At its latest monthly public session, the Haddonfield Board of Education voted to award a local firm the contract for installing security vestibules at two district elementary schools.
Levy Construction Company Inc., based in nearby Audubon, has been selected to complete the projects at both Elizabeth Haddon and J.F. Tatem schools. Its base bid was $178,600.
Included in the total bid amount of $221,400 were three alternate bids totaling $42,800 for potential additions to vestibule construction.
“The three alternate bids, in no particular order … was for additional buzzer access for certain doors, in the office — just extra security,” said Board Secretary Michael Catalano.
Board Vice President David Siedell explained the process behind financing such school-related construction.
“For finance of public projects, we set an amount which either accepts or rejects, as a threshold. But as long as (the scope of the project) meets state qualifications, and they’re the low bid, they get the job,” he stated.
“That estimate goes to the county and the state, to get approved as a project,” Siedell added. “So then, they look at the estimated values and say, ‘You guys are crazy,’ or, ‘It’s in line with what we see in other (places). It’s not just his word, or our word or our ability to pay — it’s an approved project that the state does.”
Acknowledged as a “hot topic” for months around Haddonfield by board President Adam Sangillo, the decision to move forward with construction provoked relief.
“As planned, construction will begin on the last day of school,” said Superintendent Larry Mussoline.
In other news:
- New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy released his 2021 state budget proposal on Feb. 27, along with proposed school district aid numbers for the net fiscal year. Haddonfield School District would be in line to receive $1,949,720 in funds, an increase of 15.67 percent ($264,146) over the current school year. A full summary can be found by visiting: https://www.state.nj.us/education/stateaid/2021/.
- The board commended Haddonfield Memorial High School senior Carly Griffin and junior Pierre Yan for becoming National Merit Scholarship finalists.
- The board also recognized 10 HMHS students for their performances in the 2020 Haddonfield Human Relations Commission MLK Day Essay competition: Kennedi Carey, Mia Gagliardi, Jane Kinner, Rania Kolluri, Sabrina Miller, Alex Roseman, Katherine Testa and Owen Thomas were finalists, while Hannah Epstein and Jada Eible Hargro were named Exemplars.
