Millburn’s Washington School Renovations Lagging, But In-Progress (PHOTOS)

MILLBURN, NJ — Things are shaping up at Washington School in Millburn, but will this summer’s construction efforts be done in time for the new school year?

During Monday’s Millburn Board of Education meeting, school officials stated that construction is lagging at Washington School, a former special education day school that is being converted into a fifth-grade facility as a result of last year’s $25.6 million school bond referendum.

• See related article: Millburn Voters Approve Day School Purchase

Millburn administrators said Monday that contractors are two weeks behind schedule at Washington School, which is slated to open for the 2017-18 school year, and that change orders were necessary to “address additional project scope requests.”

See updates about the district’s referendum projects here.

“Architects have been meeting regularly with contractors to address the recovery schedule,” administrators stated.

At the time, items still on the to-do-list included:

• Certificate of occupancy for the first floor
• Fire alarm completion
• Concrete entryway
• Plumbing (sinks/counter tops)
• Staff must prepare their rooms (primarily on first floor)
• Furniture deliveries due
• Office areas need ceiling tiles, furniture and phone placements
• General clean-up

The first day of school in Millburn is Tuesday, Sept. 5.

• See related article: Millburn Township School Calendar 2017-18: First Day Of School, Vacations, Conferences

However, the district has been sharing some photos of the in-progress work being done at the school that may give local parents some hope for an on-time opening. On Wednesday, Millburn school administrators posted the below video slideshow of progress at Washington School.

Administrators have also shared photos of other items being checked off the list in preparation for the first day of school.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos: Millburn Public Schools

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Millburn-Short Hills Facebook page here.