Lopatcong Township School District receives grant for up to $436,000 in elementary school renovations

LOPATCONG TWP. | The Lopatcong Township Elementary School should be receiving some much-needed upgrades, thanks to a state grant.

Lopatcong Township School District Superintendent Vicki Pede said the grant for up to $436,000 will provide crucial financial assistance for building improvements.

The Lopatcong Township school board voted Tuesday to accept the New Jersey Department of Education grant. The department awarded the money last month for the full amount applied for by the district.

Pede said the school board facilities committee will meet to identify the specific improvements before October's board meeting.

"We're thrilled the grant came through," she said.

A facilities report compiled last spring by Somerville, N.J.-based USA Architects identified trouble spots within the building, providing a detailed outline of needs for the grant application.

"We're going to be able to bring the school up to date and save a pile of money," said facilities committee Chairman Ernie Gallant.

School Business Administrator Teresa Barna said the grant will cover 40 percent of about $1.09 million worth of improvements. Barna said the grant mandates that funds must be committed for the project by June.

"We had an outline of items that we were very interested in. We put a number of things in (the grant application) and they're needed," Pede said. "We're looking at everything."

Among the largest items in the long list of potential improvements are roof repairs, electrical upgrades and masonry restoration, according to USA Architects Director of Technical Services Armand Christopher.

Building codes have changed since the school was last renovated, and this could be an opportunity to provide an update, Christopher said.

"We don't want to give the public the idea that the building is in any way unsafe," he said. "We can take this opportunity to bring these issues up to code."

Gallant said the hardest part about receiving the grant is determining where to use the resources.

"We're not necessarily going to do it all, but we're looking at all of it," he said. "We just want to make sure there is enough money to cover the remaining 60 percent" of costs.

Pede said the district has already set aside funds in anticipation of making some of the repairs to the elementary school.

Christopher said bids for the work will go out in January, and work should begin next spring.

Alpha School District completed facility renovations this summer through the same grant program, renovating antiquated windows and entrances at Alpha Public School.

Lopatcong Township School District will identify areas of the township elementary school for renovations after receiving a school facilities grant from the state. The grant will cover 40 percent of the costs for eligible repairs. Among the potential areas for renovation are: