Work crew upgrades school buildings throughout district this summer

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Even with most Bloomfield children on vacation and classrooms empty, township schools remain busy during the summer as outside contractors and school district employees provide long-awaited repairs and annual upkeep to facilities. Some schools received a little more attention than others, but none were overlooked.

According to Joseph Scazafave, the district supervisor of buildings and grounds, the Demarest School’s boiler room was rehabilitated because outside water was seeping into it.
“Years ago, they dug one big area to install the boiler room,” Scazafave said in a recent interview. “Over time, the water penetrated the room. This work has been on the drawing board for a while.”

Work began at Demarest as soon as it closed and is expected to continue until October without affecting the operation of the school, he said. Demarest teachers will also see new fencing around their parking lot. But other than those two projects, Scazafave said the school has received basic summer refinishing and cleaning.

Not much work was scheduled at Brookdale School, he said. But the floors were refinished and waxed, and new vinyl tiles were installed on the first and second floors.

New fencing was to be installed along the perimeter of Franklin School; the school lobby will receive new carpeting; and three of the school’s stairwells have been repainted.

Fairview will also receive new fencing around its parking lot, and the Montgomery Street walkway was widened.
“It’s for easier access,” Scazafave said. “We blacktopped it and installed Belgian blocks and gates to get into the schoolyard.”
A chain-link fence that was started last year at Carteret School was continued this summer. The fence is high and borders an automotive business.

“We had to be careful,” Scazafave said. “There’s a lot hitting right up against the fencing. We’re doing it in stages.”
New ceilings are going up at Berkeley in the basement and first and second floors. According to Scazafave, that work should be completed this week. The lobby will also be carpeted, and work in the stairwells will be done later this year during weekends and after school hours.
“We try to do everything with the staff we have,” Scazafave said.

The air compressor that is part of the heating system at Watsessing School is being replaced and some painting will be done.
“But this school is in pretty good shape,” Scazafave said. “We like to give every school something. But the ones that need something are prioritized.”

At the Early Childhood Center at Forest Glen, the floor in the nurse’s office was to be stripped, waxed and refinished. “We did a lot at that school last year,” he said.
Bloomfield Middle School received a new $3.4 million roof this summer.
“The old roof was leaking like Swiss cheese,” Scazafave said. “Really bad shape, terrible.”
And the “B” block section in the school is receiving new floor tile.

“It’s a continuation of a project begun a few years ago,” Scazafave said. “With the roof being replaced, we can have new ceilings. That’s why you keep replacing ceilings, because the roof leaks.”

At Bloomfield High School, three classrooms are getting new floor tile and the narrow space between the old school building and the addition, called “Bird Alley,” is being converted into a student-friendly area.

Scazafave said it is currently used primarily as a storage area, but it will be cleaned out to make room for tables and chairs. Computer lines are being installed.

“It’s another area for the kids to hang out,” he said. “The high school is in use so much during the summer. It’s tough getting in there, but it gets done. A lot of planning goes into what we do, if we have to do it. That’s the trick.”
Brookdale School is getting a basic summer cleaning.

“That school is one of the better schools, structure-wise,” Scazafave said.
And finally, at the district’s Administration Building, the elevator floors and the areas just outside the elevators are being recarpeted, which will take a day or two, Scazafave said.

He has a full-time staff of 55, and uses about 10 part-timers as needed during the school year. Five or six of the part-timers are summer help. One or two of the part-timers are dispatched to each school during the summer months to prepare for the September school bell.
“We’re trying to give the students and staff clean schools and a nice working environment,” Scazafave said. “I’ve been told in seminars that students in cleaner schools have higher grades. It’s statistically shown.”

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