Middle school roof condition prompts MSBA discussion; committee opts for short‑term repairs

District administrators updated the Hanover School Committee March 12 on the condition of the Hanover Middle School roof and on the possibility of filing with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for an accelerated roof project.

Facilities and town staff, including the director of public works, reported the roof shows signs of deterioration and that ongoing leaks occur during heavy rain. Administrators said a full MSBA accelerated roof replacement would be a multi‑million dollar project and raised questions about whether a new roof alone would be the most cost‑effective use of funds if other parts of the building also show significant wear.

The superintendent and facilities staff said they met with a representative from Aqua Barriers (a contractor with prior work on the roof) and discussed immediate repair options intended to limit leaks and extend the roof’s life by a few years. Town staff and the committee noted a warrant article exists for approximately $100,000 for roof engineering; administrators said they will coordinate with the town manager and advisory committee on the best use of that money.

Committee members stressed the practical impact of leaks on instruction and called for cost comparisons between a targeted repair plan and a larger replacement project. Administrators repeatedly said that at present the district is not recommending pursuing a full MSBA accelerated roof project this meeting; instead they recommended repairing damaged sections now to keep the building dry and safe while pursuing a long‑term capital plan.

The committee discussed the MSBA application window for accelerated projects (noting limited openings) and confirmed staff will gather cost estimates and repair options to present at future meetings. No vote to pursue MSBA funding was taken; administrators said they will report back in the coming weeks.

Ending: The committee directed staff to continue short‑term repairs and to return with cost estimates and a recommendation on whether to proceed with an MSBA application or plan a larger building project.

Speakers quoted in this article are named as they appeared in the meeting transcript.