At its Feb. 15 meeting, the School Building Committee reviewed cost figures and learned that the project may receive more state funds than previously anticipated. The committee also approved the next set of documents to be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).
Project manager Tom Murphy reported that the proposed school project has qualified for a somewhat higher rate of state reimbursement by dint of meeting the LEED (Leadership in Environmental Design) standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Being LEED-certified raises state reimbursement by 2 percent.
The building committee earned a further 1 percent in reimbursement by adopting the “construction manager at risk” method for bidding and contracting the project. And having a preapproved maintenance plan raises the reimbursement rate again, this time by 1.53 percent. Overall, the elementary school project may now qualify for more than $18 million in reimbursement, up from an estimated $17.4 million.
At the close of the meeting, the committee unanimously approved submitting a package of documents to the MSBA as the next step in the process to earn those reimbursements. The package, due Feb. 21, included reports, drawings, and a description of the educational improvements.
Residents’ next chance to hear an update on the project and raise questions of their own is Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. in upper Town Hall.
