Indian River project has surprise costs

Some unexpected issues have arisen in the Indian River Central School District's capital project — and unforeseen costs are piling up as a result.

At the Board of Education meeting Thursday night, the board approved a change order for $513,000 for rock excavation, redesign and concrete at Calcium Primary School. The school is one of the elements in the district's capital project, and the unforeseen rock conditions at the building site required additional cost for rock blasting and more concrete.

The Calcium building is built into a hill. Contractors anticipated running into some rock, but it was more than they thought, Business Manager James R. Koch said.

Several proposed change orders for different elements of the capital project were discussed at Thursday night's meeting. The board likely will vote on those change orders at the next board meeting, Jan. 7.

The change orders discussed Thursday include:

■ $30,500 to pay for an issue with the original site for a new playground at Evans Mills Primary School. When excavation began, the foundation of the old school, an old well and the sewer pipe for the building were uncovered at the playground site. The architect, Christopher J. Crolius of March Associates, recommended the playground be put in the back of the school because of concerns about the old building foundation, but board members voted in the spring to put the playground in front of the school, Mr. Koch said.

Now the playground site must be moved back behind the school. The location change required concrete steps to lead up to the playground and a handicapped-accessible ramp.

■ $23,000 to pay for the location change of the Calcium Primary School playground on the east side of the school. There was excessive rock at that playground site and rather than blast the rock, the playground will be put in a different location, Mr. Koch said.

The cost covers moving the playground equipment and regrading the soil at the new location.

Voters approved the district's $39.2 million capital construction project in October 2008. The largest project items are classroom additions to the intermediate school, the high school and Calcium Primary School. District officials hope the project will be completed by summer, so the classroom additions are available for next school year.

The board also discussed some items that are possible in the 2010-11 budget Thursday. The items discussed were:

■ Installing a new sign for the high school in Philadelphia that will face Route 11 with lighting, estimated to cost $14,000.

■ Fixing a water issue at Calcium Primary School. There is a large amount of puddling where the children get off the buses, and district officials are concerned that when the water freezes, children will slip on the ice, Mr. Koch said. Fixing the pavement to stop the puddling will cost an estimated $101,000.

■ Replacing the locks and keys with card scanners at the primary schools. Primary school administrators have requested that there be a card scanning system instead of keys because some keys have been lost and there are security concerns, Mr. Kettrick said. A cost for that project isn't available yet.

The board expects to enter budget deliberations in early February.