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Superintendent: HVAC nearly closed out; district withholding final $335,000 payment pending punch-list
Summary
The superintendent told the July 15 board the high-school HVAC project is close to completion but architects and the district will withhold substantial-completion sign-off and a final $335,000 payment until outstanding punch-list items are corrected; Trane extended the warranty through May 2027. He also reported improved staffing, special-education aide procedures, an after-school program review, and a plan to pilot online registration.
The Palisades Park superintendent updated the board on facilities, human resources and student services at the July 15 meeting.
On facilities, the superintendent said the district and the project's architects would not sign off on substantial completion or issue the final check of $335,000 until outstanding punch-list items are addressed on the high-school HVAC project. He said Trane Technologies conducted training for custodial staff, the system startup in May has been tested in warm weather, and Trane agreed to extend warranty coverage at no cost through May 2027.
"We are getting very close," the superintendent said, noting there are a few follow-up items before the final payment is recommended to the board.
He described immediate safety work scheduled before school opens: removal of a damaged canopy at the ECC main entrance, roof cleaning and drainage repairs, classroom painting and removal or relocation of older window air-conditioning units (rusted units will be discarded; usable units may be repurposed at other buildings).
On staffing, the superintendent said the district has made substantial progress since last summer: vacancies fell from roughly 35 in August to about three or four positions that still need to be filled before the school year, and hiring activities (interviews and reference checks) are underway.
Regarding collective bargaining, he said the teacher and supervisors' contracts are settled, an unofficial Teamsters agreement is being converted into a memorandum of agreement for board consideration, and talks with the Administrators Association are ongoing with anticipated proposals in August or September.
Addressing parent concerns about one-to-one aides, the superintendent clarified the district has not reduced special-education aides for budget reasons: "The Committee on Special Education decide if a 1-to-1 aide or a 2-to-1 aide or even a 3-to-1 aide is needed based on a child's needs," he said. The district has created a checklist for committee members to guide recommendations and consider steps to foster student independence.
On out-of-school programming, the superintendent said the district previously contracted with Club Ed (Jewish Family and Children's Services) at $2,000 per month ($20,000 per year). Staff are conducting reference checks on a recommended nonprofit that runs similar programs in neighboring districts and plan to return with a recommendation by August.
He also said the district is exploring online registration through its Genesys student-management system to speed intake and improve residency verification; staff would assist families who cannot complete registration online.
The superintendent said he expects a student representative to resume attendance in September following student government elections.
