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Westborough reviews summer accessibility and building projects; Gibbons gym floor delayed for repairs
Summary
Facilities staff reported ADA upgrades at Hastings and Armstrong, extensive bathroom renovations, drainage work and a gym-floor replacement at Gibbons Middle School that encountered unexpected subfloor material and will finish in the coming weeks.
Kelly, the district maintenance/grounds presenter, gave the Committee a status report on building projects completed over the summer and work still underway.
Kelly said the district completed ADA upgrades last summer and this year addressed specific accessibility items including bubblers, stair and doorway work and ensuring 48-inch clearances for fixtures. Over the most recent summer cycle, the district renovated 17 bathrooms—plumbing, floors, ceilings, walls and fixtures—and installed concrete access pads and ADA ramps around exteriors. Kelly said some classrooms were fully repainted by maintenance and painting will continue through the year.
On Gibbons Middle School, Kelly reported the gym-floor replacement was delayed after crews uncovered an asphalt-like layer in the subfloor and uneven concrete beneath; she said the work required additional grinding and cleanup, including HVAC cleaning, and the floor should be complete within “probably the next 2 to 3 weeks.” Principal Jack Foley and gym staff developed interim plans: gym classes will use the library, outdoor spaces and possibly the fitness center while work continues.
Kelly said substantial drainage and parking-lot work at Gibbons addressed safety issues—standing water and ice—after at least one fall, and Armstrong received paving, ADA pads and relocation of dumpsters into a fenced area.
Allison and Kelly emphasized the ADA work was driven by Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and that the upgrades allow students who previously could not use in-classroom restrooms to do so. Kelly highlighted a new maker space at Armstrong created within the regular budget and noted a lot of summer work was completed under tight schedules so Hastings could open on time.
Ending: Committee members asked operational questions about interim gym arrangements and noted appreciation for the pace and scope of the summer work. The district will continue painting and finishing projects, and the committee was told to expect Gibbons gym access to return once the floor contractor completes cleanup and repairs.
