2014-12-11-PBC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Update on PBC/DPF Letter to Town Manager: A letter from this Committee to Carl Valente, , needed three signatures. The letter suggests changes in the role played by this Committee in relation to processes with staff and other committees/boards associated with small Town projects. After some additional \[Note: The letter had been formally approved at a previous meeting.\] After the letter goes to Mr. Valente, it will be reviewed by Town Counsel, and if acceptable, it will go to the Board of Selectmen. By-law changes ultimately need Town Meeting approval. It was noted that the letter is a first step. 3.Ad hoc School Master Planning Committee (AhSMPC) Update: Mr. Himmel, Mr. Oldenburg, and Mr. Goddard reviewed issues associated with increasing school enrollments, per the Enrollment projections, and the desire to support current School Committee policy by adding space in the schools to meet those increases. There is an immediate space shortfall that is particularly acute at the elementary level. Symmes, Maini, and McKee Associates (SMMA), consultants for the AhSMPC, has identified a panoply of construction projects, including installation of prefabricated units, to solve the shortfall over time. Comments included: An increase of 260 elementary students is expected within five years. All elementary schools are currently at or over capacity except Estabrook. Fiske Elementary School staff members indicate that they currently have additional staff in classes that exceed standard class size policies, and this is working; other options include using art, music, and/or gym space for classrooms on a temporary basis. The School Committee is interested in installing modulars at some of the elementary schools by the fall of 2015 and requested a January Special Town Meeting (STM) to make the funding request. A January STM was not supported by the Board of Selectmen; they want a better understanding of the big picture before supporting a short term fix. SMMA estimates that modulars at Bridge, Bowman, and Fiske Elementary Schools (Bridge, Bowman, Fiske) would cost $2.4 million. ls can reasonably manage until 2016 before adding space. SMMA and DPF staff question whether the Town can lease and install modulars of adequate quality by the fall of 2015. There was discussion about the PBC this process. Having liaisons assigned to the AhSMPC, this Committee can make recommendations to the AhSMPC, and the AhSMPC will be making recommendations to the School Committee. It was noted that this Committee has an ltiple projects and how new projects fit into the total picture for the DPF. These are important considerations. Mr. Himmel suggested that identifying evaluation criteria to facilitate the decision process for all committees would be valuablehe had included some suggestions on the agenda for this meeting. Mr. Goddard shared data regarding school enrollment projections. SMMA PowerPoint slides were used to demonstrate options for addressing the demand. Comments included: It is estimated that replacing Hastings Elementary School (Hastings), which was identified for replacement/renovations 59 million. PBC Meeting Minutes 121114 Page 2