The Capital Planning and Investment Committee (CPIC) reviewed five requests from the schools at the committee’s Dec. 3 meeting.
School Superintendent Linda Dwight requested $70,000 to replace the Bromfield gym bleachers, which are the original ones installed when the school was constructed in the ’60s. Estimating the cost of the project has proved difficult, Dwight said, with initial online research suggesting that it would cost $90,000, but a preliminary bid by a company priced the project at $53,000. CPIC Chair John Seeley recommended erring on the side of allocating more funds, noting that if the project is completed under budget, the excess will be returned to the town, whereas the work would have to be delayed if it cannot be completed within the allocated budget. Dwight said the difficulty of getting companies to bid on projects, due to Harvard’s small size and distance from Boston, contributed to price uncertainties on many projects.
In addition, Dwight asked for $65,000 to install air conditioning in the Bromfield science wing. While air conditioning in New England schools has historically been viewed as a luxury, it is becoming increasingly common, she said. For example, the new elementary school will include air conditioning in some areas. She claimed that Bromfield reaches temperatures above 80 degrees more than 35 days per year, a number that is increasing due to climate change. This renovation would be part of a longer-term project to air-condition all of Bromfield. The science wing was chosen to be first for two reasons: It is the hottest area, because it faces south; and the air handlers already in place make it easier to install air conditioning, reducing the cost. Dwight requested an additional $100,000 to renovate the Cronin Auditorium as part of an ongoing, multiyear Cronin renovation project. One of the items to be added to the auditorium is air conditioning, which users rate as more important than any other change, as its lack makes the venue unattractive for summer events, Dwight said. The renovation would also include upgraded seats and carpeting, as well as a new door to the control room. The current door is metal in a wood frame, which has allowed vandals to break into the room by damaging the frame.
Devens money funds more
To provide a more complete summary of the schools’ capital expenses, Dwight also presented items the schools expect to pay for out of the Devens fund. Expenditures from that fund—money paid to Harvard by MassDevelopment for the education of Devens children—do not have to be approved by CPIC or town meeting, just the School Committee. A $120,000 project will replace the refrigerator, sink, and floor in the Bromfield kitchen. According to Dwight, the refrigerator and floor are more than 30 years old. Initial estimates had put the project cost at $150,000, but it was adjusted downward based on a bid. An $80,000 project will repair Bromfield’s roof, which Dwight says is leaking from more than 20 holes.
Harvard’s capital bylaw requires that any request for spending greater than $20,000 or with a useful life greater than five years must be reviewed by CPIC, which rates and then recommends to the Select Board which expenditures to fund.
With CPIC having interviewed all departments about their requests, totaling $1.86 million, the next step is for individual CPIC members to rate those requests. They will compare their ratings at their next meeting before deciding which projects to recommend. CPIC aims to finish this process at its Dec. 10 meeting but will meet again Dec. 17 if necessary
