2016-05-04-CEC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting May 4, 2016 There was discussion of various approaches to addressing school overcrowding, and associated order -of- magnitude costs, including among other matters: • A new pre - kindergarten (pre -K) building for the State - mandated program (in Lexington, it is the Lexington Children's Place (LCP)) adjacent to the Harrington Elementary School and renovating what had been the LCP rooms in the new Harrington into two, general- education, classrooms: approximately $10+ million. • A new LCP building adjacent to the Harrington Elementary School and renovating /expanding Harrington to add a total of four general- education classrooms (2 converted from the LCP use; 2 from the expansion): approximately $30 million. • Purchasing and renovating the building at the Site for short -term use: approximately $6 -10 million. • Purchasing and renovating the building at the Site for 20+ years of use: approximately $9 -15 million. • Demolition -only of the existing building at the Site (recognizing the existence of hazardous materials): approximately $1.1 -1.3 million • Building a new, 24- section school at the Site: approximately $48 million [later correction to $53 million] (including demolition of the existing building and recognizing existence of hazardous material, but not including any new access road). Ms. Colburn supported the last option citing the increase in school enrollment; the schools having already exceeded the median projection for this year's enrollment that was created just a few years ago. Mr. Alessandrini noted that if students in the LCP have to be sent out -of- district because of overcrowding, this becomes a major operating cost. It was also noted there would also be added operating costs associated with the LCP being in a building at the Site and some relatively small operating costs when holding the property in caretaker status. Mr. Pato expressed support for purchasing the Site, and added that municipal uses are not the driving force for doing so. When the Site initially became available, it appeared to be ideal for addressing pressing school needs for additional space, but the SC's position on this is not clear. Mr. Alessandrini reported that although it may be possible to build a stand -alone LCP facility on the Site, he supports locating such a facility close to an elementary school. It is his personal desire to keep the LCP at Harrington; if it is moved to the Site as a short -term solution, it means there may be another disruptive move in subsequent years. He noted that the LCP needs 15,000 square feet of space and added that parents generally do not want children in a school that has had PCBs, even if they have been removed. It was noted that moving the Schools Central Offices to the Site could be pursued, but this may be more expensive than locating them elsewhere. Mr. Alessandrini expressed opposition to a move to the site. Page 2 of 3