The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

schools

77% in survey prefer a mostly new school building

An outline of Option B6 with new construction in blue and renovated areas in gray. The new southeast portion would have two floors. (Click image to enlarge.)

The vast majority of residents surveyed after January 23 presentations on options for the Lincoln School preferred the most compact and expensive scheme costing an estimated $89.8 million. Option B6, which concentrates the school on the north side of the ballfield, includes a two-story classroom segment.

The School Building Committee and architects will host a “mini workshop” showcasing work that’s been done since the January 23 workshops on Friday, Feb. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Bemis Hall.

Of the 156 residents who completed a feedback survey after the two community workshops in January, 77 percent preferred Option B6, which calls for a mostly new building that retains the two gyms and auditorium (see pgs. 38-43 in the January 23 slideshow). Fifteen percent preferred a comprehensive renovation (Option A3.4, pgs. 32-36) with an estimated price tag of $88.3 million, while 5 percent chose the repair-only scheme costing $48.7 million.

The School Building Committee is still going through the written comments in the surveys. However, SBC Chair Chris Fasciano said there had been feedback on the fact that the three comprehensive renovation options (A1.1, A3.4 and B6) call for three fewer classrooms than the school now has, or would have in the “optimal program” concepts shown at the State of the Town meeting in November (excluding the new preK classrooms). “We have asked the design team to come up with concepts that include those classrooms in the plans. We hope to see them soon,” he said.

All of the latest series of options call for moving preK from Hartwell to the main school building, which would also contain an area for school administration while leaving the district administrative offices (superintendent of schools, etc.) at Hartwell. If preK does in fact move, other functions, such as technology might move out of the school and into Hartwell, but “it’s important to note that no final decisions have been made at this point in the SBC process,” Fasciano said.

Some of those who attended the workshops wondered if the school would quickly become too small if the Oriole Landing project, which calls for 60 units of mixed-income housing, is approved and more families with children move into town.

“Most of the housing in Lincoln is single-family housing that could turn over at any time, so flexibility is an important part of any plan. We’re confident that the current designs could accommodate normal fluctuations in student enrollment, including any potential increase from construction at Oriole Landing,” Fasciano said, adding that the 2012 MSBA project had the same number of classrooms as the current essential program.

In addition to the regular SBC meetings (the next is February 13), there are other meetings on the school project coming up. The design team and some of the architects who live in Lincoln will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room to explore design ideas for the project concepts. On March 7 at 7 p.m. (location TBA), sustainability consultant Bill Maclay and the desing team will  talk about the sustainability implications of the range of project concepts.

A second set of community workshops will take place on March 13.

Letter to the editor: more coordination needed between building committees

To the editor:

Following the meetings of the Community Center and the School Building Committees during the past couple of weeks, it is clear for me that much work has been done. On the other hand, it is not so clear whether one or the other of these groups perceives it to be their responsibility to seek how to best coordinate or integrate the projects. During the recent meetings, while there was lip service paid to the goal of integration and efficiency, no specific proposals or comments were made. Perhaps such coordination is being left to later, as time does not appear to be anyone’s concern.

At one of the School Building Committee workshops, one of the discussion groups suggested using the part of Smith School that would be demolished under the B6 option for the community center. The SBC had no comment at this moment.

While there is a group seeking to ensure communication between the two groups, it does not appear to me there is any real effort seeking to think of both projects together as one effort. If left to the town to suggest such an approach at Town Meeting, my concern is it will be too late and very confusing.

Sincerely,

Robert deNormandie
45 Trapelo Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Workshops focus on three main school project options

The Lincoln School today.

The SBC has narrowed the Lincoln School project options down to three, and architects presented them to residents at community workshops on January 23.

Attendees also heard detailed price estimates from another firm, as well as information on taxation and borrowing scenarios from Finance Committee Vice Chair Andrew Paine, who recapped some of the information from the presentation by FinCom Chair Jim Hutchinson at a multi-board meeting on January 9.

The first set of options considered by the SBC was for an “optimal program” of 178,041 square feet, as shown on pages 7-8 of SMMA architect Joel Seeley’s presentation. (The current building is 148,464 square feet.) Those options ranged in price from $115.6 million to $120.3 million, so the committee asked SMMA to return with some less expensive concepts. The resulting four “A” options retained the L-shaped school on the north and west sides of the ballfield, while the “B” options concentrated just on the north and “C” on the west.

