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August 29, 2007

NCCS asbestos abatement will cost $3 million

CHAMPLAIN — The Northeastern Clinton Central School facilities project must be cut by $6 million, in part due to asbestos removal.

“It’s going to be some big pieces that are going to come out of the projects,” said Superintendent of Schools Peter Turner.



UPCOMING MEETING

At a School Board meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, architectural firm Collins & Scoville will present some ideas on keeping the facilities-wide upgrade within its voter-approved budget of $22.5 million.

But floated at a recent session were a few possibilities. Among them were cutting the Middle School roof replacement and some new windows for that building. Also brought up was dropping parking-lot improvements for that facility.

“They’re going to look more in Rouses Point, sharpen their pencils there,” Turner noted.

The four-classroom addition at that elementary building is not at risk at this point, he said, nor are other major improvements to that facility or Mooers Elementary in Mooers.

“The project was an attempt to improve our elementaries,” Turner said. “I think the board will stand firm on that as long as it’s within budget and we can afford it.”



COST CHANGES

It will cost about $3 million to remove the asbestos identified in a recent inspection, the superintendent said.

The remaining $3 million of the $6 million that needs cutting represents higher costs for project items determined as prices were fine-tuned, he said. And part of that, too, are items added after the project was approved by voters.

Collins & Scoville had originally thought those additions — which include a cafeteria/warming kitchen at Rouses Point Elementary, some new windows and a bathroom renovation in Mooers and the reopening and upgrade of a High School rest room — would fall within budget.



ASBESTOS PROBLEMS

A presentation lasting a full hour updated the School Board on the asbestos situation, Turner said.

“Some areas were abated before but weren’t properly done,” he said.

As well, standards have changed.

“They’re much more adept at identifying asbestos than they were perhaps 20 years ago.”

Asbestos residue was found in every district building, Turner said.

“A lot is in crawl spaces,” he said, describing pipes once wrapped in asbestos that are not easily accessible.

The asbestos report, said Turner, “makes it very clear that the $3 million will not make the district asbestos-free.”

But it will take care of the toxic substance in areas due for work during the facilities upgrade, he said.

While the abatement work will be part of the overall facilities project, the district will apply for that state approval separately from the rest of it, said Turner. It’s thought more state aid would accompany the cleanup that way.



TIMETABLE

The aim has been to begin construction of the overall building project in April 2008, with completion in September 2009, but that is dependent upon meeting various deadlines along the way. Among them is state approval for the plans.

“If we get the hard decisions made on Sept. 11,” Turner said, “we’re optimistic we can submit on schedule in November.”



E-mail Suzanne Moore at:

smoore@pressrepublican.com

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