School construction projects proceed in Freehold Township

School construction projects
proceed in Freehold Township
By linda denicola
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT Construction workers lift a steel beam into place as they build the new West Freehold School, off Route 537 near Wemrock Road, Freehold Township.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Now that school is out for the summer, construction projects at buildings throughout the district are swinging into high gear.

The largest project, building the new West Freehold School off Route 537 near Wemrock Road, began during the spring.

"The majority of the steel is going up right now. It’s on schedule and should be ready next spring," said Sean Boyce, the district’s business administrator and board secretary.

Boyce said children who attend the present West Freehold School, Stillwells Corner Road, will move in to the new building as soon as it is ready.

The present West Freehold School has about half the enrollment of the district’s other K-5 elementary schools (about 200 students).

After the implementation of an approved redistricting plan, other students will begin attending the new West Freehold School in September 2004.

The present West Freehold School will be converted into a preschool early learning center for special needs students.

In addition to the new elementary school, the other four elementary schools in the district (Errickson, Donovan, Catena and Applegate) are getting new kindergarten pods and the two middle schools (Eisenhower, Barkalow) are getting new classrooms.

The kindergarten pods include five classrooms and one multipurpose room.

According to a construction update, the first segment of the elementary schools construction projects, site preparation, was delayed for two months at the C. Richard Applegate and Joseph J. Catena schools because of a contractor’s unsuccessful legal challenge, but work is now under way.

In the meantime, construction crews completed site preparation at the Marshall W. Errickson and Laura Donovan schools. Once site preparation is completed at all schools, the next phase will begin, construction of the steel silhouette of what will be the kindergarten pods.

Crews have already started constructing the kindergarten pods at the Errickson School, Elton-Adelphia Road.

Until the new West Freehold School opens, the Board of Education has determined that the pods will be used as classroom space for existing programs and an increasing number of students. Once the new West Freehold School opens in September 2004, the district’s all-day kindergarten program will be implemented.

As for the middle school construction projects, final plans are being reviewed by state, county and local agencies. In the meantime, construction bid specifications are under way. In addition to 10 new classrooms, each middle school will be getting a multipurpose room.

In addition to having a full building in September 2004, the new West Freehold School will also have a new principal. District officials said that Judith Jalovick, the present West Freehold School principal, announced recently that she will be retiring in July 2004. Jalovick has been a principal in the district for 25 years.