Gloucester High renovation: under‑slab pipes, kitchen work and terrazzo use up contingency; $1.3M remains

Gloucester County school officials updated the boards on the ongoing Gloucester High School renovation and contingency usage, saying a string of unforeseen infrastructure repairs — chiefly failed under‑slab piping and extensive kitchen and utility work — has reduced the project contingency from roughly $5.2 million to about $1.3 million.

Deputy Superintendent Joe Hartley presented photographs and described field discoveries where workers encountered failing ductile‑iron stormwater and wastewater pipes dating to the 1970s. Hartley said crews had to saw‑cut terrazzo and concrete floors and excavate under slabs in multiple hallways (identified as “C Hall/200 hallway”) to replace stormwater and sanitary lines; the work required temporary removal of classroom and kitchen equipment and subsequent floor restoration.

Hartley said the kitchen required replacement of plumbing and electrical systems that were not part of the original scope. He identified a significant pending change order related to terrazzo flooring replacement as “one of the larger ones” and noted a separate pending change order of about $670,000 that had not yet been approved. The presentation included photos of corroded ductile‑iron pipe material that “literally just fell apart” when removed.

The presentation also described structural work in the boys’ locker room requiring a steel I‑beam installation to replace a compromised load‑bearing wall; under‑stage piping and removal and replacement of the stage floor; electric service work for 28 portable classrooms; and removal of an unsafe driving tower. Hartley praised the contractor (ET Gresham) and the on‑site team for coordination that minimized disruption to instruction in an occupied renovation.

Board members asked whether the design consultant (Moseley) should have found the issues during pre‑bid work; Hartley said architects had performed inspections and camera work but that some problems only revealed themselves once crews saw‑cut floors and opened slabs. He cautioned that the contingency is being carefully reviewed because additional change orders remain unapproved and “we know what [approving them] will do to that number.”

Hartley said the project team had prioritized east‑side site work tied to student safety (separating student parking from the bus loop) and that some less urgent items might be delayed if contingency funds are needed for essential infrastructure repairs. He said staff would continue to brief the boards as pending change orders are finalized.