School leaders urge immediate high‑school roof work, propose MSBA application for phased restorations
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Summary
School officials described an urgent replacement need for the high school A&B wing roof and proposed bundling other roofs (Mill Pond, C wing improvements) for the Massachusetts School Building Authority restoration program; the A&B roof was described as posing a wind‑uplift safety risk and staff recommended immediate funding for replacement and rim repairs while pursuing MSBA for other work.
Allison, presenting school facilities needs, told the committee an engineering assessment shows the high school A&B wing roof (original 1968 construction) is in very poor condition and poses a risk of uplift during high winds. She said a total program of combined roof work across the district is estimated at about $7.7 million but that the A&B wing requires immediate action.
Allison outlined a phased approach: seek town authorization to borrow this year for immediate A&B and rim repairs, while bundling Mill Pond and other restoration projects to apply to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) accelerated repair/restoration window in January 2027. Staff said MSBA restoration participation could reimburse a substantive portion of construction costs (presentation cited a current example reimbursement figure of 49.19% for eligible construction costs, excluding contingency, OPM and design fees).
She described Mill Pond roof as showing wet insulation, punctures and active leaking: restoration is still viable if scheduled within the MSBA window. Allison emphasized that waiting on MSBA would push construction later (earliest start 2028) and that the A&B roof's immediate condition made waiting too risky.
On a smaller item, Allison proposed demolishing the Givens field house and replacing it with a paved parking area and a small storage shed at an estimated cost of about $125,000; staff argued demolition and short‑term storage is cheaper than repairing the building's failing roof and systems.
Committee members urged staff to explore whether temporary risk‑mitigation measures or targeted repairs could hold the building until MSBA funds might be available. They also discussed financing options (borrowing vs using free cash), the effect on fiscal policy and the town's AAA bond rating, and whether mechanical units on the roof should be addressed opportunistically while roofing work is underway.
"There's parts of the roof there sort of peeling up that create an uplift risk during high wind events," Allison said, explaining why the A&B wing cannot safely wait for a long MSBA timeline.
Allison said the town will need to authorize borrowing in advance if it intends to be eligible for MSBA review, because an authorization is necessary to demonstrate local commitment when applying.
