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Officials report boiler installs, construction progress and call for new facility assessment
Summary
Facilities staff told the Board that boilers and piping are installed at a site and expected to be operational around Thanksgiving, cited continuing issues with univent alarms, reported progress on several referendum and grant projects, and recommended commissioning a new facility condition assessment.
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — At a Buildings and Grounds meeting on Nov. 1, district facilities staff reported steady progress on Education Infrastructure Projects and referendum work while urging the Board of Education to consider a new facility condition assessment to prioritize aging systems.
Facilities staff said boilers and piping have been installed at a site described in the meeting record and that remaining valves are expected within days; "we will be operational probably right after Thanksgiving," the facilities speaker said. Staff cautioned that one recurring issue with univent alarm units persists when air conditioning is on; the manufacturer remains involved but has been hesitant to provide requested information, delaying final resolution.
Project updates: work at Intermediate South is largely complete (roof phases listed as 100% for phase one and for gym and cafeteria in phase two, with some courtyard and brick work around 90% complete and scheduled during Christmas break). A grant project at a Washington Street site (site 196) has a contractor beginning installation with windows to follow; staff said the contractor plans some night work to accelerate progress.
Safety and testing: staff reported correcting a trip hazard near a ticket booth at High School East with help from the township DPW and addressed potholes and loose pavement. Additional well-monitoring tests produced favorable results but identified a perched water table requiring further analysis; staff are reviewing a proposal for follow-up testing and plan to recommend next steps within a week.
Facility condition assessment: staff noted the last district-wide facility condition assessment dates to 2016–17 and that many original buildings are more than 50 years old. They recommended a third-party assessment to produce current cost estimates and prioritization. "It would be wise for the board to possibly consider getting another facility condition assessment," a facilities speaker said, adding that outside firms provide up-to-date pricing benchmarks.
Board questions included contractor cleanup and scaffolding methods (staff said contractors perform power-washing and conventional scaffolding is used) and a safety concern about missing bleacher handrails at one gym. A board member said holes for handrails remain and that absence of rails "could be a little dangerous," and staff confirmed they are tracking outstanding installation work.
No formal votes were taken at the meeting; staff said some items (including a naming application for an Intermediate South baseball field) will appear on a future agenda for board action.
