Concord board schedules public hearing on feasibility of rebuilding middle school at Rundlet site after cost, timeline update

The Concord School Board voted Thursday to hold a public hearing on the feasibility of constructing a new middle school adjacent to Rundlet Middle School, postponing any final decision on site selection after an architects' and construction managers' update on schedules and costs.

Board members heard revised construction timelines and cost estimates from HMFH Architects and Harbury Construction showing that building at the Rundlet site could take longer and cost more than the Broken Ground option. Construction manager Keith Kelly summarized the updated cost picture: "Between the two projects at Rundlet, you're at $131,000,000 and at Broken Ground, you're at $125,000,000," he said, citing site-related premiums and phasing requirements.

Why it matters: The board had planned a vote on location last year but legal counsel advised the board it must hold a separate public hearing before voting to construct a school at any location other than the one already chosen. The hearing gives the public a formal opportunity to weigh new schedule and cost information — including estimates for off‑site infrastructure, traffic mitigation and temporary field arrangements for students — before the board acts.

Architects and construction managers told the board they received a city response that pushed the earliest feasible special‑election date to June, which in turn shifted the project schedules. HMFH said moving the project back to Rundlet would require partial rework of schematic and design‑development documents,…