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There is concern by many on the Stratfield Building Committee that the extra costs, coming out of an already tight budget, will mean a reduction in educational improvements.
Not that some things haven't gone right. Silver/Petrucelli, the Architect/Engineers of the project are on schedule, having completed about 75 percent of the plans, according to Al Kelly, the chairman of the Stratfield Building Committee. Asbestos was successfully removed from the school this past summer, however, a flammable material was found in the attic and Silver/Petrucelli indicated that removal might not be the best solution, so there is talk of putting in a sprinkler system.
The committee expected that one oil tank would be removed from the ground this summer and it was, but unexpectedly a second oil tank was found. Removing the second tank along with its contaminated soil costs another $100,000 over what was allotted for oil tank removal ($98,461 more to be exact).
Another surprise was the committee's finding that the school elevator was not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. Kelly, told a Minuteman reporter that his committee had been led to believe that it was. A new elevator is likely to cost about $100,000, Kelly said. That will be necessary in order to comply with federal and state laws regarding the renovation of schools.
A third surprise was finding that the chimney of the school is in a deteriorating condition, with loose and missing mortar and bricks in its interior. There is no flue liner and, when the committee met on Sept. 1, there was concern that carbon monoxide from the school's boiler might find its way back into the school.
The committee decided to file a report on the chimney's condition with the fire marshall and the building inspector, asking them to decide whether it is safe. Kelly said the committee is waiting for an answer.
If necessary, the committee thought that a tile liner could be installed in the chimney until new systems were put in place.
At the last meeting on Sept. 1, the committee also expressed concerns about water on the roof and the condition of the roof. Silver/Petrucelli, the engineering and architecture firm was asked to investigate this. There is a sump pump on the roof to redirect water, according to Kelly.
A fifth problem is water in the basement. There has been testing to determine where it is coming from, but Kelly said he doesn't know if there are any answers yet.
In an effort to have fewer surprises in the future, the Stratfield Building Committee has asked the Central School Office for historical and maintenance records going back 10 years along with other information about the structure of the building.
Two weeks later, Kelly said that the central office is still compiling the answers.
However, he still hopes that the renovations will come in on time and on-budget.
Plans for the elementary school call for a two-story addition on the south side of the school with eight new classrooms, four to a floor. The foundation for that will be dug beginning in mid-January. It is scheduled for completion in fall of next year.
Next summer, the present portable classrooms will be removed and construction of a new entrance in the back of the building, will begin. It is scheduled to be completed by March of 2011. The principal's office will also be located near the new entrance.
Next summer will also see the renovation of the main floor with its gym and cafeteria and the following winter, 2010-2011, renovation of the upper floor and the existing administration area, on the first floor, will begin. The lower level will be renovated in April and May of 2011. It will contain the media center, art and music rooms. Site work and landscaping will be completed after that.
The eight-classroom addition will add a total of almost 9,000 new square feet to the school, 4,487 on each floor, and the new entrance and offices will add 3,635 square feet for total new space of 12,609 square feet.
When renovations are complete, Stratfield Elementary School will have four classrooms for each grade, a science room, an art room and two music rooms.
There is already a courtyard in the interior of the school and the committee plans to add two doors to that space so that teachers and students can access it more easily.
At the last meeting, there was some discussion of the courtyard space with, among other things, some wanting to pave it over, so that grass will not have to be mowed. No decision was reached.
Links to site plans and more information can be found at stratfieldpta.org/site/renovation.htm.
The next meeting of the Stratfield Building Committee is planned for Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Sullivan Independence Hall.
