BRUNSWICK
Brunswick’s 54-year-old junior high school will receive some needed work to its ventilation system this summer, after the town council on Monday unanimously approved a $454,080 bond to pay for the upgrades.
According to the school district’s business manager Jim Oikle, the project dates back to 1998, when a study found needed air quality improvements throughout Brunswick schools. Those improvements have been done at most schools and were “well vetted” through the town’s capital improvement process, said Oikle.
Ventilation improvements have been ongoing at the junior high school, and Monday’s vote clears the way for the final part of the fourphase project.
The project will include replacing heaters, pipes, fans and other equipment in the school’s gymnasium, in the science wing, in a second floor closet and a classroom.
According to councilor Jane Millett, the junior high’s renovations have cost $1.9 million over seven years. Spending that amount “raised a red flag” initially, said Millett.
“That’s a lot of money for one school,” Millett said.
However, the project will bring the junior high up to national air quality standards, according to Paul Caron, the district’s facilities manager.
Caron defended the decision not to use a low-bid process, citing issues the district has had in the past with the end-result, notably windows at the new Harriett Beecher Stowe School that needed replacement soon after that building opened.
“Low-bid process is not a good way to do business,” said Caron.
Caron said that the junior high project will not be mitigated by any future renovations, which would be years down the road.
“I don’t foresee anything happening at the junior high school for quite some time,” said Caron. “There aren’t any renovations in sight.”
As far as replacing the five-decade-old building with a new school, Caron said such a project wouldn’t be undertaken until after a new elementary school is built, a project that has yet to be finalized by the school board.
The project is being undertaken by Siemens Industry, Inc., which has had a relationship with the school district for more than 20 years, according to Siemens account manager Michael O’Brien.
Caron said he will attempt to have the project completed this summer.
“Time is running short,” Caron said. “We need to get equipment ordered pronto.”
jswinconeck@timesrecord.com
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