District Looking To Modernize Morris Avenue School Classroom Design

The Morris Avenue School in Long Branch could look drastically different by the beginning of 2012-13 school year.

The Long Branch board of education passed a resolution at its last meeting to allow the district to go out to bid to make improvements at the school, which was designed in the 1970s according to Superintendent Michael Salvatore.

Salvatore said the building features open air pod-style classrooms and that the district would like to convert them to self-contained classrooms this summer. There are four pods that contain four classrooms each and the pods are separated by dividers.

Salvatore said that configuration, which was created in the 1970s, is not used in any of the district's other buildings, and that we would like to see it change to a more modern design.

The Morris Avenue School houses children from pre-K to second grade.

He said he would like to keep the building's exterior features the same because it creates revenue for the school. Solar panels were placed on the top of the building's flat roof last year. The flat roof design allows the panels to absorb more sun which helps the district cut its electric costs and create solar renewable energy credits, which could generate money for the schools.

"We have solar all over the roof and its become a great revenue building," Salvatore said.

Salvatore said the school has enough money set aside for the project.

"We took money aside from our increase in state id last year and we now have $700,000 to renovate the school," he said.

He said the plan is to award a contract soon and do the work during the summer months.

"The dollars and the timeline are the most important parts of the project," he said "We need a 6-week timeline for them to complete all the renovations including the walls and HVAC."

"It's an aggressive timeline, but I think with the right contractor it can be done," Salvatore continued.

He said the fact that all the renovations are being made to the interior of the building will move the project along because weather will not be a factor.

He said if the project cannot be completed within six weeks, it could be delayed to next summer.