TOMS RIVER – Intermediate South’s roof project was originally expected to be done by the end of summer or in early fall, but some were disappointed that it wasn’t done before students started the new school year.
The roof – and structures replacing the roof, were to be replaced. Flashing and sealants will be used to keep the elements out. A water repellant liquid will be applied to the masonry after it is cleaned. The drainage system carrying water off the roof and away from the building will also be improved. Insulation will be replaced with newer material that meets current requirements.
The plan was for the work to be done by the end of summer or early fall, according to officials during a Toms River Board of Education meeting in June. The estimate for completion is now mid- to late October.
Work will be done after school hours so that it won’t impact students, officials said. All areas that students or faculty use would be safe when class is in session.
Some board members expressed unhappiness with the delay. They were informed that they can’t pay the contractor less because of this.
Assistant Superintendent James Ricotta said that the contractor ran into unexpected situations. For example, when removing the solar panels, they learned that the original builder of the school did a subpar job, making removal more difficult.
Board member Anna Polozzo said that even if the construction isn’t done during class time, it still has a negative impact on students. The district should express their disappointment with the contractor in an official capacity.
Board member Joseph Nardini, who owns a construction company, said the criticism is unfair; the workers were on the roof during overwhelming heat this summer, which slowed them down.
After the meeting, Superintendent Michael Citta told The Toms River Times that the district is extremely happy with the progress of the construction and that there won’t be any disruption to student learning.
In June, the board awarded the project to Pravco, Inc. which was the lowest bidder with $5,590,000. This only includes two of the four phases of work that needed to get done. Phase 1 is the main building and courtyard and Phase 2 is the gym and cafetorium. “These are the phases we can afford to award at this time,” Business Administrator William Doering said at the time. The rest will be bid again at a later date.
Sometimes school districts get funding for big projects like this from government entities such as the NJ Schools Development Authority. Doering said that they applied for a Regular Operating District grant from that authority but were not successful.
Debt Savings
In other news, the district will be saving money on debt payments over a long period of time.
Business Administrator William Doering announced at a recent Board of Education meeting that he obtained a lower percentage rate for some debt, which will save approximately $600,000 over the course of many years, ending in 2038. This amounts to a savings of about $40,000 annually.
This debt was created by a series of upgrades that were approved by voters in 2019 called the “Rebuilding Our Schools Initiative.” Part of this was the Energy Savings Improvement Program. This was created by the state to allow entities such as school districts to make improvements to their buildings that would reduce their energy costs. The district borrowed $17.8 million for upgrades, and the state provided an additional $47 million.
On a small scale, it would be like spending $100 to replace a drafty door that costs you $100 in heating and cooling costs.
The district also received an Excellence in Financial Reporting award from the Association of School Business Officials International. This is the 10th consecutive year that the district has received this award.
