Officials expect the $35 million project, which affects all four schools, to be finished by January
Long-awaited repairs and renovations to Haddonfield public schools associated with a $35 million bond referendum approved in 2016 are on track to be completed by January, district officials said.
Work on various aspects of the referendum project, which affects all four of the district’s schools, has been going on throughout the summer, said Stephen Burns, business administrator for the board of education.
As the school year approaches, Burns said students and parents will begin to notice some of the improvements, though he said the main aim of the project is to improve the “bones” of the school structures.
All of the district’s school buildings now have air conditioning, which could come in handy if the temperatures remain hot and humid into September.
“Just having air conditioning in all the buildings is a real plus,” Burns said in a recent interview. “With the AC, it makes it a lot more comfortable for the students.”
Last month, crews began resurfacing the track at Haddonfield Memorial High School. The stadium area is currently closed to the public, and Burns said the goal is for that portion of the project to be completed when school begins.
Also at the high school, construction crews have been working on the brick exterior of the B-wing.
“It looks sharp,” Burns said of the outside of the building. “It just looks really, really good.”
Burns said the focus will move to the interior reconstruction of the B-wing at the start of the school year.
Other additions to the high school as part of the bond referendum project include a new science lab, outdoor seating area and a change of location for the elevator to provide access to all levels, according to information provided by the district.
The hope is to have all of the construction done at the high school sometime in January, Burns said.
He also said workers are completing the final two stages of demolition at J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School as part of the reconstruction of the school’s brick façade.
Demolition is the “dirtiest part of the job,” Burns said, so the goal is to have that part of the project completed by the time students return to school.
Doing the demolition in the summer and reconstruction in the fall is also expected to speed up the project at Tatem, Burns said. Officials thought construction would continue at the school until February, he added, but they are now hopeful it will be completed by December.
Most of the work at the building that houses Central Elementary and Haddonfield Middle School has already been completed, Burns said.
He said contractors are doing a walkthrough and looking for any remaining issues that need to be addressed.
“It’s winding down,” Burns added. “There are a few odds and ends here and there.”
The portion of project dealing with Elizabeth Haddon Elementary was previously completed, and the school has been housing the district’s summer programs, according to Burns.
He said the district hired Dandrea Construction as its general contractor for the bond referendum project.
For more information on the projects, visit the school district’s website at www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us.
