Stratham building subcommittee trims school renovation plan; proposes $12M bond focused on systems and safety

The Stratham School Board’s building subcommittee reported on Jan. 8 that design work and budgeting have reduced a previous, comprehensive renovation that was estimated at roughly $46–50 million to a more narrowly focused bond request of about $12 million.

Paul (first name only in transcript), a building‑subcommittee member, said the subcommittee worked with Corino Construction (firm name as reported at the meeting) to identify and cost a “basics‑first” package that addresses the school’s infrastructure and safety priorities. The scope the subcommittee described includes replacement of aging boilers (the building is about 35 years old and one of three boilers has failed beyond repair), replacement or upgrade of air‑handling units and expanded air conditioning to second‑floor classrooms, full sprinkling of the building, a new roof with added insulation, conversion from oil to gas heating, an increase in cafeteria floor area by roughly 20% (intended to reduce lunch rotations from three to two), redesign of administrative areas to improve visitor security and four new permanent classrooms to replace long‑term temporary classrooms.

Paul said the subcommittee included board members, district administrators and construction‑industry volunteers; he praised Corino Construction’s responsiveness and noted the firm had a local preconstruction manager who is a Stratham resident. The $12 million figure includes a contingency intended to cover unanticipated discovery items and the cost of an owner’s representative.

Energy and maintenance strategy Subcommittee members and administrators emphasized energy efficiency measures as part of the package: conversion to gas boilers, LED lighting upgrades tied to expiring state rebates, improved roof insulation and addressing insulation leaks around soffits. The team also discussed staged investments for remaining building elements such as window replacement, which Paul estimated could cost roughly $500,000 to replace the whole school’s windows; the subcommittee suggested using the maintenance trust to fund phased window work rather than adding it to the bond.

Outreach and timeline The board and subcommittee plan at least six community presentations before the March vote (two virtual, four in person) and have posted detailed materials and the Corino presentation on the district website. The subcommittee asked the board to approve outreach materials and dates so public communications can proceed. If approved by voters in March, the package would fund the first significant systems replacement and make the school safe and energy efficient for another multi‑decade use, subcommittee members said.

Why it matters The narrowed bond seeks to prioritize safety and systems rather than a full replacement school. Voters will decide in March whether to finance the package; if approved it will affect the town tax rate and the district’s capital plan. The subcommittee emphasized contingency budgeting and a line item for an owner’s representative to protect district interests during construction.

What the meeting did not decide The board discussed numbers and outreach but did not finalize exact financing term lengths at the Jan. 8 meeting; administration said the Municipal Bond Bank schedules would be used to model repayment and that staff would provide exact taxpayer‑impact figures as outreach continues.

Next steps The building subcommittee will finalize outreach language and dates, post materials and present at community sessions in January/February ahead of the March vote.