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Home My WebLink About1956-12-03-CEC-min.pdf MEETING OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE WITH THE SCHOOL COIMITTEE December 3, 1956 Present for the School Committee Mr Smith, Superintendent; Mr Spiris, Administrative Assistant; Mrs Leroy Marek, Chairman of the School Committee; Donald Clark; Gordon Steele; Edward Martin (late in arriving); Miss Smith, Secretary, Neil Chapman was absent. Present for the Capital Expenditures Committee Sanborn Brown, Chairman; John A. Carrier; Mrs. Arthur (Rosemary) Fitzgerald; D. Sargent Goddard; Mrs James (Jean) Wanless, Secretary Norman Royle was absent It was asked that this be a preliminary meeting and that the two committees meet again. Mr Smith spoke about the accurate records kept by the School Department on children who will be entering school in the next few years Forecasts of needed school rooms are based on these figures The School Committee also tries to take into consi- deration other factors -- such as Lexington Academy and its plans for adding a grade each year By studying figures -- the Committee is reaching an either or ans_xera the achool uepartment office keeps a record on all Lexington children, age one to twenty- one. ordinary records are supplemented by reports on people moving into town from school-age children, Welcome Wagon, police, etc. :'his year the forecast of total school enrollment was off only 12jt. rrojecting further into the future is less accurate. It is difficult to see how many rooms will be needed where and when. Unofficial report that the Gray Nuns may add ninth grade in 1960 and go on to a complete high school Lexington Academy (run by the Gray Nuns) is a private school Eventually Lexington may also have a parochial school -- but this is probably five years or more in the future. At the Town Meeting next March appropriation should be made for renovating the present junior high school building; estimate of cost is $200,000 $2,000 has already been appropriated for the architect This will enlarge some rooms, eliminate others, re-light the school, provide a shower room for girls; fix up the heating system, improve the cafeteria Howeger, these changes will reduce the building's capacity to 900 (about ideal size) because of specialization. Jonathan Harrington and Maria Hastings districts are increasing and both of these schools are now filled to capacity Some of these pupils will go to the new Franklin addition next year However, it will be necessary to add to J Harrington and M. Hastngs soon. In March, 1957, the School Committee plans to ask for money for preliminary plans to add to both J Harrington and M. Ha ngs Estimate from $5,000 to $7,500 for both. Estimate cost of additions $200,000 or less for each; so $400,000 for both. (Several years ago it was estimated that it would cost $72,000 to add 4 rooms -- but now more.) The Committee feels it is better to ask early and postpone than to be late. So they Cap. Exp. Com. and School Committee, Dec 3, 1956 (cont ) page 2 will probably ask for this appropriation in the fall of 1957 In September, 1957, school capacity will be in good shape. By September, 1958, 3 more elementary classrooms will be needed and the junior high school will be filled to capacity By September, 1959, 2 more elementary classrooms will be needed (total of 5) and the junior high will be over capacity by 150 pupils (6 classrooms short); the high school will be adequate. by September, 1960, 6 additional elementary classrooms will be needed (total of 11) The junior high should be about the same as the year before (6 rooms short unless a new building) The high school will be over capacity by 150 pupils -- but this includes the 9th grade (which could n the new junior high) So we need a second junior high to provide for the extra 150 in each junior and senior high schools. By September, 1961, we need 6 more elementary classrooms (170 pupils) so a total of 17 elementary classrooms Assume the new junior high is built None of this provides kindergarten -- which is considered desirable. (Adding kindergarten now would require 20 additional rooms now ) The average elementary class size is now 27.6 and we do not wish to increase the size of classes The School Committee wishes to emphasize teacher quality The new and old junior high school buildings will provide for a total of 1800 pupils But in 1959 we will not have 1800 in junior high (even including 9th grade) so it would be possible to use one wing of the new junior high for an elementary school temporarily Both areas being considered for the new junior high school site are near north Lexington, where a new elementary school is needed. If the new junior high school is not ready by 1959 we must have more