Referendum work underway across Tenafly schools; district rejects second chiller bid for high school

The Tenafly Public School District reported that summer construction tied to the recent referendum is underway across multiple buildings and that the district rejected a second chiller bid for Tenafly High School and will reopen negotiations with contractors.

Steven, speaking during the referendum update, said gym bleachers at the middle and high schools have been removed and both gym spaces are being painted; the high school gym floor work will begin next Thursday and will include asbestos abatement before the new floor is installed. He said, "This building will get closed while we abate the gym floor in there, and they will replace it thereafter."

Steven told the board the district is rejecting the second chiller bid for Tenafly High School and plans to negotiate with contractors with the aim of returning with a recommendation by the district’s June 23 meeting. He also said sealing and lighting work is underway at McKay, Smith and Stillman schools and that those projects should continue into July.

Bids for security vestibules are scheduled to open the week following the meeting, with a hopeful award on June 23, Steven said. He added the unit ventilator replacement project at the high school is expected to begin in early July, with the first units slated to arrive shortly after July 4.

The board framed the activity as routine referendum implementation; the transcript records status updates and scheduling but does not include detailed contract amounts, vendor names for the rejected chiller bid, or a breakdown of financing in the public excerpt. The district also announced a special meeting planned for Monday, June 23 at 5 p.m. to address referendum matters and a few other items that could not wait until July.