NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Building Committee is continuing efforts to get information out about the Greylock School project ahead of a debt exclusion vote on Oct. 8. 

 

The first of two information sessions was held last week; the second is this Thursday at Brayton Elementary School at 6 p.m. There will also be a virtual component for residents unable to attend. 

 

Residents can also attend a coffee klatsch on Friday morning at the Eagle Street parklet. The public schools have annually hosted one of the informal coffee hours in the park but this week's will include information on the project and staff available to answer questions.

 

Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the committee on Tuesday that last week's event was "pretty well attended." 

 

"There were many good questions. We have been continuing to answer questions that have been put forward from that event," she said. "This coming Thursday, we have our second community forum, which will be at Brayton Elementary School, again starting at  6 p.m. 

 

"We'll begin in the cafeteria and then take a tour of Brayton Elementary School, so that folks understand what the deficiencies are with respect to Brayton Elementary School and answer questions there as well."

 

Officials are pushing to get out as much information as possible before the vote, which will determine whether the city will be able to borrow for the $65 million project, of which $20 million will be picked up by taxpayers. 

 

"We're trying to ensure that people have all the information they need to make an informed choice," said Malkas. "What I would say, if I may editorialize just a little bit, and that is not to get your information purely through social media, as I have seen many discrepancies and actually misinterpretations of things through social media."

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey noted that the Greylock project is now the landing page for the public schools' website. 

 

"It opens up all the literature, and as you scroll down, you see all the videos, and then the frequently asked questions, links," she said. "It's a really good page."

 

Presentations have also been recorded by Northern Berkshire Community Television and Malkas said she will be speaking with Spectrum News on Friday. Articles dating back to 2019 can also be found in iBerkshires. 

 

The proposed new school will replace the current closed Greylock on the same site and Brayton. The decision was made after reviewing the cost and feasibility of additions and renovations, including at the Brayton site. The Brayton site was considered too problematic because of topography, its connection to the former YMCA building and costs. 

 

School officials are planning a tour of Brayton on Thursday to underline the problems in the building that opened in 1994 at a cost of $12 million. 

 

Committee member Benjamin Lamb said the most valuable section on the project's website is the estimated costs for Brayton.

 

"I think the breakdown that happens based on what the cost of a Brayton reno would be is really valuable for people to read," he said. "It also identifies the areas where there's immediate investment needed, and then there's obviously some stuff that's more long term."

 

Initial estimates last year put a Brayton renovation or rebuild at about the same as a Greylock. A breakdown for just addressing the school's issues is $45 million, including more than $12 million for a new heating and air conditioning system and sprinkler system. The roof and skylights, which are reaching their end of service, comes in at $2.6 million. Accessibility upgrades are estimated at $1.75 million. 

 

Committee member Richard Alcombright asked if the staff and committee was spreading the information as much as possible through Facebook. 

 

"When I see anything with NAPS, I always share it," he said, and asked if staff and administrators have been encouraged to do likewise. 

 

"The good thing about our staff is you don't have to encourage them. They just do it naturally," said Macksey. 

 

Thomas Simon, director of student support services, said the school system's outreach coordinator Emily Schiavoni has been posting frequently on social media and has included the project page. 

 

"We can ensure that that's happening on a scheduled basis, like once a week, it comes out again, so that way folks know to go there to look for information," he said.