Building committee: new elementary school under design; Fano Drive access included in land-swap plan

The School Committee received a building-committee update Oct. 14 on progress toward construction of a new elementary school. The project is in design and feasibility review with construction manager-at-risk WT Rich, which the committee said is preparing a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and identifying long-lead items such as steel and electrical equipment.

WT Rich presented an animated phasing plan to the building committee and is reviewing architect drawings to reconcile design intent with constructability. Building-committee members said the most significant near-term tasks are ordering long-lead items and finalizing a GMP.

The committee discussed a land-transfer plan that would create Fano Drive as the primary paved access from Park Street to the new building and then continue as a gated gravel emergency-access route toward Sumner Street. That approach, town and building-committee staff said, avoids the two bridge structures that would otherwise have been required and could produce significant project savings; the land-swap and related borrowing are scheduled for the town meeting vote later this month.

Committee members asked about winter maintenance of the gravel emergency section and were told emergency services would clear that route as needed; regular plowing would apply to the paved portion of Fano Drive serving buses and parking. A town representative said the land action will be part of the fiscal plan through the bond authorization tied to the school project.

Committee members also previewed opportunities for community engagement on interior finishes, colors and naming; the building-committee plans to solicit community input on color schemes and suggested the naming discussion could be part of future community engagement events.