The West View Elementary School renovation project is underway and Phase II of the project, which includes the demolition of the current main office along Chalfonte Avenue, is scheduled to begin in early February.
The main office area, which includes the health office and shown in the map below, will be torn down so construction on the new front addition can begin.
Effective Monday, Feb. 6, the main office will be relocated to the gymnasium lobby along Bellevue Avenue and this will be the temporary main entrance to the school. The nurse’s office will also be located here through at least December of 2023.
Arrival and Dismissal
Beginning Monday, Feb. 6, arrival and dismissal will be impacted as follows:
- Buses will load and unload along Bellevue Avenue and walkers from the east of the building will enter/exit through the gymnasium doors. (Temporary main entrance.)
- Walkers that head to the west toward Rite Aid will enter and exit through the Perrysville Avenue doors.
- Car riders will still drop-off in the rear parking lot by the auditorium. Parents are encouraged to have their child(ren) ride the bus if they are assigned one as delays are expected for drop off and pick up.
Asbestos Abatement
West View Elementary School was built in 1925 and there are known locations of asbestos throughout the building. Abatement is scheduled for the summer of 2023, when students are not in school.
However, an additional area of asbestos not previously known was recently discovered and that needs to be removed now so demolition and construction to begin on the Chalfonte Avenue side as scheduled.
“We only recently discovered asbestos in an area where work has to begin. We cannot wait until the summer to remove this asbestos,” said Superintendent Dr. Patrick Mannarino.
The abatement will begin over Presidents’ Day weekend, Feb. 18-20. The entire area will be secured and sectioned off from the main building and its ventilation system. All precautions will be taken to ensure the asbestos is safely removed. Parent/teacher conferences and kindergarten registration on Monday, Feb. 20 will be held as scheduled.
"I can assure you our contractor is taking every safety precaution possible and the health of our students, staff and anyone who visits West View will not be compromised,” said Dr. Mannarino, adding, “Construction will be a challenge and there will be unknowns when you’re working with a nearly 100-year-old building but we know it will be worth it in the end and we are excited to create a brand new building for our students and our community."
"Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time," NHSD Board of Education President Allison Mathis said in discussing the project at January 5's school board meeting. “The district strives to make this minimally disruptive. The remainder of the previously discovered asbestos will be removed this summer, when students are not in school, as planned."
