• The construction plans for CRS were submitted to the State for approval on Tuesday, December 8th.  The approval process should take approximately one month.
• Bids should go out beginning in January, 2009 and will be due back in February.  The Commission will then review the bids and select a contractor.  The entire process should be complete by early March, 2009.
• Bids are going out to General Contractors, not Construction Managers -- this should put the project out as one bid number vs. bidding each area of work.
• The Commission expects a substantial number of bids based on the economy and the timing of the process.
• Alternates being included in the bid are: (1)  add air conditioning to air handlers already in project; (2) replace windows at west elevation class wing; (3) replace windows at east elevation class wing; (4) replace windows at connecting bridges; (5) replace windows at central core.
• The windows have been broken out in sections so that the Commission can utilze all the monies they have available for CRS ad perhaps will be able to replace some, if not all.
• There will be sixteen security camera located around CRS and wall mounted screens and recording devices in the school.
• ADA renovations are being done as one per program (grade) - not in every classroom, as previously discussed.

In March of 2005, voters in Vernon approved $68 million in appropriations and bond authorizations for additions and renovations to the public school buildings.  Since then, projects have been ongoing and many completed at Rockville High, VCMS, Lake Street School, and Skinner Road School.  Unfortunately, only limited work has been completed to date at CRS -- the floor tiles have been removed and replaced for all areas except stairwells.

According to the original bonding proposal, $4.4 million was approved for CRS for the following projects (please refer to Town of Vernon Explanatory Text for further details):

• expansion of the main office conference room
• installation of security doors
• installation of new air conditioning system in the 2nd and 3rd floor classroom wing and in the Media Center
• replacement of all windows
• modernization of existing elevator
• removal and replacement of asbestos floor tiles
• hazardous material abatement
• site work consisting of renovations to playground; additional parking spaces; regrading and repavement of walkways

During the Spring of 2008, the PTO was notified that due to significant shortfalls in the estimated cost of projects at CRS, it appeared that only limited code work would be completed at our school.  Essentially, air conditioning would not be installed, windows would not be replaced, no additional parking spaces and only limited site work.  The scope of the CRS projects had completely changed from what was approved by voters in 2005.

On June 5, 2008, two members of the School Building Advisory Commission (SBAC) and Board of Education, Dean Houle and George Apel attended our PTO meeting to address parent concerns.  Approximately 40 CRS parents voiced their concerns regarding the changes to the originally approved projects and the impact on our children and our school.  The project architect agreed to 'go back to the drawing board' and review alternative options while staying within the budget for CRS.

A number of CRS parents have attended the bi-monthly SBAC meetings over the summer.  To date, we have not been informed of any changes to the downscaled scope of work for our school.  The Commission plans to send the CRS project proposal out to bid in January.  WE WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE ALL PROJECTS ORIGINALLY APPROVED BY VOTERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE NEW BIDS SO WE ARE ASKING CRS PARENTS/STAFF TO ATTEND THE  SCHOOL BUILDING ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETINGS.  The meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at the BOE Administration Building in Rockville, at 6:30 p.m.  We have also invited Commission members and Mayor McCoy to attend a future CRS PTO meeting.

Any CRS parent or Vernon Town Resident interested in more information about the changes to the CRS construction projects, please email either Barbara Lung at bdlung@comcast.net or Julie Polansky at japolansky@comcast.net.  Parents are also encouraged to contact the Board of Education or School Building Advisory Commission.  Click here for BOE member information and click here for details about the School Building Advisory Commission, including member names, meeting minutes, and the schedule of upcoming meetings.