Board hears construction progress at all four schools; gym and board offices on track for mid-January

The Metuchen Board of Education’s construction committee reported Dec. 16 that major projects at all four district schools are advancing and approaching scheduled finish dates.

Construction chair Brian Glassberg told the board the high school’s base paving, sidewalks and grading are complete and that interior work on the gym/field house and board offices is largely finished; he said the board expects the gym and board offices to be completed by Jan. 16, with the high school cafeteria usable in mid- to late February. At Moss School, interior finishing and an outdoor instructional courtyard are largely done and a base asphalt court is expected soon, with a projected completion around Jan. 20.

Edgar School’s electrical service replacement is complete and most work is at the punch-list stage; remaining items include an exterior sign and HVAC commissioning. At Campbell Elementary, the committee reported delayed door and hardware deliveries and pending HVAC commissioning. Glassberg said some landscaping and planting replacements are covered under warranty and will be addressed in spring. The committee also discussed bus and car route realignment at Moss, signage at Edgar, a retaining wall adjacent to Edgar, and said the construction budget is effectively maxed, which will require careful approval of remaining items.

The committee noted an energy audit and an ESIP (energy savings improvement plan) evaluation that could inform whether the district pursues solar or other energy-saving options; a final decision depends on the audit’s results to be shared in the new year.