The summer building improvement program at Monroe Public Schools will cover some $2.3 million worth of building improvements while school is out.

     “These are major projects, each of them geared toward improving the material condition of our buildings,” said Jerry Oley, director, Operations, for Monroe Public Schools.  “Because our buildings are generally older it takes much care and work to maintain them in the best condition possible for our students and staff.”  

     The biggest project from a dollar standpoint, and the work that likely would be most evident to people coming to the schools, is the redesign and replacement of the staff parking lot and the two north entrances to Monroe High School.  This is the third and final installment of the parking lot replacement project.  It also will add 99 more parking places to the lot, bringing to 264 the number of vehicle parking spots.   Successful bid was $678,876 from Best Asphalt, Inc., of Romulus.

     Significant work also is scheduled at Monroe Middle School where new energy-efficient insulated panels and double-hung windows will be installed on the south and east walls of the three-story science wing.  The original 1958 unit ventilators on that portion of the building also will be replaced with new, energy-efficient ones.  Successful bid was $569,000 by Envision Builders of Wixom.

     All project work is to be done by August 21 and there are penalties to be assessed if it is not completed.  Other big projects this summer are:

--Removing and replacing the 25-year-old roof on the three-story science wing of Monroe Middle School.  Bid -- $293,000 from Royal West Roofing of Brighton.

--Repairing masonry at Monroe High School on the north, west and south walls of B Wing and the north, west and east walls of C Wing.  Bid -- $207,750 from Grunwell-Cashero Co, of Toledo.

--Replacing the original non-thermal windows and wall panels on the district administration building with insulated fixed and double-hung windows and insulated panels.  Bid -- $167,520 from Monroe Glass of Monroe.

--Replacing 3,000-square feet of the 28-year-old roof at Waterloo Elementary School over the gymnasium and replacing another 2,975- square feet of roofing over the hallway and classrooms, including improved drainage on the roof.  Bid -- $163,370 from Advanced Roofing of Westland.

--Replacing 22,500-square feet of roof over A wing at Monroe High School.  The roofing, only 14 years old, had been damaged by hail.  Bid -- $132,510 from Advanced Roofing of Westland.

--Replacing 11,900-square feet of 26-year-old roofing over the north and west corridor roofs of Arborwood South Elementary School.  Bid -- $97,000 from Nordmann Roofing of Toledo.

     All of the projects were approved recently by the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education.

     Mr. Oley pointed out that all of the work was being paid for by the district’s site-sinking fund, a voter-approved millage which provides money for the district for capital work without having to tap the general fund used for educational purposes.