Glen Park School's numerous fixes won't come cheaply

New Berlin — Whether Glen Park Elementary School could be restored with less than the $8 million that a consultant used as a ballpark figure in 2008 is one question facing the New Berlin School District.

Robert Pulliam, director of buildings and grounds, doesn't think it can be done, but based on the 2008 consultant data it's hard for anybody to tell for sure.

That's why school officials last month decided to nail down costs better by getting up-to-date estimates before deciding to close the school or bring it up to date.

Just replacing the worn-out electrical system, environmental system and plumbing would seem to not cost that much - about $3.1 million, according to the 2008 report.

But doing those projects also means that the school would have to upgrade its fire protection system and comply with federal requirements for those with disabilities, Pulliam said. Upgrading fire protection would add $211,365, according to the report. The cost for complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act is unknown at this point, Pulliam said.

Once work starts, the whole building would have to be brought up to current international building codes, Pulliam said - and that's complex and expensive.

"Everything in there is really needed," he said of the $8 million estimate.

Going at an upgrade piecemeal makes him uneasy, Pulliam said. In a building 45 years old, a system could fail anytime and then the district would have to scramble to fix it. Getting repairs done before they become an emergency is generally cheaper because the projects can be bid out, he said.