The next round, the “essential program” (pg. 9-10) consisted of eight “A” and “B” concepts calling for 158,171 square feet and ranging from $73.6 million to $100.4 million. The SBC and the architects then added back some of the space cut from the “optimal” concepts to come up with five “essential–refined” options (pg. 11-12) of 160,971 square feet. At this week’s meeting, they presented three options (A1.1, A3.4, and B6) as well as estimates for repair-only and repair-and-renovation options.

  • Repair only – $48.7 million

Install new HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems, add a fire sprinkler system, do accessibility and building code upgrades, replace the roof and the older uninsulated windows, do minimal roadway improvement.

  • Repair plus basic renovation only – $59.2 million

Make the repairs above but replace all windows, do moderate roadway improvements, install new interior finishes (cabinetry, doors, etc), and replace the Smith boiler room.

The three newest options call for:

  • Demolishing some or all of the older Smith building (and more, for Option B6)
  • Adding central administration offices
  • Adding three pre-K classrooms currently located in the Hartwell building
  • Adding a central kitchen and a dining commons area that would also be used for grade-level gatherings, project-based learning or extra art/drama space as needed
  • Adding a connector between the Brooks building and the Reed gym

Two of those options (A3.4 and B6) include hubs for grades 3-8—“neighborhoods” with classrooms as well as breakout, small group, special education, and resource rooms surrounding “a collaboration space providing for flexible, differentiated learning,” SMMA architect Joel Seeley explained. Option B6 calls for demolishing everything except the two gyms, the auditorium section, and the 1994 media center portion. It would consolidate the footprint on the north side of campus, adding a second floor on the east side for grades 7 and 8.

  • Option A1.1 – $75 million (15,538 SF demolition, 29,700 SF new construction) – pg. 27-30 of the presentation
  • Option A3.4 – $88.3 million (10,937 SF demolition, 37,550 SF new construction) – pg. 32-36
  • Option B6 – $89.8 million (72,497 SF demolition, 77,125 SF new construction) – pg. 38-43

The latter three options are not optimal in terms of the number and size of classrooms and hubs—”this is a compromise as we think about the budgetary impact,” said Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall. However, they all represent an upgrade educationally, and Option B6 in particular “offers us a huge improvement in the way we can teach and the way in which kids have the opportunity to learn,” she said.

As teachers in the new Hanscom Middle School have discovered, hubs and spaces of varying sizes “have been a catalyst for thinking about the ways we teach,” McFall said. “We need spaces like this to give students the opportunity to work in teams, foster social and emotional interactions, be curious and problem-solve and debate. This allows us that flexibility to be creative.”

Option B6 may also offer the most flexibility for a future addition if there should be a spike in school enrollment, and Seeley said future refinements might indicate ground-level or vertical expansion possibilities. One resident worried that the town could outgrow the school more quickly than expected if 60 new units of mixed-income housing are approved.

Repair estimates have gone up

The estimated cost of a repair-only project has jumped from Dore and Whittier’s $29.2 million in 2015 to $48.9 million for a project beginning in the second quarter of 2020. However, the 2015 figure did not include any improvements to roads and parking, landscaping, stormwater management, or utility infrastructure, nor did it take into account the cost of phasing or temporary accommodations for students during construction.

The latest cost estimates were prepared by owner’s project manager Daedalus Projects using data from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which tracks all school construction spending in the state. The cost of new construction has climbed from an average of $367 per square foot in 2015 to a projected $471 in 2019, said Shane Nolan, senior project manager at Daedalus. Contributing factors include a building boom in Boston’s Seaport district and construction of the casino in Everett, which are leading to labor shortages and high demand for materials and equipment, he said.

Borrowing limits

Echoing Finance Committee Chair Jim Hutchinson’s statements at a multi-board meeting on January 9, FinCom Vice Chair Andrew Payne said that Lincoln’s bond advisors have indicated that the town could borrow $100 million for the school and community center projects and perhaps more while still maintaining its AAA bond rating.

