The town administrator told the Board of Selectmen on Oct. 28 that the Manchester-Essex Regional School District Building Committee is still evaluating three options for the Essex Elementary School project: renovation or replacement at the existing 12 Story Street site, a new school at 30 Apple Street, or an addition at Manchester Memorial School.

The administrator said the Apple Street option raises infrastructure questions — bringing utilities to the parcel, roadway and sidewalk upgrades and possible bridge work — and that those off-site costs are typically not eligible for reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). He urged caution because the committee must meet MSBA schedule requirements and cited roughly “900 and some days” from schematic approval to MSBA deadlines.

Selectman Annie asked whether Apple Street remains under consideration; the administrator noted a straw poll at the building committee showed no members wanted to continue pursuing Apple Street but that the committee plans to discuss the site further and vote in early November.

Committee members and staff described other constraints affecting site choice: the timing of town approvals for any needed off-site work, cost escalation from delay, and uncertainty about exact construction costs at the existing site. An architect on the committee — referenced in the committee summary — told the group Apple Street has a flat, dry parcel that is attractive physically but raising utilities and access costs may outweigh that advantage.

The Selectmen and the building committee said they expect to narrow options at a Nov. 6 meeting and take a formal vote on site selection. The town administrator asked the board to send any written input to the committee prior to that meeting so the committee has a record of local concerns.

Why it matters: the site decision will shape the project’s schedule, the town’s need for any off-site public works spending, and what costs MSBA may or may not reimburse. Officials flagged both near-term timing pressures (MSBA deadlines) and long-term cost risk if the project is delayed.

What’s next: the building committee expects to take a formal vote on site selection at its next meeting in early November. The selectmen were asked to provide written comments to the building committee before that vote.