Ray Moore, director of facilities, said there are several factors which have contributed to the increase.
 

"The feasibility study on the additions and renovations to the high school was conducted in 2004.So the estimates are two years old," Moore said.

"And with the disasters in the South, the demand for construction materials has increased and there is an elevation in cost. It’s directly related to what’s happened in New Orleans and other places affected by disasters."

Dr. Doris Kurtz, superintendent of schools, is not alarmed by the increase. "Estimates are coming in higher now. This is common. This is normal expectation. We’re just trying to make adjustments to all of things we were going to do at the high school."

The NBHS addition and renovation project includes the addition of 19 classrooms, a lecture hall, reconfiguration of existing space to accommodate special education students, upgrading life-skills and home-economic classrooms originally built in the 70s, site improvements to get buses off of the street, and adding an access road from east parking lot to South Main St.

Prior to the start of the project, Moore said that a geotechnical scientist hired by the district determined that the soil was unsuitable to support footings for the three stories that were to be added. "So we have to make modifications. We need to drive 150 piles, 50 feet deep to support the change," Moore said.

The district plans to move funds from portable classrooms to the addition and renovation project instead of going to the city for more funding. The portables were to be in place temporarily for two years until completion of the renovations. Moore says the board decided to transfer the funding.

"We don’t plan to ask the city for more money. It was decided that if any of the funds are not needed they will be returned back to the city. The board made the decision and approved of transferring the funds," Moore said. "They decided that they school could function another year under the same condition."

The additions and renovations are due to overcrowding and an increase in the number of students, and anticipated growth of the New Britain population projected for the upcoming years. The project is expected to be completed by September 2007.

Moore informed the school board committee that it will be necessary to hire a clerk of the works to oversee the project, and anticipates the general contractor for the position will receive $100,000 per year for two years.

Franchone Fraser-Ben Reuben Bey can be reached at ffraser@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, Ext. 306.