State guidelines set a bond debt limit for Lincoln of $106 million (the town currently has about $9 million in outstanding debt), but since the bonding would go toward a school and a community center, getting approval to go over that limit should be “straightforward,” he added.

Property tax impacts

What will this mean for property tax bills? If the town borrowed $100 million over a 30-year period, property tax bills could go up by as much as 20 percent, with the average single-family tax bill climbing from $15,185 in fiscal 2017 to $17,702, assuming a bond interest rate of 4 percent (pgs. 13 and 15 of the FinCom’s presentation). The committee’s scenarios use bond interest rates of 4 and 5 percent, though the current rate is just below 3 percent (pg. 18).

To cushion the blow, the FinCom recommends using some of the town’s debt stabilization fund (currently $4.7 million) to pay down some of the balance for the first two or three years of debt service, so a 15 percent tax hike could be “smoothed” to three years of 5 percent increases.

Comments from several residents indicated mixed feelings. While many cringed at the potential tax hike, most also dismissed the repair-only or repair-and-renovation options, and some even wondered whether classrooms could be added.

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, residents will hear about possible designs and costs for another major construction project: the community center. There will be identical sessions from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m in Hartwell pod B.

Correction

The date for the community workshops described in the January 21 article headlined “Considering and comparing school options on Tuesday” should have been given as Tuesday, Jan. 23, not Tuesday, Jan. 22. The article has been corrected and updated to include guiding principles for decision-making on the school project.

Considering and comparing school options on Tuesday

An important milestone in planning for the Lincoln School project arrives on Tuesday, when residents will have a chance to voice opinions and ask questions about a range of renovation and construction concepts.

In November and December, architects presented options for a mostly new school (the “B” options) or renovating and adding to the existing building (the “A” options). On January 10, the School Building Committee saw a subset of those concepts: option A1, four variations on option A3, and the least expensive “B” concept. Estimates for those six options start at $73 million, whereas a repair-only project would cost about $48 million. However, cost estimates and building design sketches are very approximate at this stage, the SBC noted.

The identical workshops will be on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Reed Gym.

At both sessions, the Finance Committee will also provide a high-level overview of updated financial parameters. Preliminary finance numbers were discussed at the multiboard meeting earlier this month. The workshops will serve as an opportunity to make comparisons in advance of a special Town Meeting on June 9, when they will a vote on a preliminary design.

The framework for evaluating choices includes these guiding principles:

Educational program:

  • Create engaging and inspiring learning spaces
  • Foster 21st-century learning skills
  • Facilitate communication and collaboration
  • Optimize connection to the natural environment
  • Integrate pre-K into the Lincoln School

Community:

  • Campus feel — maintain or enhance the connection with the outdoors and other parts of campus
  • C0mmunity spaces — enhance and/or add spaces shared with the community such as the auditorium. a dining commons, and gymnasiums.
  • Sustainability — provide a sustainable, energy-efficient and healthy building
  • Financial responsibility — provide a long-term, financially responsible solution.

SBC consultants are further refining the baseline repair concept to get a firmer understanding of the minimum cost, and they are also working with sustainability expert Bill Maclay to analyze the energy and lifetime sustainability impacts of each concept.

L-S parents protest proposed cuts to music program

letterTo the editor:

The Lincoln-Sudbury Friends of Music (LSFOM), a committed group of parent volunteers, would like to express our strong objection to proposed cuts to the L-S music program and our unwavering support for Michael Bunting, the L-S choral director.

The L-S administration is proposing a cut to the L-S music program that is far more than a reduction in the availability of choral blocks. These short-sighted changes would devastate the music program and make it difficult to rebuild. We respectfully ask you to take a minute to familiarize yourself with the far-reaching impacts of what the L-S administration is positioning as a mere “scheduling” issue.

The proposed cuts are as follows:

  • Elimination of an entire block of choral instruction. As a practical matter, this cut would make it impossible for many students to fit Chorus or Chamber Singers into their schedules.
  • Elimination of two music electives (Guitar and Songwriting).
  • Reduction of Mr. Bunting’s position to a part-time position, which is untenable for him financially, and may cause LS to lose this treasured and irreplaceable faculty member.
  • In the bigger picture, this cut threatens to destroy L-S’s well-nurtured arts program.

