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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 1,753 1,793 1,829 1,845
<br /> Current Capacity 1,548 1,548 1,548 1,548 1,548
<br /> After Renovation 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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