HILLSDALE—Bids for asbestos removal, demolition, and the foundation for a six-classroom addition at George White Middle School are set to go out soon, with all work expected to be completed by year’s end, the district’s architect said.
At the Feb. 10 school board meeting, architect Joseph DiCara, of DiCara Rubino Architects, provided an update on the $62.4 million referendum-approved renovation, flipping through dozens of architectural drawings for trustees and residents. The full renovation and addition are expected to be completed by September 2027.
School Board President Justin Saxon told Pascack Press that meetings are no longer televised or archived due to low viewership and production costs for YouTube broadcasts. His remarks came as DiCara outlined how bid packages will be released in the coming months under the oversight of DiCara Rubino and Epic Management, the construction manager hired for the project.
DiCara said an updated cost estimate is expected in a few weeks, with proposed tariffs on construction materials likely increasing costs. “Unfortunately, costs are not going down, they’re going up,” he said. He estimated bids might come in about 8% higher than budgeted, particularly due to metal tariffs.
President Donald J. Trump recently ordered tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China, including metals. DiCara said project costs are “scary” due to incremental increases and the threat of additional tariffs. “The bigger concern” is tariffs, he said, calling them an “unknown that contractors react to.”
Contractors will submit bids based on when they plan to purchase materials, and “we’re starting to see a lot of fluctuation in bidding,” DiCara said. Epic is expected to provide a better cost estimate in the next few weeks.
The project includes a 10% contingency fund to absorb cost increases, double the 5% required by the state.
Bid documents will be reviewed by the state Department of Education and the local building department to ensure compliance with codes and zoning. The school board must approve the “lowest, responsible bidder” for each project component.
A probe was conducted to check for petroleum hydrocarbons in soil from a long-removed underground oil tank. Results should be available soon, and DiCara said the test was “a normal procedure” unlikely to delay the project.
Contractors will receive a base bid packet with “add alternates” for optional project features, which the school district may select if the budget allows. Unlike municipal bids, where alternates must be considered in order, school officials have flexibility in selecting them.
DiCara said the century-old middle school is “full of asbestos,” with detailed drawings showing its locations. Abatement will take place before renovations begin.
DiCara Rubino is working with a state-approved contractor to set up temporary classrooms and coordinate electrical work with PSE&G. Temporary trailers are expected to be installed in fields opposite the school after classes end in June, allowing school materials and equipment to be moved over the summer.
The asbestos abatement contract is expected to go out for bid in March, followed by bids for a “temporary conditions bid” and a general contractor bid in June. The general contractor, who will handle all renovation components, is expected to begin demolition work in September.
In May, a bid for “temporary conditions” will be submitted, detailing the working conditions contractors must adhere to, including hours and calendar periods.
Existing spaces in the school where uses change must comply with current building codes. “Everything is laid out” in detailed bid drawings, including screws, bolts, toilet fixtures, lighting, and ceiling materials, DiCara said. All work will align with asbestos abatement efforts.
T&M Associates mapped the school’s asbestos locations and will oversee abatement and disposal.
DiCara reviewed detailed schematics for heating, window specifications, wall partitions, steel and brick usage, insulation, and other materials. DiCara Rubino staff will oversee construction compliance, while Epic will review architectural drawings before bid specifications are finalized to ensure “constructability.”
“When a contractor is not sure what’s being required, he’s likely to increase bid costs,” DiCara said. Some contractors may struggle with specifications, but his firm has experience managing them.
DiCara and Epic monitor regional bid activity and aim to release bids after major projects close, ensuring there are contractors available who missed out on other jobs.
The project is “in very good shape” in terms of planning, DiCara said. DiCara Rubino and Epic will advise the district on staying on schedule and budget.
The project includes milestone deadlines for contractors, with financial penalties for delays. “Realistic timelines” will be built into bid specifications, DiCara said.