elementary classrooms so would have to ask for preliminary plans in March, 1957 Right now it seems more plausible to ask for the new junior high appropriation in the fall of 1957 /-- $2,000,000. If Maria Hastings addition is built by 1958 and the new junior high with a temporary elementary wing, the new elementary school in north Lexington might be postponed. (This indicates total capital expenditures by the School Committee in 1957 of almost 03,000,000.) The present high school (850) plus the new wing under construction (450) will bring the capacity of the high school up to 1300. This should accomodate grades 10, 11 and 12 until 1968 (due to Lexington Academy, possible parochial school, drop outs and trade school) The new junior high would take _grade 9. A um 1--a• The Gray Nuns (Lexington Academy) plan to add one grade each year This year they have grade 1 (1956) In 1960 they plan to start a high school with grade 9 This is a private, not parochial, school Cap. Exp. Com. and School Committee, Dec. 3, 1956 (cont.) page 3 Population trends were discussed. The influence of industrial sites on the influx of pupulation. Mr Snow (town planner) anticipates population growth for some time as there is still buildable land in Lexington. Lexington is due to reach 48,000 (double the present pupulation) so schools will continue to be needed. It was pointed out that both sites for the new junior high school have no truk sewer (one would cost $100,000) and no main water line (cost - $2004000) The new elementary site needs sewer (cost - $250,000) Mr Brown pointed out that capital expenditures should ideally follow this plan. each year combining a school renovation (less money) with a new school (which often requires money for water and sewer as well as new building -- so muck more costly) An alternate plan was discussed (see chart) placing the junior high school appropriation for $2,000,000 in 1958 instead of 1957 This, however, necessitates having an extra 125 pupils in the present junior high building for one yar (900 capacity -r 125 in 1959) If the money is appropriated in 1958 the building would not be ready until 1960 and the 6 rooms are needed in 1959 (see chart ) It was suggested that maybe in renovating the present junior high building, provision can be made for the extra 125 pupils in 1959 This second plan avoids placing large sewer, water and school expenses altogether in one year Past experience has shown that it is best to appropriate in the fall for a building needed two years ahead. 1957 will be a heavy year New fire station. Water needed near Route 128, if industry A School committee expense of almost 3 million in 1957 would equal $3 75 on the tax rate for Lexington. ($800,000 bonded over 20 years equals $1 on tax rate) Sidewalks were then discussed. The School Committeeps policy is not to inter- fere with other town committees cSelectmen on sidewalks) but it was pointed out that when there are few sidewalks the bus cost is higher In the past few years the sidewalk appropriation has been small and even then it has not all been spent. Gordon Steele suggested increasing the sidewalk appropriation for the next two years, and then possibly decreasing it if the need is not so great rhe plan as of last year was to spend $37,000 on sidewalks and curbs each year for five years With the new junior high needing side- walks, this is not enough. Sidewalks cost from $1 to $3 50 per foot They require snow removal (additional expense) Sandy Brown pointed out that the Selectmen respond to public pressure on sidewalks Next meeting of the Capital Expenditures Committee with the School Committee will be on Monday, January 14, 1957, at 8 P.M. , at the School Office School Committee and Capital Expenditures Committee Meeting December 3, 1956 CHART FROM BLACKBOARD looms Meeting Buildings 1957 March Jr high school (renovating old) $200,000 1958 (complete) Prelim.plans Hastings & Harrington $5,000 to 7,500 Fall Approp. for Hasting &/or Harrington 400,000 1958 (ready Sep.) (4 + 4 rooms) Approp. new Jr High building $2,000,000 1959 (30 rooms) 3E 1958 Prelim. plans for new elementary 10,000 3e 1959 Fall Approp. for new elementary 750,000 1961 (ready) 6J (12 - 16 rooms) (possibly in spring of 1960)1, 6E 1960 6E 1961 New elementary school approp. 17E6total aLTERNATE PLAN Rooms zeeeting Buildings 1957 March or high school (renovating old) 4200,000 1958 (complete) Prelim.plans Hasting Harrington :x5,000 to 7,500 Fall Approp. Hastings and/or Harrington 400,000 1958 (ready) 4 rooms + 4 rooms) 3E 1958 New junior high approp. $2,000,000 1960 ? (30 rooms)ilo0 2E 1959 Fall Approp. newaelementary echool ,./ 8;888 1961 (ready) 6J (12 - 16 rooms) 6E 1960 Prelim. plans new elementary 10,000 6E 1961 New elementary school approp. 17E total 6J