The School Building Committee meets for what may be the last time.
Principal Shelley Fachini tells how much the children liked the new Colegrove Park Elementary School.
Retiring Superintendent James Montepare and Historical Commission Chairwoman Justyna Carlson discuss an application for a preservation award for the school.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — After more than three years, the School Building Committee adjourned Monday evening from what may have been its final meeting.
It's charge had been to shepherd an elementary school project, a mission essentially completed with the opening on Monday morning of Colegrove Park Elementary School."
"This is probably our last official meeting ... It's been a long process we've been at this almost three years," said Mayor Richard Alcombright, acknowledging the full project had been even longer. "It hasn't been easy at times and we had to make a lot of tough decisions."
The process really began in 2009 with the closure of Conte Middle School; eighth-graders were sent to Drury High School and Grades 6 and 7 to the three elementary schools, causing overcrowding and space issues.
In early 2011, a $680,000 feasibility study pointed to the renovation of Conte, which also had been the former Drury High, as the best option to replace Sullivan School. The School Building Committee eventually recommended the nearly $30 million renovation but protests, including a citizen's petition that forced a ballot vote on the funding, led to delays in process. The project finally got under way in 2014 but, again, delays led to its opening four months later than hoped.
During that time, the School Building Committee has waxed and waned in size. Attendance was heavy in the beginning, and a plaque at the school lists 15 people. But by the end, about half that number were in regular attendance at meetings that were occurring twice a month over the past year.
The mayor thanked the members for their input and dedication over the years. While Monday may have been the last "official" meeting, he said it was possible the committee could be called back for further action. The school may be open but there are still outstanding invoices, for example.
Andy Gentile, of owner's project manager Colliers International, said the project remains on target financially. Only about $100,000 in invoices are still out and nearly $1 million in changeovers is awaiting review by the Massachusetts School Building Authority for reimbursement.
The mayor asked if any of the changeovers would be looked at "unfavorably" by MSBA but it was believed they were in line with what had already been approved.
"We're pretty confident we're going to come in at a number we'll all be happy with," he said.
Gentile said work is still being done at the school, though not major or intrusive. The long-awaited railings for the front entrance had finally been completed at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
"They're going to work second shift, 3-11, and try to address as many of items that are open on the punchlist," he said, asking that teachers and staff document any issues, from keys not working to doors not closing.
However, both he and Principal Shelley Fachini said Monday's opening had gone extremely smoothly. A parent had gone the wrong way in the dropoff lane, a door buzzer was problematic and a couple spots in the building were a little too warm — all minor issues.
An official ribbon cutting will be held on Jan. 25, at 1:30, at the school with an open house for the community from 6 to 7:30 that night.
"I think it was a real successful opening," Gentile said.
Fachini said she kept "waiting to hear something ... I really kept waiting for the other shoe to drop but it just never came."
There will be some settling in and changes made. Fachini noted the nurse had to move her desk because she couldn't see patients; that may require some electrical changes.
"It will be pretty typical over the next two or three months, shaking the building out of them trying stuff and moving stuff," Gentile said.
Staff parking is also an issue despite adding more spots than those available at Sullivan. And more direction will be needed at the entrance to prevent children from crossing East Main and through the dropoff area. While the majority of children arrived on buses, a lot of them were walking, many with their parents.
"There were 100 kids walking, that's a big deal," said Superintendent James Montepare, adding it was significantly more than at Sullivan.
Fachini summed up the day with a story about one of her students, who turned to her in the hallway, spread his arms, and declared: "I love this place!"
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