Avon School to Name Manager For Construction Work in April
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
A construction manager for the new wing at the Avon Elementary School will most likely be hired in April, Board of Education officials said last week.
The manager will serve as a liaison for the board during the renovation and construction of a new wing on the elementary school.
The new construction is the result of a referendum approved by the voters in December.
School Superintendent Helen Payne said that school officials and staff have been meeting with the architects and detailed plans for the project are close to finalization.
“We have sketches that will be shared with the staff,” said Payne, “and they can look at the plans. Everything is moving along. He (the architect) is fast tracking this for us.”
Payne further explained that everything going into the building has to be on the final plans before it goes to the state for a mandatory review.
“White boards, tables, an inventory of furniture all details have to be included,” said Payne.
In related news Business Administrator Amy Lerner reported that the local finance board approved the loan schedule for the project February 8.
The board then voted unanimously to approve the bond sale for the project.
Payne also reported that the high school lottery was held last week to determine which students will be assigned to Manasquan High School and which will be assigned to Asbury Park High School.
The superintendent said that letters indicating the results will be mailed to parents by March 1, although most of the parents were present when the names were pulled.
In other business Payne distributed the 2006-2007 school calendar for discussion. One major change in the calendar is the inclusion of a full week’s winter break during February. The calendar was changed to keep it mostly in line with the Manasquan school district.
No snow days were built into the calendar, but two half-day, staff in-service days were included.
“I have noticed that there is very little time with the staff,” said Payne. Referring to one of the days being in May, Payne said that it is a good time of year for reflection and planning for the following school year.
Board Member David Calnan said he recently visited schools in Bayonne where they have installed solar panels on the roofs of nine schools in an effort to save money and conserve energy.
“It’s a good educational tool as well,” he added.
Calnan proposed looking into including solar energy in the new construction project.
Calnan said the Bayonne district received grant money to fund the solar panels. “Maybe it can be worked into construction costs.”
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