Speaking for District 13’s buildings

Maintaining safe and comfortable schools for children and staff is a priority for District 13 Board of Education members, who got a thorough look at all four schools last Saturday morning.

The school board and public got a look at about $750,000 in possible repair projects during the three-hour tour of the four school buildings. Among the priority items are funding for a new roof and blacktop area at Willow Road School, and new doors at the Howell Road and James A. Dever schools.

Howell Road School Principal Frank Huplosky has been requesting new doors for the main entrance for several years, and it looks like he could finally be getting his wish. New doors, at a cost of about $65,000, are on the district’s priority list for 2012-13. Huplosky said the doors are as old as the school, which was built in 1951, and are constantly begin repaired.

He also is requesting that two exit doors be replaced in the primary grade hallway, a cost of about $18,000. Huplosky noted that the doors and frames are rotting. At the James A. Dever School, Principal Darren Gruen said two exit doors near the library need to be replaced. The cost for that would be $25,000. The Board of Education has put both of those door replacements on its priority list.

Though not on the high needs list, Gruen requested that the district begin replacing exit doors in several classrooms at Dever, which are at least 50 years old. He asked that the Board of Education replace one door per year. “They keep the cold out, for the most part,” he said, “but they are probably not as energy efficient as they were.”

Board President Frank Chiachiere said there is a long range plan to replace doors. “There are doors which are clearly in worse shape than others,” he said. “Those are in the budget.”

Gruen, Huplosky and Willow Road School Principal Stephanie Capozzoli each requested that their respective gymnasium walls and ceiling are painted, if funds are available. It has been an annual request by the trio for several years. Huplosky noted that the Howell Road gymnasium is also the school’s all-purpose room for concerts, plays and other events, so he wants it to look nice.

Meredith Brosnan, assistant superintendent for business, estimated the cost to paint each gymnasium to be between $10,000 and $15,000. Board of Education Trustee Joan Gartner also said she would like to find out a price for new curtains for the Howell Road stage. “The whole stage really looks run down,” she said.

Chiachiere said that while he would love to the give the gymnasiums a fresh coat of paint, it is a labor intensive job, which drives up the cost. Scaffolding has to be put up to paint the high reaches of each room. When money is tight, he explained, fixing leaks and safety issues are the priority.

Another priority includes replacing the blacktop for the handball court at Howell Road School, which is sinking in several spots. The cost would be $47,000.

At Willow Road School, Brosnan is recommending that the board set aside $150,000 to replace the roof of the Willow Road School gymnasium. Another $130,000 would be put aside the following year. Long-term, she recommends budgeting a total of $415,000 over the next three years to replace the blacktop play area at Willow Road.

Wheeler Avenue School Principal Christine Zerillo is asking that two small roofs be repaired, including one over the main entrance. She said some of the wood in the porch ceiling has warped, and some plaster is cracking because of leaks. The other roof she wants repaired is a small overhang above the gymnasium lobby entrance. The two projects would cost $36,000.

The Wheeler Avenue auditorium needs some work, as well, because of leaks. James Daly, the director of buildings and grounds, said there is a leak on the right wall, possibly from around a window that was installed more than a year ago. Water has gotten into the wall causing plaster to crack and paint to peel. However, Brosnan said the water could be coming from another spot, so officials want to pinpoint and fix the leak before repairing the wall.

Board members want to look into installing two more windows in the auditorium. The cost would be about $38,000. “I would suggest that we don’t put the other windows in until we find out the problem with these windows,” Trustee Joseph DiSibio said.

Funding has been completed for a new blacktop surface for the Wheeler Avenue School play area and parking lot. Brosnan said she is hoping to have the work done next summer, but if state Education Department approvals take too long, the work wouldn’t be done until 2013.

Sink and cabinet replacements are ongoing at the Willow Road and James A. Dever Schools. The board saw completed projects as well as sinks and cabinets still in need of repair.

Board trustee Jeanne Greco Jacobs, after observing some ceiling tiles damaged because of past water leaks, suggested the district implement a long-term plan to replace old classroom ceilings with new drop ceilings. She said this was done in the Central High School District over a five-year period.

She also recommended painting the soffits — the side of the roof overhang — in the front of Willow Road School “for curb appeal.” Greco Jacobs noted that the paint is peeling and takes away from the look of the school. Board President Frank Chiachiere agreed, but again noted that it is not a priority if there is no safety issue.

Chiachiere said that the four schools are typically well-maintained and clean, but the annual tour gives the board a chance to see what needs to be done to keep them from falling into disrepair. “I think the buildings overall are in good shape,” he said.