FREEHOLD – The Freehold Borough K-8 School District Board of Education has authorized an increase of $46,380 in a contract for work on a construction project that will address the issue of student overcrowding in the district.
On Jan. 22, board members approved a change order in a contract with G&P Parlamas for additions and alterations at the Park Avenue Elementary School and the Freehold Intermediate School, which share the same building at the Park Avenue Complex. The change order in the contract is the second approved by the board.
The first change order, which totaled $50,734, increased the original $17.81 million contract to $17.87 million. The second change order will increase the contract to $17.91 million.
According to a resolution approving the second change order, the increase will provide for the replacement of parking light fixtures at the Park Avenue Complex. Four existing light poles and concrete bases will be removed and disposed of; four new concrete poll bases will be furnished and installed, with anchor bolts set; four new light poles, LED fixtures, conduits and wires will be furnished and installed; and there will be excavation and backfill for the conduits.
The second change order was made after the project’s architect, electrical engineer and administration, upon evaluation of parking area expansions adjacent to the softball and baseball fields, determined it is desirous to replace existing parking lot lighting poles with LED fixtures to provide a higher saturation, intensity and efficient means of light, according to the resolution.
The first change order provided for temporary freezer accommodations and was approved after the determination was made that the building’s existing walk-in freezer needed to be decommissioned in order for work to proceed on schedule. A new freezer will not be in place and operational for use until a new kitchen area is constructed.
The board is undertaking a $33 million construction project to expand the district’s three schools: the Freehold Learning Center elementary school, Dutch Lane Road; the Park Avenue Elementary School; and the Freehold Intermediate School.
From 2007-17, the district’s enrollment increased from 1,363 pupils to 1,700 pupils and led to a situation in which some Freehold Borough pupils are being educated by Freehold Borough teachers in nine classrooms that are rented in the neighboring Freehold Township K-8 School District.
The construction project will increase classroom space in Freehold Borough to 1,589 students, which still leaves the schools with an over-capacity, but puts less of a strain on classrooms, according to district administrators.
