Capital Project Bids at RIH Come in Over Budget

Some of the facilities projects scheduled for Ramapo and Indian Hills high schools have hit a snag, the regional Board of Education reported at Monday's regular meeting.

According to Business Administrator Frank Ceurvels, the lowest bids received for emergency generators at Indian Hills and Ramapo came in at $333,250 and $522,580, respectively. The district has in the past said that the replacement of both generators were key upgrades for the schools, which both feature equipment from their original erection decades ago.

Unfortunately, both bids to replace the generators were "unreasonable" on the basis of cost estimates, and the board, having twice rejected bids for the project, can now directly negotiate a new price with the contractors.

At Indian Hills, the scope of work was reduced when the bid came in $50,000 higher than the first bid, said Ceurvels, who recommended the board decline to pursue direct negotiation.

Ramapo's generator bid was almost double what the budget had allocated in terms of cost. "We're going to work and sit down with the contractors and try to hammer out what's driving the cost of what we can do for the budget that we have," Ceurvels said.

Climate control projects at both schools also were both over budget but Ceurvels is optimistic that negotiations will come out under budget, as the bids weren't terribly over the funds allocated.

Roof work bids for Indian Hills came in under budget and hopefully the project will begin over the summer.

Boiler upgrades at Indian Hills and HVAC upgrades at Ramapo and Indian Hills are "slated to start when school lets out" and things are "so far, so good," Ceurvels said.

• Board member Ira Belsky said that he was contacted by some who had proposed to put up solar panels on the roof "at their expense" to provide long-term energy at a discounted rate from what the district would otherwise pay using a public utility. "It sounds like a win—win thing, but of course it's all in the details," Belsky said. Those contacts were directed to Ceurvels. 
• Medical insurance is up 6 percent; prescriptions 2 percent; and dental remains flat. The district is feeling "good" about the renewals, said Ceurvels. 
• The recent Relay For Life run at Indian Hills raised more than $100,000 to fight cancer.