Nearly $1.5 million in contracts were approved by the Board of Education at its March 23 meeting. The biggest ticket item was a $1,128,999 contract awarded to Irvington-based KM Construction for reconstruction of the Franklin Middle School parking lot. The base cost of $830,707 is for the side lot and service courtyard. Alternate bids were also accepted for the service driveway, $149,068; the front parking lot and driveway, $115,287, and site lighting and the side parking lot, $33,937. KM was one of six companies to bid on the project, but was not the low bidder. The low bidder, Protective Paving of Milltown, submitted a total price of $861,200, but the bid was rejected because the company "failed to disclose the necessary information concerning members and owners on the owners disclosure form," according to the meeting's agenda. "The failure to submit a compliance Ownership Disclosure Statement is a material defect that is not waivable by the district." Money to pay for the contract comes from the "One Less Move" referendum and district funds. The board also awarded a $238,000 contract to Northeast Roof Maintenance of Perth Amboy for a partial roof replacement at Sampson G. Smith School. The company was one of 13 to bid on the project. The winning bidder for this project was again not the lowest bidder; that was GC Dynatech of Marlboro, which submitted a bid of $226,000. Dynatech's bid was rejected because it didn't comply with "providing specific bid documents, including it failed to acknowledge the receipt of the bid addenda, which is a material defect requiring rejection," according to the agenda. The contract will be paid for with district funds. The board also awarded a $51,563 bid to Don J. Urie Associates of Vineland to supply kitchen equipment for Elizabeth Avenue and Hillcrest schools. Urie was the only bidder. Summer projects at four schools will involve the removal of non-friable asbestos; the board awarded a $30,540 contract to AHERA Consultants of Galloway to oversee the projects. The contract includes $8,650 for the Sampson G. Smith cafeteria renovation project, $5,620 for the main and principal's office at MacAfee Road School, $10,650 for the main office, library and kitchen at Hillcrest School, and $5,620 for the main office, copy room and principal's office at Conerly Road School. A contract for up to $20,000 was awarded to the law firm of Capehart & Scatchard of Mt. Laurel for the firm to act as Special Counsel for Special Education Matters. The board also approved purchases – using non-public money through the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey – for several private schools in the township. Purchased were: $2,153 of security supplies from Ackerson Drapery of Lakewood for the Ying Hua International School $1,543 of security supplies from Maffey's Security Group of Elizabeth for Cedar Hill Preparatory School $2,125 of security supplies from Tech Services of South Plainfield for St. Matthias School. The board at the meeting also set district tuition rates for the 2017-18 school year. They are: Resident Pre-K: $5,900 Pre-K & K: 13,136 Grades 1-5: $15,250 Grades 6-8: $15,737 Grades 9-12: $15,083 Road to Success: $20,000 Preschool Disabled FT: $21,090 Cognitive: $12,923 LLD: $33,640 Autistic: $51,555
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