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Storm damage forced Toms River to rent equipment and buy heaters; district estimates $50,000–$60,000 in extra expenses
Summary
Facilities staff described widespread snow/ice damage, frozen/burst HVAC coils at several schools, 33 temporary room heaters purchased, and an estimated $50,000–$60,000 in extra expenses; staff said some costs may be eligible for DOE/FEMA reimbursement but parts have long lead times.
Facilities staff told the board that recent winter storms created extensive recovery work across the Toms River Regional School District and that the cost and operational impacts remain significant.
"You're talking about 50 $60,000 in extra expenses just for that storm," a facilities official said when describing additional contractor hires, salt, rented loaders and overtime. The presentations detailed frozen or burst HVAC coils at older buildings (including 13 affected classrooms at Cedar Grove), a purchase of 33 room heaters to keep those rooms operational, and ongoing monitoring of temperatures until permanent repairs are complete.
Staff explained supply‑chain impacts: replacement coils and some HVAC components have long lead times (about an eight‑week turnaround was cited), so temporary measures have been required. The district said some capital projects—boiler replacements and switchgear at specific sites—remain on schedule for the summer, funded from prior capital allocations.
On budget treatment, staff said extra storm expenses will be managed by tightening other expenditures if necessary; capital reserves require board allocation and maintenance reserves have not been tapped. Facilities staff said they are exploring whether partial reimbursements are available through the Department of Education or FEMA processes for declared state emergencies.
Board members praised crews for rapid response and asked about long‑term remedies for aging infrastructure. The facilities team noted work orders are concentrated on HVAC and pipe repairs and that a lighting rebate project (fixture retrofit) is being piloted in some parking lots.
The meeting did not include a formal vote on additional spending; staff said they would continue to report on costs and repair timelines and would bring any funding requests to the board for authorization.
