Schools
School Board Gets Update On High School Renovations
Marple Newtown school officials discussed the current issues of the newly renovated high school gym at a Facilities and Transportation Committee meeting on Nov. 15.
NEWTOWN SQUARE–In September, the had considered trying to if the contractor's unsatisfactory and slow work did not improve.
By Oct. 31, 70 percent of the uncompleted work had been finished, according to Tim Sullivan, senior project manager for Reynolds Construction Management.
"The children are bouncing basketballs in the gym, there's water in the pool, today, they filled up the hot water heater, and they're laying the tile tomorrow," Sullivan said at the beginning of his presentation to the board at the Facilities And Transportation Committee meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
"I believe we had a good solid month for school being in session," Sullivan said.
There are still, however, some problems with Wilson's work. Mike Dumin, school district operations manager, said that in the gym, the backboards, paint on the floor and holes drilled for volleyball are all within regulation and centered in the gym, but two feet in the wrong direction. The issue creates a space problem for one of the three volleyball practice courts, but is almost unnoticeable otherwise.
Dumin said the district has three options: tell Wilson to fix the lines and backboards next summer, alter the volleyball court, or accept a credit from Wilson for nonconforming work.
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Dumin suggested taking a credit, if the amount was fair—likely somewhere between $40,000 and $60,000, he said. Because of the board's contentious relationship with Wilson right now, however, Dumin worried that the contractor might offer them a very low credit.
"I'd recommend it if they're willing to offer appropriate credit, but not if they're going to slap us in the face and say we'll give you $10,000," Dumin said.
