HILLSDALE—The Hillsdale Public School District Board of Education hired an architect on Jan. 17 to design and complete bid specifications for nearly $1.1 million in school upgrades planned in 2022 and 2023, including a new boiler at Meadowbrook Elementary School and new windows at Ann Blanche Smith Elementary School.
Moreover, trustees and administrators are studying replacing the 100-year-old George G. White Middle School, examining land across the street to determine its suitability and environmental conditions.
That project was estimated at $65 million to $75 million, said Anthony DeRosa, the council’s liaison to the school board. DeRosa sat on the advisory committee examining alternatives for improving or replacing the middle school.
Meadowbrook Elementary School is at 50 Piermont Ave. Smith Elementary School is at 1000 Hillsdale Ave. The two elementary schools and George G. White Middle School, at 120 Magnolia Ave., comprise the Hillsdale public school district.
The professional services proposals, from Di Cara | Rubino Architects of Wayne, estimate the Meadowbrook boiler replacement at $600,000. The estimate for replacing the windows at Smith School landed at $480,000.
The proposals itemize nearly $86,500 in architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and limited fire protection professional services/fees for both projects. This breaks down to $48,000 in fees for the boiler replacement project and $38,500 in fees for the window replacement project.
For each project, architect fees include design development, construction documents, bidding; and contract administration. Combined, the fees equal about 8% of total project costs.
Under its boiler replacement services contract, the architect notes design development and state submission fees at $7,00; construction documents at $29,000; bidding and award $2,500; and contract administration $9,500.
Under its window replacement services contract, the architect notes design development and state submission fees of $5,500; construction documents $23,000; bidding and award $2,000; and contract administration $8,000.
The firm’s proposal for boiler replacement notes, “We understand the project to consist of the design of a replacement boiler plant. The new boiler plant will be designed with a capacity similar to the existing boiler plant with a new high-efficiency boiler. We estimate that the cost of construction is approximately $600,000.”
On its window replacement proposal, the architect estimates the construction cost at $480,000 pending an environmental consultant’s review. The discovery of asbestos would lead the costs upward, for removal and remediation.
School Business Administrator Sacha Pouliot said funds for the boiler replacement will come from a federal Covid emergency relief funding act and capital reserves. Funds for the window replacement project will also come from federal Covid educational aid via the American Rescue Plan.
“We have slated a boiler project for the summer of 2022 and a window replacement project for the summer of 2023. In an effort to improve the district’s air quality and mechanical capacity, the district relied on its recent facility audit as guidance to address areas of need,” said Pouliot.
He added, “With lead times for goods and materials being what they are, it is important that we approve and proceed with proposed projects as early as possible to ensure timely completion ahead of our school year.”
According to Pouliot, “Funds for the boiler replacement have been earmarked from the district’s ESSER II – CRRSA allocation in conjunction with the district’s capital reserve. Please note that the project in question has yet to go through the bid process and that the $600,000 amount listed in the proposal is a projected cost.”
He added, “As for the proposed window replacement project, the district has budgeted for the cost to be allocated towards its ESSER – ARP allocation. Similar to the boiler replacement project, this project has not gone out to bid and simply has a project cost associated with it. The cost doesn’t stem from the amount of windows, but rather an approximation of 4,000 square feet of replacement windows being designated towards the project.”
No updates on middle school plan
In late November, school officials told Pascack Press a decision was imminent on whether a school bond referendum should be held in March 2023 to replace the middle school.
Superintendent Robert Lombardy said then that next steps included a demographics study, title and deed searches, and a topographic study. He noted this would include soil testing.
A demographics study was approved in December. (“BOE Eyes Trends in Housing, Race,” Pascack Press, Dec. 27, 2021.)
“The due diligence phase remains in progress. We do not have any estimates at this time and continue to target the March/April time frame for a Board of Education decision,” Lombardy told Pascack Press on Jan. 25.
If okayed by the school board, a bond referendum could be held in March 2023 should investigations show no problems and the board approve moving forward by March 2022.
This would allow time for school officials to apply for state aid and undertake public outreach throughout 2022 before a referendum vote in early 2023, officials said.
School Board President Shane Svorec told Pascack Press of the middle school’s condition: “The current school building has long been a topic of discussion and its condition, although safe, has become a situation in which Band-Aids will no longer fix and requires a long-term plan of action. The priority of the board is to make decisions that are fiscally responsible while ensuring that our students and staff have the resources they need, a space that is conducive to learning, and a building that is practical and efficient.”
She added, “Over the years, the district has faced many changes and experienced forces beyond our control — including numerous storms that caused roof leaks and interior wall and floor damage, just to name a few. With a mature building, we have also dealt with limitations of power, an older, less efficient and at times unreliable boiler, and classrooms, gym, and multi-use space that is not only outdated but not adequate in size and space.”
She said, “Add to this a national pandemic that further stalled plans and further limited financial resources.”
Cost estimates would emerge after questions were answered on the number of stories, classroom sizes, and other amenities proposed, Svorec said.
Lombardy and Pouliot told Pascack Press in mid-November that an ad hoc committee met over the summer to develop a plan to update and modernize the 100-year-old middle school facility and grounds and maximize available space.
“The committee felt that the best use of resources would be to investigate a plan that would place a new middle school building on the property that currently sits across the street from George G. White Middle School,” Lombardy said.
School officials said then they would meet with the borough planner to determine “if there is any collaboration that can take place” with the borough council’s interest in building a new community center and the proposed new middle school.
Several council members said the council hoped to discuss options for a new community center and turf field at its Feb. 1 and 8 meetings.