FREEHOLD – The Freehold Borough K-8 School District Board of Education has authorized an increase of $45,711 in a contract for work on a construction project that will address the issue of student overcrowding in the district.
Board members recently 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 is the fourth 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, which totaled $46,380, increased the contract to $17.91 million. The third change order, which totaled $18,460, increased the contract to $17.93 million. The fourth change order will increase the contract to $17.98 million, according to the board.
A resolution passed by the board states that the fourth change order is for material and labor for removal of unsuitable saturated soils, and replacement with stone due to unforeseen weather conditions. The resolution states that the accumulation of precipitation on the ground affecting the saturation of the soil since the start of construction has resulted in the inability to appropriately compact soil in certain areas of the site where additions will be built.
The fourth change order was made on the recommendation of the construction manager, architect, soils engineer and structural engineer that saturated soils be removed and replaced with stone so foundation and building work can proceed.
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. The construction project will increase classroom space to 1,589 students, which will still leave the schools with an over-capacity of children, but will put less of a strain on classrooms, according to district administrators.
