As was predicted, the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education has hired an architectural firm as the construction manager of projects associated with the $27.5 million referendum passed by district voters in January.
The board recently okayed a $380,125 agreement with Faridy Veisa Fraytak, P.C., the architect of the referendum projects, to also provide construction management services, according to Larry Shanok, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance.
The firm will work with the school board to keep contractors on task and on time. Lawyers for both the district and the architect are in the process of finalizing the agreement.
The $27.5 M referendum, approved in January, includes four phases of construction on five schools. Phase one began this summer, and will continue without the assistance of the construction managers.
Although they were few, opponents of the referendum questioned the district’s plans for managing the projects.
Silverman also questions how the construction projects will be administered.
“Who has the expertise to track so many projects, and deal with contractors, bids and costs? What happens if we are told that the amounts set aside are not enough? This is an accident waiting to happen,” said Freddi Silverman, a resident of Village Grande.
Anthony Fleres, then a leader of a group assembled to lobby for the referendum and subsequently elected to the school board in April, predicted the hiring in response to opponents’ concerns.
“I suspect the school board will retain an architectural or engineering firm to provide construction management services during the construction phase of the work,” said Fleres. “This is typical of how school construction is handled throughout the state.”
He also pointed out that over the last 10 years, the district constructed and opened four new school buildings — High School North, Village School, Grover Middle School, and Town Center Elementary — without “any significant issues that I’m aware of. So the district has a good track record for managing a large amount of construction work.”
According to Shanok, the current projects are on schedule, and expected to be finished before the first day of school this September. This phase includes upgrades to Dutch Neck, Maurice Hawk, and Wicoff Elementary Schools, in addition to partitions for open space classrooms in High School South.
The construction managers will begin their oversight starting with phase two, says Shanok. “The general idea is that they will have people on site to see that contractors are doing what they should do.”
Shanok says the addition of a construction manager is expected to eliminate communication problems that can lead to delays. “This will bring a focus of responsibility. It’s a bad thing when you have each side pointing at each other and accusing the other of making mistakes,” says Shanok. “We’re hoping there will be less miscommunication. All our people will be located in one office. On the construction side there will be tighter communication, and that will mean better, more efficient work being done.”
Shanok did not say that miscommunication had marked or marred the progress on phase one, but added that it is common for districts to hire these specialists on renovation and expansion projects.
Phase two is scheduled to start in October. The project will include additions to Dutch Neck Elementary School and HVAC upgrades for Maurice Hawk Elementary School. High School North will undergo classroom renovations, including the creation of a new science classroom and preparation room.
Phase three will involve only High School South. In March, 2007, the school district plans to begin renovations on music and art spaces, the auxiliary gymnasium, pool bubble, and boys’ locker room. The project will also include the installation of a new elevator. That project is scheduled to be finished by September of 2009.
Phase four is also scheduled to start in May 2007. Both High School North and South will have a synthetic turf field installed. High School South will also get a new track. This project is expected to be finished by the start of school, and the fall athletic season in 2007.