On our website, www.lsfom.org, we have summarized some of the contributions that Mr. Bunting offers to our school and community, from directing the vocals for the L-S musicals, to running the L-S Chamber Singers, to supporting L-S’s five a cappella groups, to organizing school and community concerts, to supporting students in elite singing competitions. Please see our website for a more detailed list.

Mr. Bunting also contributes to our community in many intangible ways through his joyful pursuit of music. Many students have found a home at L-S in the music program through his and Mr. Tom Grandprey’s infectious love for music.

Ten years ago, the music program suffered cuts similar to those now proposed, and it took almost five years under Mr. Bunting’s leadership to bring the program back to life. In fact, one could argue that even today, our music offerings pale in comparison to what is available in other comparably excellent MetroWest public high schools. On our website, we offer a chart that shows the contrast.

While choral enrollment numbers may dip occasionally, it would be a mistake for L-S to overreact to any short-term dip in enrollment with devastating cuts in offerings. Only a robust choral program can continue to attract and retain students and deliver excellence, and cutting core courses and electives will only depress enrollment in this essential element of arts education.

LS should be looking at how to enhance its current music offerings — commensurate with those other excellent local high schools — under Mr. Bunting’s leadership, rather than cutting its program and risking losing this exceptional educator. Even the best part-time Choral Director would not have the time or capacity to provide anywhere near the offerings and support — not to mention dedication and vision — that Mr. Bunting now provides our students in his full-time position.

Our community has successfully fought against such cuts before. Just last year, the Sudbury community protested cuts to the Curtis Middle School music program, and was able to save that program. We know that protecting the arts is a treasured value for our students, parents and the community.

It is gratifying that over 1,200 people have signed a student petition against the cuts. This is more people than voted in the last town election concerning the proposed new fire station. We encourage you to sign and share the petition. Mr. Bunting’s current and former students, on their own initiative, also organized a student concert to celebrate his contributions on January 10.

We encourage anyone concerned about these cuts to take further action. It is urgent that you please take the time to express your support for the preservation of our L-S music and arts program, and for Mr. Bunting retaining his full-time choral director position, directly to L-S Superintendent and Principal Bella Wong at bella_wong@lsrhs.net and to the L-S School Committee at lsschoolcomm@town.sudbury.ma.us.

Sincerely,

The L-S Friends of Music
lsfriendsofmusic@gmail.com

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Officials at multi-board meeting mull campus project questions

Officials shared recent town financial data and outlined questions that will have to be answered about the two proposed campus projects at a joint meeting of four boards on January 9.

Some residents are feeling sticker shock after learning the projected costs for a school project, let alone a community center, but most agree that both are needed. “These projects are about key components of our community, and we need to navigate a complicated and nuanced cost-benefit analysis,” Selectman Jennifer Glass said.

There will be community forums on preliminary design options for the two projects later this month. The School Building Committee will host workshops on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Reed Gym, while the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee will host sessions on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Hartwell B pod.

The SBC learned late last year that a basic project to make repairs and bring the school building up to code would cost about $46 million, while a comprehensive project with more new construction could cost anywhere from $73 million to more than $90 million. A preliminary estimate in 2015 put the cost of a community center at about $13 million.

Selectmen this week presented a detailed list of questions and issues that officials and residents must tackle in advance of a special Town Meeting in June, when they will be asked to vote on a preferred design for the school. Among those questions:

  • How can the value of different project solutions be compared?
  • What are the implications of phasing the two projects vs. bonding and/or building both at the same time?
  • What are the short- and long-term cost implications of making the buildings as energy-efficient and sustainable as possible?
  • How well will the two project concepts “fit” the campus?
  • What are the data from other towns regarding finances?
  • How much can the town borrow and still keep its AAA bond rating, and what happens if it doesn’t?
Property tax impact

Finance Committee Chair Jim Hutchinson updated town property tax data and potential borrowing costs that the panel first presented last spring. A recent consultation with the town’s bond advisor revealed that the town could borrow up to $100 million without losing its AAA rating—up from an estimated $80 million last year, Hutchinson said.

The FinCom also learned that state law currently caps the town’s permissible debt at $106 million. The town currently has about $9 million in outstanding debt, leaving a $97 million new borrowing limit. However, the town can appeal for a higher amount and would probably have a strong case since the debt would fund a needed school project (as opposed to a sports stadium, for example) and MSBA funding is not in the mix.

