Emerson Hough windows to be replaced for $135K

Windows at Emerson Hough Elementary are going to be replaced, but it will cost the Newton school district $135,000 of its Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funds, which is funding stream primarily used for infrastructure needs.

Tim Bloom, director of business services, said the Newton Community School District received two bids. The $135,000 bid came from Elite Glass & Metal, LLC. Bloom said NCSD Maintenance Supervisor Jack Suttek met with the two companies and walked them through Emerson Hough.

Suttek told school board members that the contractors took good notes during their tour. The part of the Emerson Hough building that maintenance is looking at is the “original, two-story rectangular section.” Right now, the school is experiencing “weather issues” with those windows.

School board member Graham Sullivan asked Suttek if the contractor is going to replace all the windows in Emerson Hough. Suttek confirmed Elite Glass & Metal will replace most of them, except for “the big ornamental-type windows” in the gymnasium and some other areas of the school.

“We’re definitely going to make a nice improvement on that building with those windows,” Suttek said. “There are some nice, one-inch insulated aluminum windows (that are) going to match all the existing windows in the building. Of course, originally that school did not have a drop ceiling.”

Both contractors — the other being Forman Ford — have worked with the Newton school district in the past and are “very reputable” companies, Suttek added. Bloom acknowledged the Emerson Hough window project was initially budgeted at a lower price than the proposed bids.

“We did have this as part of our capital improvement plan,” he added. “Our budget was $100,000. This came in at a little bit more. We feel like this is a good investment. It might shift some things in our capital improvement plan, but right now it’s not affecting anything.”

The school district “had a good carryover balance,” which allowed for the extra $35,000 to be absorbed, Bloom said.

Suttek said the rest of the building will not need replacement projects for the next 10-15 years. The windows on the north side edition of Emerson Hough, Suttek pointed out, are still in good shape. The district’s maintenance supervisor is hoping to be done with windows for “quite a few years to come.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com