Wednesday, November 30, 2005

BOE to mull cost of school construction

By AMY S. BOBROWSKI Staff Writer

WARREN — The Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education will hold a special work meeting 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

During the meeting, the board will discuss January’s special election, in which it will ask residents to approve additional funds for the renovation and the expansion project at the high school.

Voters previously approved a referendum in 2003 allocating more than $40 million to the project.

While in the midst of an investigation into its former Superintendent Gary Reece and others involved in the construction project, the board determined that more money will be needed to complete the project.

At tomorrow’s meeting, board members hope to hammer out just how much more money the district will need to complete the project. Already most of the renovations to the school’s south building are complete. Officials hope the expansion portion of the project, which includes a new theater, music wing and science labs, will be complete by the start of school in September.

Gary Werner, the district’s council on the project and the investigation, noted the contingency fund for the project is in danger of running out before work is complete. The board hopes to release an amount by its Dec. 5 meeting. Tomorrow’s work session meeting will start at 7:30 p.m.