At the Haddonfield Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Sept. 10, Haddonfield Public School’s business administrator Christopher Oberg and school architect Steven A. Becica made a presentation on the district’s facilities condition assessment and a bond referendum proposal.
The proposal estimated the total probable cost for the projects would be $49.97 million, with $6.03 million from New Jersey Regular Operating District grants and a referendum of $43.93 million.
“This evening’s presentation is a presentation that is being presented to the board as well as the public, in the manner of which the architect is making some recommendations. The administrative team has been putting in their thoughts in terms of what needs to be done within the district to enhance the educational opportunities to the children,” Oberg said. “(The board members) are not taking a vote tonight. This is just for information.”
Review of facilities
Since April of last year, the BOE asked Becica and his engineers to review HPS facilities in terms of mechanical systems, electrical systems, envelope (or exterior) needs, foundations, brick and roofing. The team has been going through building by building to see what needs to be addressed.
At the Sept. 10 meeting, Becica showed photographs of areas that need to be addressed at each school. From there, the issues that needed to be addressed were broken down by envelope needs and system needs.
The findings included:
• Building Envelope: damaged masonry, eroding mortar joints and corroded lintels; stability issues in the masonry walls, stone elements and parapets; deteriorating wood trim with peeling paint; debris filled chimneys; and problem roof areas.
• Building Systems: inefficient and outdated heating plant controls; air-conditioning not in all instructional spaces; inadequate electrical service and distribution; and obsolete and/or inadequate special systems such as public address and security.
During the investigations by the district’s architect and engineers, it was also discovered there were emergency structural concerns at Tatem School and Haddonfield Memorial High School.
At Tatem School, the 1990 entranceway, the 1923 entranceway and the 1954 section at the back wall of the building showed concerns, mostly entryway and exterior wall façade issues. Architects and engineers also saw the B Gym at HMHS had structural issues in addition to the dance studio and early childhood offices. The exterior façade there shows signs of possible failure. Both problem areas were or are currently being addressed under Emergency Provisions title 18A:18A-7, which gives the school district the ability to award emergency contracts for health and safety issues without going out to bid. The county as well as fire marshals approved the emergency egress plans that were put in place.
On the BOE agenda the emergency contracts issued were listed and included the amounts of each project. The total of the four projects was $850,300.
Some of the challenges that the facilities face were building age, multiple additions, patchwork upgrades and varying educational conditions.
Proposed scope of work
After going through the findings, Becica talked about possible concepts for the future with a proposed scope of work.
Becica recommended the building envelopes be addressed with some roof replacement, window replacement, exterior wall and structural repairs, and chimney repairs. Building system improvements would include air conditioned classrooms and electrical upgrades, boiler upgrades and central building controls, security/cameras, master clock system, telephone and public address systems, and technology upgrades.
For education facility improvements, the concept of a new student commons area be made at the HMHS was brought up by Becica. This could include improved or upgraded food service, locker rooms, dance gym, support facilities, barrier-free, ADA accessibility, structural integrity and program needs. Becica also said that for the long range facility plan, a Master Plan for the future be made, which they are starting to develop.
Parents and members of the public came to the meeting to express their support for air conditioning, however, they asked for an immediate solution rather than waiting for one with a possible referendum. The board explained that Becica said their electrical units are at full capacity and for other solutions, there are a lot of things that the schools can’t do due to state regulations.
“Today, for us, is the beginning step to get us hopefully to the point that by this summer we are accomplishing some of the things you’re asking for,” Oberg said.
Bond referendum
With all of these recommendations, plus the re-surfacing of the running track and the stadium structural restoration at HMHS, the total estimated probable cost for the proposed projects is $49.97 million.
The ROD grants available for the school to receive for the proposed scope of work would be $6.03 million, leaving a bond referendum for voters to vote on of $43.93 million.
BOE president Glenn Moramarco wanted to remind the public that these estimates tend to be on the high side and the final numbers could come out lower at the bidding process.
Originally, HPS wanted to go out for referendum in December, but now it is looking at January.
“It is January that we are hoping to get to,” Oberg said.
The full presentation made at the meeting can be found at the HPS website www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us under “The September 10th Facilities Condition Assessment and Referendum Presentation.” The video of the presentation and the Sept. 10 BOE meeting can be found on the Haddonfield Civic Association’s Vimeo account under “Recently Uploaded.”
In other news
• Haddonfield won the Shoprite cup from the NJSIAA for the 12th year in a row. The cup is given every year for the best athletic programs per group. Haddonfield has won it since its inception 12 years ago.
• Newsweek ranked HMHS the 84th high school in the nation and the top high school in South Jersey. These rankings were based upon AP scores, SAT/ACT scores, student retention and graduation rates, students going on to higher education, and counselor to student ratios. In addition, it also gave schools recognition for helping economically disadvantaged students obtain high test scores, which HMHS received.
• The next BOE meeting is Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at the HMHS library.
