Photo by David Prenatt Edmund Schober from the architectural firm LaBella speaks to the Ripley Board of Education.

RIPLEY — In the view of the state of New York, Ripley Central School District’s deteriorating fire alarm system is a “hybrid emergency,” which will allow the district to put the project out for bid before receiving official approval, Board of Education members learned at their regular August meeting.

Edmund Schober and Mike Rogalinski of the architectural firm LaBella updated board members on the status of the project to replace the current fire alarm system.

“It hasn’t failed yet, but it will,” Schober said, referring to the current fire alarm system. “Therefore the state is allowing us to put it out for bids before final approval.”

Schober said the project will be submitted to the state education department on Sept. 22, after the Sept. 19 public vote. LaBella is already preparing the documents for bid, he said. Construction is expected to begin in late November, with completion by January 2018.

Schober told the board the total cost of replacing the current fire alarm system would be approximately $280,000. The cost will be amortized over 15 years, he said, and normally 90 percent of this is reimbursed by the state.

Rogalinski, an engineer from LaBella said that the current system will remain operational until the new system is completely installed and tested. Then the old system will be removed.

Rogalinski said the new system will include ceiling-mounted speakers instead of horns, new visual devices, a whole new wiring system, and a new fire alarm panel that has the capacity to support expansion in the future.

The district also looked at the less expensive option of rewiring and repairing the existing system. However, Schober said, several audible/visual devices do not work, the fire shutter door does not close properly, smoke detection does not accurately report, the wiring throughout the building is jumbled, and the existing control panel has become obsolete .

“With all these things, it is our recommendation at this time to replace it,” Schober said.

District Superintendent Dr. Lauren Ormsby told the LaBella representatives, “It has come to our attention that some of the work that was done 10 years ago was not done correctly. Who is going to make sure that this doesn’t happen again?”

Rogalinski explained that the new system is be fully tested and inspected. Properly installed and maintained, the typical fire alarm system has a 20- or 30-year life expectancy, he added.

Ormsby also asked if the new system would service the entire building, including the town side. The LaBella representatives responded that the town hall part of the building would be serviced by the new system.