The estimated median household tax increase—unchanged since last spring—is $275–$310 per $10 million borrowed, meaning a rise of about $3,100 if the town were to borrow $100 million and repay it over a 30-year period, Hutchinson said. The tax rate would rise from the current 13.7 mills (1 mill translates to $1 in tax for every $1,000 of a home’s assessed value) to somewhere between 16 and 17 mils—still lower than Carlisle, Sudbury and Wayland.

In fiscal 2017, the average assessed value of a single-family home in Lincoln was $1,108,423 and the average tax bill was $15,185. Depending on the amount borrowed ($60 million, $80 million or $100 million), the average tax bill would climb to roughly $17,733 to $18,900. However, the town would apply a chunk of its debt stabilization fund (currently at $4.7 million) to soften the impact of the first few years of repayment.

Right now, compared to seven surrounding towns, Lincoln has the second-highest average tax bill but the lowest debt-to-operating cost ratio, the second-lowest tax rate, and the lowest average annual growth rate in tax bills since 1999 (2.7 percent), Hutchinson said.

Borrowing costs

If the town’s bond rating were to drop from AAA to AA+ as a result of borrowing more than $100 million, future borrowing costs would rise, but “it wouldn’t make much of a dollar impact” on property tax bills, Hutchinson said. However, he added, “it takes years of hard work to raise your credit rating… it’s pretty easy to lose it and kind of hard to get it back.” Among the seven neighboring towns, all but Carlisle have a AAA rating.

The financial implications of borrowing one large sum all at once or in two segments a few years apart are fairly minor, Hutchinson said. Borrowing the whole amount at once could save about 0.15 percent in interest on the first $10–$15 million of the debt, but that affects only 10–15 percent of a $100 million bond, he noted.

When comparing construction costs to the lifetime costs of a project (including expected repairs and energy use), “I would put this in the no-brainer category,” Hutchinson said. The FinCom recommends making decisions based on the total lifetime cost of a project, meaning that (for example) it makes sense to spend more on energy-efficient features that will more than pay for themselves in future savings.

Future capital expenses

Looking ahead to future borrowing needs outside of the school and community center, the Hartwell building may need a new roof in 2020 at a cost of about $660,000, and as in past years, there will likely be multimillion-dollar land acquisitions that can’t be identified yet, said Audrey Kalmus, chair of the Capital Planning Committee.

Other possible expenses include a new roof for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in about 2021 (Lincoln’s share would be about $300,000), a new fire engine in 2023 ($575,000) and renovation of the Brooks athletic field at an undetermined date ($400,000).

The most recent big-ticket items for the town were $5.8 million in 2012 for the town office building renovation and $5.5 million for a road project in 2009. The next major road project won’t be needed until about 2035, Kalmus said.

News acorns

Food co-op info session on Thursday

There will be an Assabet Village Co-op Market information session on Thursday, Dec. 28 from 7–8:15 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. The organization is building a locally sourced, community owned grocery store in the Metro West area and needs 900 co-op members to open.

Activities for kids at library this week

The Lincoln Public Library is offering drop-in winter crafts for kids during vacation week. The crafts table is available whenever the library is open: Wednesday, Dec. 27 and Thursday, Dec. 28 from 9 a.m.–8:30 a.m., and Friday, Dec. 29 from 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

The library will also host winter-themed “Movies & Muffins” on Friday, Dec. 29 at 10:30 a.m.
Preschoolers are invited to join us for a screening of short films based on beloved children’s books. Recommended for ages 2 and up. No sign-up necessary.

Christmas tree removal offered

Lincoln-Sudbury students are offering a Christmas tree removal service for Lincoln and Sudbury residents on Saturday, Jan. 6 from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. to benefit the L-S Class of 2020 and the girls’ basketball team. The cost is $20 ($10 for senior citizens). Click here to sign up by Wednesday, Jan. 3. The service is being assisted by K.T. Fenton Masonry in Sudbury and Lynch Landscape and Tree Service in Wayland. Anyone with questions may contact Kathleen Thompson (Class of 2020 advisor and basketball coach) at kathleen_thompson@lsrhs.net.

