School committee recommends town backing for $8.69 million Center School roof project, cites MSBA funding

The Longmeadow School Committee voted unanimously April 14 to recommend that voters approve a warrant article at the town meeting on May 12 to participate in the MSBA accelerated repair program for the Center School roof.

Committee members were presented with a total project budget of $8,694,432 and were told the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) reimbursement is expected to cover just over half of the cost, lowering the town's net share. Town staff and the Department of Public Works participated in preparing the project scope and cost estimate, the committee said.

Committee members emphasized the roof replacement as a necessary maintenance project. The committee moved and approved a motion recommending a yes vote on article six at the May 12 town meeting; the recommendation will be transmitted to the town warrant for the public vote.

If the town approves the warrant article at town meeting, the project would proceed under the MSBA accelerated repair program and pursue the formal reimbursement award process. The committee did not specify a construction schedule in the meeting record; the motion was limited to recommending that voters approve article six.

Next steps: the school committee's recommendation will appear on the town warrant at the May 12 town meeting, where voters will decide whether to authorize participation and the associated local funding authorization.