School committee votes to authorize MSBA statement of interest for Golden Hill Elementary roof

The Haverhill School Committee voted on March 13 to authorize the superintendent to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for replacement of the Golden Hill Elementary School roof.

Superintendent staff and facilities personnel told the committee the Golden Hill roof is more than 30 years old and that modern energy-code requirements would require stripping to the deck, adding insulation and likely replacing areas of wet or damaged deck. Mr. Durrance (staff member) estimated a direct replacement cost of about $1.15 million and said the districts projected local contribution would be roughly $306,000 assuming a 76.8% reimbursement rate from the MSBA.

The committee read the SOI resolution into the record and voted to authorize submission. Attorney Rosa moved the motion and Miss Sullivan seconded. The clerk called the roll; committee members recorded "yes" votes in roll-call sequence, and Mayor Barrett declared the motion passed.

Mr. Durrance said the roof is approximately 30 years old (MSBA guidance generally looks for roofs older than 30 years), and estimated the Golden Hill roof area at about 48,000 square feet, noting that the structure was built to earlier energy codes and would require additional insulation under current standards. He also said unknowns remain about how much roof deck would need replacement and that his estimate includes a contingency for about 200 square feet of deck replacement.

Committee members asked about timeline and alternate funding sources; Mr. Durrance said the earliest…