Hardyston schools update for 2014-15 term

HARDYSTON — When the doors opened at the Hardyston Township schools for the 2014-15 school year, there were lots of changes to be found in both buildings.

School Business Administrator James Sekelsky said it's been a busy summer at the elementary school.

The ventilation system has gotten an update with new motors for the univent system, which will improve air quality. There was some minor plumbing work done, with some old expansion tanks that were be drained and removed. The parking lot also got some repairs, as did the roof, while the gym floors got sanded and refinished.

New tables can be found in the cafeteria, while three classrooms got new chairs. Also found around the building are new risers for the chorus and a new clock system that runs on batteries and can be programmed remotely. New technology also is on site with eight new Smartboards and one new computer cart with 30 Chromebooks.

At the middle school, all the exterior lights, including in the parking lots and around the perimeter of the building were retrofitted with LED bulbs. The district took on the retrofits for both the energy savings and because of a rebate available from the state. Between these two factors, the lights will have paid for themselves within 4 years.

Along the outside walkways, there is new landscaping and the parking lots have been repaired. Inside, the gym floor has been sanded and sealed, and a 60-ton compressor that had been out of service for several years has been repaired.

In the media center and adjacent computer lab, there are 33 new computers with touchscreen monitors and there is a new cart of 30 Chromebooks available for the building.

In the future, the district is planning to purchase a commerical lawn tractor, as the Board of Education plans to bring the school's lawn maintenance in house. Previously, it was done by the town for a fee, according to Sekelsky, but it's most cost effective overall to hire a part-time custodian for six months and do the mowing itself. In the fall, the district will be redo the retaining wall behind the building. The wall, which is starting to collapse, is surrounding the HVAC equipment.