VHS South asbestos project completed on time

VINELAND - The Vineland High School South asbestos abatement project was deemed complete Wednesday, clearing the way for school to open on time Tuesday.

The asbestos was discovered at the tail end of a two-year $10 million project to replace the heating/hot water system and install air conditioning at the 53-year-old school.

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The N.J. Schools Development Authority, overseeing the project, brought in Delta-BJDS of Southampton, Pa., and gave the firm an Aug. 31 deadline to remove the carcinogen.

The company worked 20 around-the-clock shifts to complete the work on time, said Wayne Weaver, the district’s facilities supervisor.

The asbestos uncovered during the demolition and construction is now removed and the building passed air quality tests.

“It was right on the 11th hour,” Weaver told The Daily Journal, noting there will be no health threat to students or staff when they enter the building for the new school year.

About 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Delta crews started pulling their equipment from the East Chestnut Avenue building, permitting the main contractor, Falasca Mechanical Inc. of Vineland, to focus on completing the air conditioning work.

The project involves massive duct work throughout the 240,000-square-foot building, positioning roof units and installing heating/air conditioning units in each of the school’s 70 classrooms.

Delta crews “are breaking everything down, they are basically demobilizing,” Weaver said, noting the asbestos warnings coming down at each school entrance.

“We have a crew coming in tonight, right behind them,” Weaver said, commending the district maintenance crews for stepping up to have the school ready.

The bulk of the work is complete but there are still areas where the utility work continues. Falasca crews are working double shifts looking at an Oct. 15 completion date, Weaver said.

“We have to finish up the gym area, the locker rooms, the dance studio, west cafeteria and kitchen,” Weaver said.

VHS Principal Tom McCann can now scrap his contingency plan that included split sessions. On Tuesday, he mailed parents a letter detailing the project and explaining some areas of the building will not be immediately available when school opens.

Students in the south building will use the north building’s locker rooms to get ready for gym. Brown bag lunches will be served in the south building's east cafeteria.

“The priority was to get the classrooms ready,” McCann said.

The district maintenance staff worked last weekend to have the second-floor classrooms ready.

This weekend, they'll focus on the ground floor so teachers can move in on Monday. The school gym now serves as the storage area for classroom furniture, computers and vending machines.

A month ago, the district put up a sign-up list to work weekends and Labor Day.

“We had 30 guys sign up to work; we are lucky, we have really good staff,” Weaver said. “Our guys know when we are up against it, they jump in and they help out.”

All the other district schools are ready for the first day of school, he said.

Weaver gave the Vineland Education Association progress reports during the summer so the union could update its members.

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More than 200 air samples were tested during the asbestos abatement project, Weaver said. Areas of concern were sealed off using temporary walls and plastic wrap while the asbestos was removed.

“We changed the heating system, we added air conditioning,” Weaver said, but he called bringing the school up to code for air exchange a key factor of the project.

“Now we’re bringing in the outdoor fresh air, so the indoor air quality in this building is going to be phenomenal, much better than it ever was,” he said.

McCann predicted better test scores because students with asthma and allergies will be more comfortable in the school.

Deborah M. Marko: (856) 563-5256: dmarko@gannettnj.com