The Cranbury School District has finally awarded a construction contract within budget for the numerous school referendum projects.
After entering negotiations with contractors, the Cranbury Township Board of Education awarded Benjamin R. Harvey, Co. Inc, a construction company in Ocean, with a $15.8 million construction contract for the project at its meeting in December.
“I am happy to report that a kick-off meeting has occurred and all the necessary arrangements are being made so that we can likely begin construction before the end of this school year,” said Jennifer Diszler, Cranbury School chief school administrator and superintendent.
“The work is just beginning, but it has taken a lot of effort to get to this point.”
The school district administration and school board had rejected all prior bids on multiple occasions because they were over budget in 2023.
To get to the awarded bid price within budget, modifications had to be made to the bid specifications, school officials said.
Some of the modifications include modifications to an alternate stage wood flooring system, modifications to change the theatrical rigging system, changing the stage lighting and theatrical dimming control package, modifications to eliminate traffic control measures, and changing the kitchen equipment manufacturer on select equipment.