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

Browse Search

Clarke Middle School (Clarke) has physical constraints to adding space; Diamond Middle School (Diamond) has more flexibility. There is an acute need for more pre-kindergarten space. It is not always enough to add classroom space; more classrooms increase demand on the core spaces (gymnasium, library, cafeteria, art room and music room). Mr. Goddard and Mr. Himmel discussed a two phased approach for addressing the need for additional space at the elementary and middle schools: Phase 1: Add space at Fiske and Harrington Elementary School (Harrington) and at Diamond as one project ($40 million based on SMMA estimates); followed by redistricting students out of Bridge, Bowman, and Hastings, and changing the middle school feeder schools. The timing could be as follows: January 2015: Start the selection process to hire a designer under Chapter 7 March 2015 Annual Town Meeting (ATM): Request design and engineering funds October 2015 STM: Request construction funds and additional design funds as needed depending upon the Spring Town Meeting funding strategy. January 2016: The Town holds a Debt Exclusion vote September 2017: The three projects are complete if construction funds were approved Phase 2: Renovate/rebuild Hastings by pursuing the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process requesting supplemental funding; monitor enrollment to determine whether additions/alterations are needed at Bridge, Bowman and/or Clarke. This phase would begin when MSBA approves the project, or sooner if the Town decides to forego MSBA funding. Pros identified with this approach included the following: The cost for the three schools, based on preliminary cost estimates provided by SMMA, would exceed $5.0 million, the threshold for a Chapter 149A project. This would allow DPF to hire a Construction Manager, which would facilitate and expedite the project. This would not be an MSBA project, so that process would not hinder the timing. The 2019 projected enrollment needs would be addressed at the elementary and middle school levels by the fall of 2017. At that time, the enrollment projections could be revisited to see whether additional space would be needed going forward. Because Fiske and Harrington are new schools, the Town would get more life out of additions to those schools than if added to older buildings. The Hastings project would be delayed until it is determined when/if Lexington will get MSBA supplemental funding, allowing more flexibility when the project is pursued. Because 2013 installation of prefabricated units at the high school addressed the immediate need for space at this level, a replacement of the high school can follow the Hastings project. Comments included the following: Adding space at Fiske is a challenge kindergarten wing, it is necessary to get to the schematic stage before knowing if this will work. Mr. Coleman agreed to meet at the school with Mr. Goddard over the weekend to further evaluate this potential. It may be possible to present two articles to Town Meeting: one for Diamond, Fiske, and Harrington as a 149A project, and one for adding prefabricated space at Clarke, if the School Committee wants to pursue the SMMA-suggested Clarke addition along with the Phase 1 project proposed above. PBC Meeting Minutes 121114 Page 3