School Building Committee members will have to make a decision on which plans to move forward with at their next meeting.
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The School Building Committee got its first look at plans for a new or renovated school — and the cost gave members pause.
The initial project estimates range from $12 million to $24 million on the high side; most put the town's cost at about $8.75 million to $12 million.
Architects Margo Jones and Kristian Whitsett of Jones Whitsett Architects presented the committee Thursday with six possible layouts. The schemes ranged from a total renovation, partial renovation and new construction to a totally new school.
"What you are seeing here tonight are very broad concepts," Whitsett said. "We don't want you to worry about where a specific room is or its size. We are really looking at broad concepts."
The architects noted that they are currently working with a 50 percent Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursement rate. The actual reimbursement for Clarksburg is believed to be closer to 62 percent.
In winnowing down the options, the committee first tossed out the renovation-only scheme that was estimated to cost between $10 to $12 million. For Clarksburg, this would cost around $5.5 million.
Although the cheapest option, Superintendent Johnathan Lev said it would not address the space issues in the building that triggered the project.
"One of my big things is space, and we need more room in this building," he said. "That is one thing with a new gym that it would do if we just renovate the gym and have a cafeteria in there like we have now, we are losing space."
They also tossed out total new construction pegged between $22 million to $24 million, estimated to cost the town nearly $12 million. It would also be difficult to build on the hilly terrain.
The committee favored schemes A and C because they addressed the west primary wing of the building that is made of wood and in bad shape.
"I have a hard time seeing that primary wing stay the way as it is," Principal Tara Barnes said. "It would be building on something we don't feel good about."
Scheme A calls for the demolition of part of the primary wing to the west and adding an addition that would be used for younger grades.
A new 5,000-square-foot gym would also be placed near the library off the new wing. This is double the size of the current gym that does triple duty as assembly room and cafeteria as well.
Scheme A is estimated between $16.5 million and $18.5 million, which means it could cost Clarksburg $8.75 million.
Scheme C also addressed the primary wing of the building with additional rooms near the library. The gym would be built off the east wing of the school.
Whitsett said a prefabricated building could be used to house the new west wing as a cheaper option.
This option is estimated between $18 million to $20 million, or about $9.5 million for the town.
Architect Kristian Whitsett walks the committee through the options for Clarksburg School.
Brian Laroche of Potomac Capital Advisors, the school district's owner's project manager, did note that the town would be reimbursed more money for renovated areas as opposed to new construction. He said a new west wing would be more expensive than a renovation
"We are taking construction as poor as it is and we are removing it and then we are replacing … so we haven't really added much," he said. "You have spent all of that money and you don't get as much total square footage back."
He added that a new gym would also lessen the reimbursement substantially.
Town Administrator Carl McKinney said he had real concerns about the condition of the west wing and thought the community would get the most out of a new gym.
Whitsett added that the school's well off the west wing could cause issues with the state Department of Environmental Protection. DEP has indicated it would be willing to work with the town but needed more specifics, he said.
Whitsett said schemes C and D could be combined to add a new west wing and a smaller cafeteria addition on the east side, but this would leave out a new gym. The gym would add $1 million to the project.
Many committee members did not like the idea of not building a new gym and continuing to use the current undersized facility.
Town Administrator Carl McKinney, a member of the committee, was asked to price out what that plan would cost each resident annually with and without a gym.
They also asked Lev to see what it would cost the town to simply close the school and join another district to give residents an alternative perspective.
McKinney said it is also important to inform the voters of the importance of the school.
"We are one of the few level one schools in Berkshire County and there is a value to that," McKinney said. "It brings people into town and stabilizes our housing values."
Laroche pointed out that the numbers are still just estimates based on the current construction market and things will change as they add in more details.
He added that they can go through the schemes and really make cuts or change things around to change the cost.
"It is going to force us to strategize about what we are going change," he said. "We are going to have to be careful about what we leave in the project and take out because we don't have as much room as you think."
Also, if the town does not phase the project and can ship students to another school during construction that will save money. However, relocating students is not a reimbursable budget item.
The town could reimbursed more if it can gain points with the MSBA, Whitsett said.
McKinney said he is looking into possibly using the vacant Sullivan School or a building in the industrial park in North Adams. He also mentioned the vacant Memorial Building in Adams, last used during the Hoosac Valley High School renovation.
Whitsett asked the committee to send him any more input before its next meeting on Jan. 23, when it will have to narrow down the plans.
Lev said a public information meeting will also be planned to get input. The School Committee and MSBA would make the final selection; voters would decide whether they will pay for it.
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