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, additional geotechnical, wetlands and traffic studies, and underground storm‑water management because surface detention is not possible on the tighter Rundlet site. That underground treatment and the need for phased construction around an active school were the primary drivers of the higher Rundlet site cost, the team said.

The consultants outlined three broad timing scenarios: (1) staying at the Broken Ground site with current schematic design and a target occupancy in 2029; (2) moving to Rundlet with a June election, which would likely push occupancy and full field availability into 2029–2030 and require moving students in during a winter/holiday break; and (3) moving immediately to redesign for Rundlet (if the board decides this month), which could regain several months and allow fall 2029 occupancy. Designers cautioned each scenario carries different phasing and temporary‑use impacts for students, including shared or off‑site athletic fields.

Public comment at the meeting was extensive and sharply divided. Teachers, parents and residents gave operational and health accounts from Rundlet — leaking ceilings, mold and cold classrooms — urging speedy replacement at either site. Teacher Linda O'Rourke said, "I can't stress enough how desperately we need a new building," describing classroom leaks and mold that prompt frequent maintenance work during school hours. Several parents and former building‑committee members urged the board to proceed at the Broken Ground site as the faster and less expensive path to a new building; others argued for preservation of neighborhood green space and favored construction adjacent to Rundlet.

Formal actions and process decisions taken Thursday: the board (a) expanded the public‑comment period for the meeting to 45 minutes; (b) rejected a motion to forego a public election and move directly to a board decision on location; (c) voted to notice a public hearing on the feasibility of constructing a new middle school at 144 South Street (Rundlet); and (d) tabled a motion to hire an owner's project manager pending further cost information. The board set the Rundlet feasibility hearing for next Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium so the district can broadcast the hearing.

Board members repeatedly stressed they would not take a binding site vote at the Jan. 15 meeting. Chair Hoadley told the audience that legal advice required a separate hearing before the board could adopt a motion to build at a new site, and the board followed that advice by scheduling the hearing and outlining next steps. Several board members said they would consider motions after the hearing — including motions to rescind or reaffirm the December 2023 site decision — depending on what they hear next week.

Costs and clarifications presented to the board included: an estimated roughly $6–8 million premium overall to build at Rundlet driven by (a) longer phasing and temporary construction logistics, (b) demolition and abatement at Rundlet versus no demolition at Broken Ground, and (c) underground stormwater treatment premiums. The consultants applied a roughly 3% escalation for a year of delay to construction hard and soft costs; they also set a $750,000 contingency for a cistern/boosted water zone where needed and a $500,000 allowance for temporary off‑site athletic fields while Rundlet fields are reestablished.

What happens next: The board's scheduled public hearing will take testimony specifically about the feasibility of building adjacent to Rundlet and the technical, fiscal and operational tradeoffs. After the hearing the board may choose to: (a) make a motion to move the project to Rundlet (which would require a separate public hearing before a binding vote); (b) reaffirm the Broken Ground decision; (c) place a question before voters in a special or general election; or (d) take other actions such as hiring an owner's project manager to oversee the project. The board did not set any immediate binding deadlines beyond the hearing date.

The district posted the presentation slides and cost summaries on its website after the meeting and board members said they expected staff and consultants to publish supporting documents ahead of next week's hearing.

Ending: The board emphasized process continuity: it will accept technical and community testimony at the scheduled hearing and then decide whether to pursue Rundlet feasibility further, reaffirm the Broken Ground plan or advance another path. The board's choice will affect project timing, estimated escalation and how students are housed during construction.