CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The School Building Committee hopes to have an agreement signed for an owner's project manager by July 11.

The committee, meeting for the first time since it convened last October, were given an update on the progress toward a feasibility study that will guide decisions on renovating Clarksburg School or building new.

A special town meeting in October approved spending up to $250,000 toward the study.

"It's no question the progress has been slow," Superintendent Jonathan Lev told the group gathered Thursday evening at the 60-year-old elementary school.

That's in large part because the Massachusetts School Building Authority has to "approve every step you go through," he said. "They're very, very careful."

Lev said the request for services has been submitted to the MSBA for approval and he expects the state will sign off within two weeks. The goal is to get it to the Central Register and publicly posted by May 3 with site visits by May 11. If everything gets posted as planned, final responses will be due by May 25 and a subcommittee of the building committee will short list the applicants and do interviews by June 22.

"We're looking at probably some time in June starting to interview," he said. "There's no question we want this done by July 11, that's the next [MSBA] meeting we can attend to get this approved."

The owner's project managers currently working on schools in Berkshire County — Colliers International (North Adams), Dore & Whittier (Williamstown) and Skanska (Pittsfield) — have already indicated interest in the Clarksburg project.

Lev said an RFS for an architect would also be prepared and that, too, would have to get the OK from the MSBA.

The town has been trying to get into the MSBA's queue for more than a decade. The original 1952 school building has been added onto twice, once in 1967 and again in 1972. About 180 children in Grades 1 through 8 attend the school, which has a long list of structural and space issues.

Committee member Edward Denault wondered if any project would have to be on the current lot.

"I don't like this spot, it's so limited," he said to agreement from several other members.

The property is on a slope surrounded by slopes and two residences. There's little room for a play area or more parking; there's a concern a new footprint wouldn't fit the lot.

But finding another location could run into water issues. The school's well could not meet the requirements of a new sprinkler system, but the North Adams water line could be upgraded to reach the school's current location on West Cross Road.

"I think they would get us off of it," said member Mary Giron of the well.

Eric Booth suggested any design consider ways to consolidate other town offices similar to Stamford, Vt., where the town offices, library and school are all in the same building.

Lev said if the decision was for a new school it could be built elsewhere, either on other town property or purchased land, and a design could take into account a later addition. He cautioned that MSBA would not pay for a number of things not directly related to education — including any municipal buildings.

MSBA has agreed to a 62 percent reimbursement, with the possibility of more points for certain building aspects. But it will only pay for 8 percent of site preparation — fields, parking lots, grading, etc. — and will not cover any leasing should students have to be relocated during a renovation.

The superintendent said if a renovation or reconstruction was the answer, Clarksburg could rent the now vacant Sullivan School in North Adams. If building new at another location, the old school could be continued to be used, saving some money.

Many of those concerns are expected to addressed in the feasibility study, which will look at the condition of the current school and then come up with options for renovation or building new.

School Building Committee members wanted to ensure that the community was kept up to date on the progress and would have opportunity to provide input on project.

"I think communication is going to be real, real important," said Lev.

Principal Tara Barnes and Giron agreed to work on communication, including using Facebook and the school's website.

"The missing link is the elderly people," said Booth, because they may not be web savvy.  

They decided to reach out to the Senior Center among other ideas.

Lev anticipated a public meeting with the architect so community members could speak about what they would like to see in a school.

He's also been speaking with North Adams officials about their experience, including Business Manager Nancy Ziter, who was intimately involved in the financial aspects of the new Colegrove Park Elementary School.

"I think we can learn a lot from North Adams and Williamstown and Lanesborough," he said. "I think if we can stay on top of it, we can avoid some of the things that have come up in other towns."

The general timeline is four months for feasibility and schematics, four months for design and bidding and 12 months for construction.

"What I'm hoping again is that next year at this time, we'll be ready for a vote with the town on a project," Lev said.

The 19 members of the School Building Committee are Jonathan Lev as chairman, Principal Tara Barnes, all three School Committee members (Jeffrey Levanos, Patricia Prenguber, John Solari), Town Administrator Carl McKinney, Finance Committee Chairman Michael Denault, North Adams' purchasing officer Laura Wood (a Clarksburg resident), Head Custodian Michael Peters, Planner Eric Booth, teachers Audrey Witter and Cathy Howe, community members with building experience Edward Denault, Charlie Moran, Gus Giron Jr., Jim Howe and Matt Boyer, Administrative Assistant Mary Giron and Mass in Motion's Amanda Chilson.
 

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