Schools

Board Considers $1 Million in School Repairs and Renovations

Increased enrollment and a suffering economy puts the pressure on prioritizing major capital projects among the Darien public schools.

Purse strings pinched, the Board of Education considered a prioritized list of major capital projects for the coming academic year, and the anticipated costs top $1 million.

Maintaining Darien’s public school facilities is a never-ending project, but economic instability and booming enrollment has made prioritizing major expenditures, a priority in and of itself. At their meeting last Tuesday, the Board of Ed. carefully considered the top-priority projects for the 2010-11 school year and their cumulative price tag of $1.14 million.

“I certainly understand the economic climate has been unfortunately tough, and we’ve had to defer some projects,” said Director of Facilities Paul Engemann. “We want to bring those projects to the table that we think warrant most consideration.”

Those projects that Engemann brought to the table are classified as “Priority Level 1” for health, safety and cost effectiveness reasons. Economic constraints served as the ultimate determining factor as to what needs funding right away, said Engemann, but increased enrollment has put an added pressure on capital-project planning.

At the high school, a projected influx of approximately 100 students has prompted teachers to think of creative ways to carve out space. Plans to subdivide the auxiliary cafeteria into three classrooms has accrued $30,000 in renovation costs, and the addition of 140 new lockers total $24,000.

Principal Dan Haron said there are currently 1302 lockers for 1284 students, where on any given day, at least 10 lockers do work, and some special education students require more than one; but that’s a bigger problem on paper than it is in reality, said Haron.

“A substantial number of students do not use their lockers,” said Haron. “The request for additional lockers is to really make the board aware that if every student in the high school did want one, they would not be able to have one.”

Members questioned whether a hypothetical shortage of lockers validated the $24,000 investment. Haron said that the $12,000 gym lockers are necessary, as changing for gym is requisite and on the rare occasion the high school sees theft, it’s in the locker rooms. As for the academic lockers, Haron said he’s considering a more prudent alternative: a by-request-only system.

“Our suspicion is that we would have fewer requesting, and we’ll probably be ok,” he said.

Enrollment has peaked at the middle and elementary schools. At Middlesex Middle School, plans for new, higher capacity bleachers come at a cost of $65,000. The bleachers are part of a much larger $314,000, "Priority Level 1" plan to upgrade the old gym.

“How often do we use the bleachers?” asked Board of Ed. Member Susan Perticone.

To which Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools Stephen Falcone replied:

“Minimally.”

Falcone said that the addition of bleachers—as well as new wood floors, doors and backboards—would give Middlesex the opportunity to hold more assemblies in the gym, but even then, the new bleachers, with a capacity of 526, would not accommodate the entire 1,000-plus student body.

Engemann said that frequent repairs are chipping away at an already tight operating budget and that it is more cost effective to fund a major revamp in one fell swoop.

“I know it sounds like a lot, but it will save us a lot of manpower in the future,” said Engemann.

Over at Holmes Elementary School, the installation of two portable classrooms has an anticipated cost of $164,000.

Board of Ed. Member Elizabeth Hagerty Ross questioned the urgency of the buying the portables, which were presented as a last resort during the board’s recent space utilization and enrollment discussion.

“We’re still going to continue to look at ways to create space, but we want to put it out on the table,” said Engemann.

The most expensive project on the planner has little to do with enrollment pressures. Replacing two oil-fired steam boilers at Holmes School with more efficient boilers will cost $404,000.

Engemann said a similar boiler-replacement project at Royle School that took place over the summer went “exceptionally well.” The plan at Holmes is slightly different in that Egnemann is proposing the abatement and replacement of two boilers: a 75-year-old boiler that has reached the end of its life, and a 14-year-old boiler that has been working overtime as a result.

But members questioned the cost.

“This was in last year’s plan at $200,000. How did it go from $200 to $404?” asked Board of Ed. Member Heather Shea.

Engemann said that last year’s plan was for the replacement of one boiler; while not mandatory, replacing both at the same time is more cost effective in the long run and would make for more efficient operating.

“Clearly, as the budget process moves forward, some projects will prove more important than others,” said  Engemann. "But as I say, I want to bring everything to the table."

The total estimated cost for Priority Level 1 projects is $1,140,300, and the Board of Ed. will revisit the proposed plan in mid to late January during budget discussions.

Proposed Priority Level 1 Projects by school:

Darien High School

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • 60 additional regular lockers: $12,000
  • 80 additional gym lockers: $12,000
  • Subdivide auxiliary cafeteria: $30,000
  • Screen planting at stadium field: $16,800

Middlesex Middle School

  • Renovate old gym: $314,000
  • Door repair/replacements: $20,000
  • Replace floor mats in rotunda and east entrance: $8,000

Holmes Elementary School

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Boiler replacement: $404,000
  • Two portables: $164,000
  • Library window treatments: $7,500

Ox Ridge Elementary School

  • Renovate one portable: $45,000

Royle Elementary School

  • Additional funding for library windows: $70,000

CO/District

  • Upgrade time-out rooms at Holmes, Ox Ridge, MMS, DHS: $25,000
  • Asphalt crack sealing Hindley, Holmes, Ox Ridge, Royle, MMS : $12,000


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here