Facilities director outlines multi-million-dollar needs: paving, roofs, boilers and elevator

Facilities Director Ken Thompson presented a district facilities update May 27 that highlighted immediate and near-term capital needs including paving, several roof replacements, adding backup boilers and accessibility upgrades.

Thompson said paving needs across the district are substantial because freeze-thaw cycles have caused recurring potholes and surface deterioration; he provided budget cost estimates based on contractor square-yard pricing for priority schools. For older buildings he cited the Gardiner/Goddard School (century-old slate roof) as needing a full roof replacement to a standing-seam metal roof, with contingency for unknown conditions under the slate; the project was estimated using a construction cost per square foot plus design fees.

The subcommittee discussed mechanical-system vulnerabilities. Thompson recommended installing second boilers where only one exists now, citing the Barrett-Russell and Payne/Champion schools; Payne’s existing boiler area contains asbestos that would need abatement before replacement. He described an elevator project for the Gardiner/Goddard building to provide ADA access to the second floor and said earlier MSBA programs did not qualify that building because it lacks a K–12 student population; he and grants staff continue to seek other funding opportunities. Thompson said the district is actively monitoring roofing and mechanical problems and carries a roofing contract for patch repairs while planning larger, bid-out projects.

Members pressed for attention to specific sites: East Middle School’s curbing and pavement, Downey School parking and hill area, and Brookfield School’s chronic drainage that leaves standing water on the lot. Thompson said he is working with city stormwater and Commissioner Pat Hill on Brookfield drainage diagnosis and repair. On security upgrades, Thompson reported a safety-and-security grant will fund additional cameras and that the district is reviewing camera placement; committee members asked about centralized monitoring and school police access to footage.

Thompson said the district will produce a master facilities plan and prioritized list for committee review later in the year; he and grants staff will seek state and federal funding where feasible and return with costed recommendations and timeline options. No capital appropriations were approved at the meeting; the presentation was informational and used to set subcommittee priorities.