Schools

Estimated $3 Million Added To High School Renovation

Despite Increase, Project Still $2 Million Under Budget

In December, thanks to a down economy, bids came in on the high school renovation . After Tuesday night, that savings will probably be closer to $2 million.

The school building committee, through consensus, endorsed a $3 million “revised” scope to renovations in the existing building. The move will bring all parts of the school affected by the construction to “renovate as new” status, meaning it will be upgraded to all current codes and standards.

“We discovered and uncovered some things we really need to do,” Superintendent Jerome Belair said. “With these renovations, we really get this building to be a new building.”

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Building Committee Chairman Alan Wilensky stressed the building committee did not just spend money “arbitrarily” because the project came in under budget. Instead, they fixed problems that would have otherwise “really stuck out” if not addressed.

“This has nothing to do with the budget coming in $5 million under,” Wilensky said. “It would be irresponsible of this committee to move forward without addressing everything.”

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The original estimated cost for the project was $67 million. In December, after the initial bids came in, the estimated cost was $62 million. Now, with the $3 million added, the estimated cost is $65 million.

Why Is Work Added Now?

Wilensky and Finance Director Rudie Beers said everything being done in the “revised” scope of the project was in the original project. They were taken out by JCJ Architecture later, as the architecture firm grew concerned the bids would come in over budget.

JCJ was concerned about coming in over budget, and cut some non-essential work out of the project, Greg Smolley of JCJ Architecture said. The construction industry had not yet bombed in the fall of 2009, when the estimates were finalized, he said. If the company had known the economy would be so poor in the fall of 2010, leading to bids being so low, work wouldn’t have been removed, Smolley said.

Still, Beers took issue with this. Everything the town wanted should have been in the original plans, she said.

“With a brand new building, why you would want to leave shabby lockers and lights that don’t work is beyond me,” Beers said. “It boggles my mind.”

The point is the work can still be done, and this is the time to do it while still staying under budget, Belair said. If people see the work not done and want it done later, it will cost much more to renovate the building again, Director of Buildings and Grounds Jay Miner said.

“We have a great opportunity in front of us,” Belair said. “The time is now, we have these needs.”

So What Is The Work?

All new construction will be brand new, and will need no additional work done, Smolley said. Instead the $3 million budget will address parts of the existing building being renovated, specifically the auxiliary gym, auditorium, field house, pool and maintenance building (full table at the bottom of the page).

Cost

Beers questioned JCJ’s estimate of the project, saying JCJ is being “ultra conservative” with its estimates. All projects not in the original bids will have to be voted by the school building committee separately.

To save costs, most of the work will be bid out, Miner said. But some will be done as a change order instead, he said.

Additionally, the town may be able to receive a higher reimbursement rate by the state on parts being renovated, now that it is being renovated as new, Belair said. Currently, the state reimburses the town 35 percent for renovation work, which could move up to 40 percent with renovate as new status, Belair said.

Highlights of Proposed Additions By JCJ, Miner And Belair

Auxiliary Gym

  • Replace exhaust fans on roof
  • Provide air conditioning
  • Replace wall padding

Auditorium

  • Paints walls and ceiling
  • Replace all carpeting
  • Provide new maple wood panels at front of stage

Field House

  • Refurbish Bleacher Mechanism
  • Paint Entire Field House
  • Replace all lockers

Pool

  • Waterproof pool deck and seal all cracks
  • Replace pool drainage system

Maintenance Building

  • Add power, date and fiber connection from school
  • Provide accessible toilet room
  • Replace light fixtures, fire alarm, exit signs and security cameras


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