Mayor James J. Fiorentini > Press Release

August 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HIGH SCHOOL ELECTRICAL UPDGRADES COMMENCE
Second Phase of HHS Renovation Underway

HAVERHILL- Mayor James J. Fiorentini joined with State Representative Brian S. Dempsey (D-Haverhill), Superintendent Raleigh Buchanan and school officials to kick off the second phase of the Haverhill High School Renovation project.

This phase of the project represents a $2.3 million upgrade of the High School’s electrical wiring systems, enabling the school to operate more advanced lighting, HVAC, operational, informational and computer systems, as well as new generators. This project is 68% funded by the Commonwealth through its School Building Assistance (SBA) program. The remainder is being funded through bonding by the City.

“This project will significantly enhance the electrical infrastructure of the high school, which still operates with the same essential wiring as it did when the facility opened in the 1960’s, before the age of computers in classrooms,” noted Mayor Fiorentini. “This project, which came in a half million dollars under budget, will help us educate youth effectively for the 21st century.”

(from l-r) State Representative Brian S. Dempsey [D-Haverhill], Mayor James J. Fiorentini, Haverhill Schools Superintendent Raleigh Buchanan, Assistant Superintendent Kara Kosmes and School Maintenance Director Jeff Dill at the groundbreaking for the Haverhill High School electrical renovation project.

“I’d like to publicly thank Representative Dempsey for helping us obtain the funding to make this project possible, especially this latest phase,” lauded the Mayor. “This State funding enables us to address additional concerns that education officials has cited at the High School, where test scores have risen over the last 5 years,” noted the Mayor.

“The High School Building Committee has done a great job of keeping their eye to this project and to the favorable bidding climate,” added the Mayor. “We’re pleased to be underway with this next phase.”

The project begins in August with trench work that will be completed before the September 1 school opening date. Work will occur outside of the school activities and be completed in 2010. Maiuri Electric of Danvers was the qualified low bidder and will be the General Contractor for the project, working with 4 separate subcontractors.

The Mayor also noted that bids for the exterior site work at the High School campus will be released before the end of August.

Mayor Fiorentini at job site trench in front of Haverhill High School Pool.