
The new windows in place at Spring Garden feature two thermal panes with a space in the middle, the most optimum way to keep heat in during winter months. "The windows will result in a 20-percent savings difference in heating," Nicolette said.
Workers were milling about outside the Spring Garden School as well. A "cherry picker" was in use during NJHometown's visit as the windows were being installed. In the rear of the old gym, Nicolette said, the back wall is coming down for safety reasons and will be replaced.
To assure that everything is cleaned up from the dust and building materials that now blanket the school, Nicolette said that cleaning the building is part of a contract to be approved at the next Board of Education meeting.
All in all, Superintendent Zarra and other officials promised that much-improved buildings will be ready at Spring Garden and other district schools by opening day in September. - RD
