The city is seeking state funds to replace the entire roof at the school.
WESTFIELD – The School Department has initiated contracts amounting to slightly more than $40,000 to begin tornado damage repairs to Munger Hill School.
School Operations Director Frank B. Maher Jr. said the goal is to complete repairs before schools open in August.
Contracts signed Monday include repairs of 20 feet of steel roofing that was torn from the building during the June 1 tornado.
That contract was awarded to Independent Roofing of Westfield for $19,020.
Other contracts include $7,700 to Collins Electric for both interior and exterior lighting repairs; $1,599 for a new flag pole; $5,785 to Westfield’s Wagner Rug Co. for carpeting in two kindergarten rooms damaged by the store and another $6,161 for repairs to an exterior retaining wall.
The School Department has applied to the state’s School Building Authority for funding to replace the entire Munger Hill School roof because it is 20 years old. Maher said SBA action, which would cover an 62 percent of the estimated $1.3 million project, is pending.
Maher also anticipates up to 75 percent reimbursement for costs associated with contracts he signed Monday for repairs to the school. That funding will come from federal and state emergency management agencies, he said.
But, both Maher and Mayor Daniel M. Knapik favor replacement of the entire roof because of its age.
Currently, two school roof projects are under way at a cost of $2.4 million. New roofs are being installed on Southampton Road and Highland Elementary schools at a cost of $2.4 million. Those projects were approved for 62 percent SBA reimbursement last year.
The School Department is also planning roof repairs at Westfield Vocational-Technical High School and replacement of boilers at Highland, Paper Mill, Southampton Road elementary schools and Westfield High School.
Those projects are estimated at a total of $8.4 million. SBA last week approved funding for those projects in the amount of $5.3 million.