It would have been difficult to ask for $15 million for just one school," McCormac told New Jersey 101.5. "We've had referenda where there's a whole wide variety of things for all the schools in town. The decision has the backing of Mayor John McCormac, who called it a "prudent decision" by the board. "We are still committed to giving the community of Avenel a newer elementary school. Massimino said the school will eventually be replaced. The plans included an auditorium, gym, courtyard and playground. The new school would have housed 400 students in grades K-5. "While it's not the original plan, these circumstances are not circumstances that we chose they are certainly circumstances that we're trying to manage," Massimino said. The district has already done a similar renovation at the Lafayette Estates and Matthew Jago schools by adding a gymnasium and cafeteria to each, according to Massimino. Instead, the already approved funds will be put towards renovating the existing school without interrupting instruction. The superintendent said he and the board would not be comfortable with another referendum asking for the additional funds. "They told us the increase in project costs and financing had dramatically changed through the inflationary cycle that has gripped our country and it's exacerbated by supply chain issues obtaining steel, lumber, some of the interior fit out items for construction," Massimino said. The school's builder, AECOM, told Massimino that the delay and supply shortages have driven up the cost of the new building by at least $15 million, to a total of $50 million.
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