Little Falls school superintendent outlines planned facility upgrades

Little Falls - School district superintendent William Petrick explained to the board of education upgrades that will be made to each of the three schools at the Feb. 11 meeting.

In School #1 improvements will be made on electrical distribution and upgrades, installing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) toilets, unit ventilator replacement, control advancements, and a window and door replacement.

Window, door, boiler and unit ventilator replacements will be made at School #2 along with electrical upgrades.

At School #3 improvements will be made on electrical and HVAC upgrades, and an exterior door and roof replacement.

With the school accepting state grants for each project, which represents 40 percent of the funding, the district will have to come up with the remaining 60. For example, the total cost for the electrical upgrade at School #1 is $500,000, but with the ROD Grants the state will pay 40 percent or $200,000.

Petrick emphasized that some of these projects are necessary such as the leaky roof in School #3 and a boiler replacement at School #2.

Board member John Groh raised the question on why the district is accepting new request for proposals (RFP) on projects that DiCara Rubino architects quoted earlier this year and why they aren't doing the actual work. Petrick noted that it is not necessarily true that the architect who prepares the application for the ROD Grants is awarded the projects. The purpose of the RFP's is that new architects can bid on the job, but "must stay in the range of price projected."

Petrick also told the board that the second grade field trip to Flat Rock Brook Nature Center on May 13 and 14 will cost $21 per child, but that the Parent Teacher Association will offset the cost by $10 per student.

During the new business portion, trustee Michael O'Connor wanted to state publicly that the custodians did a great job of maintaining school grounds during the winter storms.

The next school board meeting is Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m., at School #3.

More:
Little Falls school superintendent outlines planned facility upgrades