Moberg to perform at next LOMA event

Kim Moberg is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Jan. 8 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7-10 p.m., and Moberg (with accompanist Kathleen Healy) will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. The Alaska native and self-taught finger-style guitarist has appeared at this year’s NERFA DJ showcase, the Cape Cod Playhouse, and the South Shore Music Club Earlier this year she released her extended EP Above Ground, featuring The Call.

LOMA is a monthly event. Admission is free and refreshments are provided.Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Choral concert, Cabaret Night to celebrate music at L-S

In light of potential budget cuts to the Lincoln-Sudbury Music Department that would reduce the number of music classes offered as well as reduce the position of choral instructor, vocal advisor, and music director Michael Bunting, L-S students and alumni will perform a choral concert on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Kirshner Auditorium. The students are requesting that audience members write a memory or a few sentences about what the L-S music department means to them before they leave the concert. Concessions will be available in the lobby. For more information, contact Ruby Carmel at ruby2000carmel@yahoo.com.

The Music Department will also present its annual Cabaret Night on Friday, Jan. 12 in the LSRHS Café at 7:30 p.m. The program will feature select instrumental and choral ensembles in addition to soloists performing jazz, Broadway, and pop selections. L-S Friends of Music will be selling refreshments. Tickets are $5 each at the door. For more information on supporting the Music Department, please visit www.lsfom.org.

METCO to host book discussions

Join the national conversation on race, culture and identity with two book discussions hosted by the METCO program at the Lincoln School. On Thursday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. the book to be discussed is The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. Participants will discuss The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri on March 15 at 6 p.m. Both discussions will take place in the Brooks gym and will include dinner and fellowship. Please sign up on the Lincoln School METCO website.

From the ground up (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Minuteman High School took delivery this week of its first truckload of structural steel for the new school building under construction. The photo shows the skeleton of an automotive classroom. (Photo by Ford Spalding)

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

SBC hears preliminary school cost estimates

The “B” series of concepts that call for mostly new construction at the Lincoln School (click to enlarge).

Officials now have some rough cost estimates in hand for different approaches to a Lincoln School project, and they urge residents to attend a community workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 23 to offer feedback on the various options that architects have presented to the School Building Committee.

The identical January 23 workshops will be held from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Reed Gym. They are a critical point of community engagement and guidance and will play an important role in shaping what residents will see at a special Town Meeting on June 9 when they vote to select a preliminary design.

There will also be a multi-board meeting of the SBC, Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee, School Building Committee, and Community Center Planning & Preliminary Design Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Town Office Building.

To cap off the month, preliminary designs for a community center on the Hartwell campus will be presented at public forums on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Hartwell B pod.

The SBC learned in mid-November that a basic project to make repairs and bring the school building up to code would cost about $46 million. A significant portion of this cost would be eaten up by no- instructional space because of required code compliance upgrades. For example, outside entrances now require an airlock, and converted closet spaces could no longer be used for teaching, Selectman and SBC member Jennifer Glass noted at a selectmen’s meeting on November 27.

The “A” series of school options would involve more renovation than new construction (click to enlarge).

At the SBC’s November 29 meeting, members looked at possibilities for “the other bookend,” as Glass put it—a comprehensive project with almost all new construction (though retaining the Reed Gym and Donaldson Auditorium in every case) that would achieve all of the school’s educational and sustainability goals.

Those plans aimed for the greatest possible efficiency in terms of devoting square footage to educational space compared to the elongated current building, which has 50,000 square feet of circulation space (primarily hallways and lobbies). This criterion also maximizes the building’s energy efficiency. At construction costs of $600 per square foot, each of the November 29 proposals would cost at least $90 million.

These four “B” concepts concentrate the school on the north side of the Ballfield Road campus. They are summarized in the SBC’s meeting minutes.

On December 13, the SBC saw four new “A” proposals that call for a greater proportion of renovation vs. demolition and new construction. In each case, the current 139,000-square-foot building would be transformed into a building of 150,000–156,000 square feet. All four call for demolishing the old Smith building and replacing it with a larger piece there. Options A2–A4 call for additions elsewhere in the school as well.

Option A1 (which does not include the “hubs” for grades 3–8 found in the other three alternatives) would cost about $73 million, while the other three are about $82–84 million.