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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO STM 2016 -3
<br />in a total capacity of 1,548 students and a space deficit for 98 students in the current year. The LPS has
<br />taken non - general education space to make a half team at Clarke, adding capacity at the expense of other
<br />programs. The average team size has risen from 82 students in 2009 to 89 students even with this extra
<br />half a team. The deficit, if no additional space is added, by the school year 2019 -2020 used in planning, is
<br />projected to rise to 237 students using the median projection or 297 students using the high projection.
<br />Clearly additional space is required.
<br />To address this need, as well as space needs at the Pre -K and Elementary level, the LPS put together an
<br />Ad Hoc School Master Planning Committee in May, 2014. The planning continued through numerous
<br />public meetings with the School Committee, Department of Public Facilities, Board of Selectman,
<br />Appropriation Committee, Capital Expenditures Committee, and Permanent Building Committee. The
<br />projects to be funded by this Article are part of the results of this long, public, process.
<br />These projects will increase the capacity of the two Middle Schools to 21.5 teams (10.5 at Clarke and
<br />11.0 at Diamond) which, at 86 students per team, provides adequate space for 1,849 students which is
<br />greater than the median projection of 1,785 students in the 2019 -2020 school year, and just enough
<br />capacity for the high projection of 1,845 students. Note that these construction projects include some
<br />much - needed renovations and replacement of systems at end of life such as the heating, ventilating, and
<br />air - conditioning (HVAC) system at Diamond, as well as creating additional cafeteria and other spaces.
<br />(Clarke: 2 science rooms, 3 art /music /drama or engineering rooms, increased special - education space.
<br />Diamond: teacher planning space, 3 science rooms, 3 art/music /drama or engineering rooms, increased
<br />special - education space including the Intensive Learning Program (ILP), increased cafeteria space).
<br />This table recaps the enrollment and capacity situation:
<br />Middle Schools Projected Enrollment and Capacity
<br />School Year
<br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
<br />Current Year 2016 -17 2017 -18 2018 -19 2019 -20
<br />. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
<br />Median projection 1,646 1,723 1,753 1,779 1,785
<br />High Projection
<br />Current Capacity
<br />After Renovation
<br />1,753 1,793 1,829 1,845
<br />1,548 1,548 1,548 1,548 1,548
<br />1,849 1,849 1,849
<br />These projects, if approved by Town Meeting and the voters, will be funded primarily by 30 -year bonds.
<br />(The early design funds will be financed for 4 years.) Fortunately, the Town's Aaa bond rating and the
<br />current low - interest environment will allow the Town to borrow at very favorable rates. A model for the
<br />anticipated debt service added by this request is being prepared and will be presented at the Meeting.
<br />(That increase is just for the total debt being sought for these projects and, therefore, does not reflect the
<br />increases that are likely to occur in subsequent years as the in -levy base under Proposition 2'/2 increases.)
<br />The Middle schools are currently overcrowded. The children that will shortly be in the Middle schools
<br />are already in our Elementary schools, and thus we know with very high confidence that the
<br />overcrowding is going to increase significantly if we do not embark on expanding our Middle school
<br />capacity in a timely fashion. This particular set of projects has been chosen by the School Committee
<br />after many months of planning and review by outside consultants, the Department of Public Facilities,
<br />other Town staff and Town Committees and Working Groups. This Committee trusts that continued
<br />review and oversight by the Department of Public Facilities, the Permanent Building Committee, and the
<br />School Committee will ensure that these much - needed projects are carried out in a
<br />cost-and-schedule-efficient manner. These are important projects to help ensure the continued excellence
<br />of our schools and delay would be very detrimental to that mission. This Committee unanimously
<br />supports approval of both parts of the Motion.
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