School Construction Projects Close to Completion
The Garden City Board of Education held their first meeting of the school year. The Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen explained the schools’ first week was off to “a smooth start,” he said. “We did quite a number of projects and a lot work over the summer on the buildings, inside and outside the buildings,” he said.
Joseph Chiarelli, construction manager of T.G. Nickel & Associates, updated the status of the middle school parking lot expansion project. “We were fortunate to have a great-weather summer and good contract. We were able to achieve what we set out to. We did substantially complete the parking lot. There’s just a punch-list remaining and remaining miscellaneous items to complete,” he said.
Regarding the high roof replacement, Chiarelli said the good weather helped the workers achieve what they wanted to. “We said we would get all of the roofing complete to a point of weather-proof tight and it is. There’s still a couple of guys working on the roof just around the perimeters, but that will wrap up within the next couple weeks. Both projects were very successful, both projects came in considerably under budget, so it leaves us in a good position going forward,” Chiraelli said.
Gary Schiede from the architectural and engineering firm Burton, Behrendt and Smith (BBS) also commented on the parking lot project. “I’m sure the public has noticed that at the middle school there was a part of the parking lot that was not finished. That was done purposely for the second phase of the work, which will begin in the spring to summer next year for the addition. It will be a staging area for the construction work for the second phase as well as some of the finish asphalt has not been placed in certain locations in the parking lot.” he said.
He added that plans for the middle school addition were submitted and being reviewed by the state. Schiede said he also will present drawings for projects slated for the high school and Homestead School and the project will be put out for bidding with work beginning in spring of 2011.
Vice President Barbara Trapasso said she received several calls regarding the pavement at the middle school near the cafeteria. “I drove on it and it is a little uneven. Is it an issue for drainage?” Shiede responded that they will look at the area in question again and address it.
School Board President Colleen E. Foley said drainage has been a longstanding concern for that particular area and asked how many drains were there before construction began. Schiede said the area had five drains, and now there are 42. He went on to say there are no longer any drainage problems.
Superintendent Feirsen said it was a hectic summer with massive projects under tight deadlines. He thanked the contractors for their “excellent communication” and was pleased that the district’s questions and concerns were addressed almost instantly. “We appreciate it and we expect that to go forward to the next projects as well,” Feirsen said.
