By Laura Lane
North Merrick is replacing the roof and chimney at Old Mill Road Elementary School, work that began July 1. The district hired a clerk of the works to oversee the project and represent the district's interests, said David Feller, the North Merrick School District superintendent.
Funds for the project were gleaned from several sources, including existing capital reserve funds, totaling $163,000, as well as $417,879 in EXCEL Aid, a one-time allotment that the state issues to school districts. North Merrick voters authorized the use of the funds on Jan. 9, when they approved two propositions.
Merrick schools are also undergoing renovations, all of which were paid for with money in the current budget. All of the screws on Chatterton Elementary School's windows have been replaced, and the windows have been freshly caulked and painted. The project totaled about $72,000.
The trim on Chatterton's music room exterior and cafeteria was also caulked and painted. The music room and cafeteria now have a new ceiling, and the gym stairs have been re-sanded and repainted at a cost of about $37,000.
The Levy-Lakeside Elementary School gym has been repainted, the floors re-sanded and refinished, and the hallway ceiling lowered and replaced. The cost of the Armstrong ceiling tiles was about $3,500.
Birch Elementary School had ceiling tiles replaced in two of its classrooms and its gym floor lightly sanded, at a cost of about $9,700. The district also purchased a 40-foot-long storage container for $4,500. Dr. Christine Grucci, Merrick's new assistant superintendent for business and technology, recommended the addition.
Grucci said the space was needed for the central office's records, which up to now have been stored in the basements of the district's three elementary schools. "We wanted something close by to get the records when we need them," said Grucci, adding that there wasn't any room left in the basements. "And we added our own locks on the container, and it's fire and waterproof."
There are plans to paint Merrick's elementary schools over the winter break.
Comments about this story? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
