Price tag for Franklin Regional’s Heritage Elementary demolition edges upward

The cost for the demolition of Franklin Regional’s Heritage Elementary School is going up after more asbestos was found that needs to be removed.

In 2022, the cost of the project jumped from an estimated $400,000 to more than $1 million following the discovery of asbestos in the original roof decking, as well as minor asbestos issues with windows and doors, according to facilities director Dave Matzie. When bids came in, however, they were much closer to the original projections.

At the board’s April meeting, Matzie received approval for a $26,700 change order after more asbestos was discovered during a recent inspection.

“They found some glass block windows, hidden in the walls, which had asbestos around them,” Matzie said. “We had no way of knowing they were even there. I had to go back to a yearbook from 1955 and saw a picture with them.”

Matzie said when the school was initially renovated, builders simply framed around the old glass block windows.

District officials have not announced specific plans for that part of the Franklin Regional campus, but have had lengthy discussions about the need for additional parking particularly when multiple events are occurring.

Superintendent Gennaro Piraino said until a final decision is made, the district plans to convert the area to grass in order to have an additional practice field.

The nearby Newlonsburg Elementary building has been converted into administrative offices as well as the home of a workshop for the high school’s FRobotics club.