Middle school making room Up next is the expansion project at Warren Hills Regional High. Monday, July 31, 2006 • By LYNN OLANOFF • The Express-Times The 75-year-old Warren Hills Regional Middle School is undergoing its first major renovation and expansion in almost 50 years. The work now under way will create a new main office, health office and seven classrooms. Construction of a four-classroom addition began in January and will be completed in November. Renovations to create the additional classrooms and offices are being completed this summer. The work will increase the school's student capacity from 615 to 748. The school had 715 students last year. "It was tight, we were overcrowded. We need more room," said Jack Paulus, the school principal. A bigger expansion and renovation is planned for the regional high school. After a new cafeteria and gym are built, the current cafeteria and gym will be turned into 13 classrooms and a larger library. The work will increase the high school's student capacity from 1,130 to 1,548. The school had 1,405 students last year. The board of education is expected to award the contract for the high school project Thursday. The two projects will cost the district $36.8 million, money that were approved by a voter referendum in December 2004. The state is contributing $13 million toward the project. "It's exciting and it's something we definitely, definitely need," board Vice President Karen Graf said. "And because the referendum passed, the public obviously feels we need it, too." The middle school has been a full-blown work zone this summer. A good part of the front driveway has been torn up by construction vehicles. Inside wires dangle from the first-floor ceiling and desks line halls on both floors. The main office is operating out of the library as the former main office is being made over into classrooms. The new main office is being built at the front of the school for better security, Paulus said. "People had to come in, walk all the way down the hall, through kids, to get to the office," he said. "Now they can come in and state their business." Much of the renovations will be done in the 1931 section of the building including an update for the nurse's office. The school also will be gaining its first elevator. "This has kind of been a warm-up project for us at the middle school. It's been manageable," board President James Momary said. "The high school will be a more challenging and drawn out project because it needs to be done in steps." The expansion including the new cafeteria and gym will be built first. Renovations in the current cafeteria and gym will follow. The entire high school project is expected to be completed in fall 2009. Reporter Lynn Olanoff can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at lolanoff@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.