Hingham facilities director warns of repeated boiler failures and asks committee to back larger extraordinary‑repairs reserve

Hingham — The district’s facilities director told the school committee on Feb. 26 that aging boilers and failing roof systems are producing repeated failures, costly emergency work and a growing need for a larger extraordinary‑repairs reserve.

"This is the fifth time they've cracked, and they cracked again late last night," Director of Facilities Matthew Meehan said of cracked fire tubes in the two Cleaver‑Brooks boilers at Hingham High School. He described 27‑year‑old equipment, HVAC pumps that have seized and ice damming at South and Plymouth River elementary schools that allowed water intrusion into counseling and special‑education areas.

Meehan said the district has spent about $312,000 from the extraordinary‑repairs account so far this year for roofing and boiler work across three schools and that additional invoices were incoming. He presented a Crowley Engineering evaluation that identified thermal‑shock damage to boiler tubes and recommended staged repairs; one engineer estimate placed necessary repairs at roughly $200,000–$300,000 spread over several years for the boilers alone.

Committee members discussed three options Meehan outlined: repair the existing boilers under engineer guidance (the recommended path), abandon and replace a boiler (which could affect the district’s MSBA application), or pursue MSBA‑approved heat‑pump replacements as part of the ongoing accelerated‑repair project. Meehan said the district is already lining up contingency plans — including study and design for temporary boilers and tie‑ins — because a full failure could require renting a temporary 18‑wheeled boiler and create major disruption.

Committee members expressed support for asking a larger amount on the warrant than originally proposed. Officials said $500,000 was under consideration as a cushion to cover boilers, roof work and related emergency repairs, and they asked engineers and architects to provide a recommended figure to present to the town’s advisory process on March 3.

The facilities presentation also noted potential operational savings from the district’s recent adoption of electric buses; staff said moving to electric fleet vehicles has reduced the projected fuel and replacement costs compared with an equivalent diesel‑bus purchase.

Meehan concluded by urging the committee to approve a warrant amount that will permit necessary stabilization work while preserving operating funds for instruction; the administration will return with a recommended, engineer‑supported figure for the warrant article.