New Hartford school district on schedule with capital project

By CHINKI SINHA

Observer-Dispatch

Posted Jun 16, 2008 @ 11:30 PM

NEW HARTFORD —

The school district hopes to beat rising fuel prices and inflation by staying on schedule with its $25.7 million capital project.

Construction bids will be awarded next week and work will begin soon after, officials said.

A formal groundbreaking for Phase 1, which includes construction of the auditorium and athletic field, will take place at 5 p.m. Friday at Don Edick Field.

“We are on schedule to the point where I expect positive results in the bid process,” Superintendent Daniel Gilligan said.

Gilligan, who is retiring at the end of the year, said the district tried to save costs by combining the bidding process for the project’s two components, which also includes the construction of a math, science and technology wing, which will not begin until 2010. The district also hopes to save some by compressing the estimated time for the project’s competition.

The second bid would not have gone out until 2009, and costs could have risen given the state of the economy, officials said.

Residents approved the capital project last year. In 2005, voters rejected a capital project that included a provision for purchasing land on Tibbitts Road for $450,000.

By starting earlier than many of the area’s school districts, the New Hartford Central School District will not only stay within its budget, but also will be able to save money, Gilligan said.

The accelerated process is expected to save the district about $1 million, plant engineer Andrew Morgan previously said.

King & King Architects, which is involved in the project’s design and planning, had to compact its planned design time. The school district also recently hired C&S Companies, an engineering and consulting firm based in Syracuse, to oversee the project.

Administrative staff and faculty are preparing to move to different offices to accommodate the construction.

Diane Hadfield, a high school arts teacher, said she was excited about the project.
Moving to another location is a bit of an inconvenience, she said.

“It’s just challenging to get it all in the box, she said. “They want to start renovation right after school.”

Tina Klar an instructional support specialist, will have to move to Ralph Perry Junior High School. But she isn’t worried, she said.

“It’s part of the deal,” she said. “In the long run, what we gain will be outstanding.”

While some of the administrative offices may temporarily be moved to other schools, students will be moved around the building in a way that causes the least amount of inconvenience.

Officials hope to address parking and any other concerns during the period of construction, which will take about two-and-a-half years. A designated parking lot with 90 spaces will be available behind the baseball field, and sidewalks will be constructed, officials said.

During the construction phase, concerts will take place at the high school gymnasium, and the district also will use Mohawk Valley Community College for parties.

Graham Avenue will be used as an access road for construction vehicles, Gilligan said.