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Facilities update: Mary Morrison testing, robotics plan, fleet needs and Thames River pump outage
Summary
Facilities staff briefed the committee on water testing and painting at Mary Morrison School, progress on robotics equipment and a possible special meeting for budget approval, a list of aging vehicles proposed for replacement, questions about electric‑charging infrastructure, and an emergency sewer‑pump failure at Thames River that may require school schedule changes.
Facilities staff briefed the Groton Finance & Facilities Committee on a suite of maintenance and capital items at the June 2 meeting, ranging from classroom water testing to a sewer‑pump failure that could force schedule changes at Thames River.
On Mary Morrison School, staff said they had completed water testing and identified two rooms of concern; painting and cleanup work is underway and the district is waiting on a small number of parts (door hardware and windows) to finish. "We tested. We're waiting for...there are only two rooms that are concerned," facilities staff said during the update.
Coaches and facilities staff also discussed the robotics workshop: equipment must be labeled and either removed or repurposed, and the building inspector/fire marshal requires a complete set of plans before permitting. Staff said they expect to assemble coaches and administrators to firm up cost estimates so the board can decide whether to fund the project; staff cited planning ranges discussed in the meeting that could include a baseline number and a higher alternate (the discussion noted an $800,000 estimate with the potential for an additional $500,000 depending on scope).
Fleet condition drew sustained attention: staff presented a vehicle replacement list that included several units out of service and others with high mileage (one box truck listed at about 145,000 miles). Committee members recommended budgeting recurring set‑asides for replacement and coordinating with town maintenance and CIP planning.
The committee also reviewed district electric‑vehicle charging stations that have been installed but are not consistently operational. Staff said repairing and operating the stations requires contractor work and recommended prioritizing charging points that support district‑owned electric vehicles if grant funding or reliable payback is not immediate.
Late in the meeting, staff reported an operational emergency at Thames River: a sewer pump failure required contractor outreach and could result in a shortened student day or cancellation if not repaired. Facilities said they had contacted contractors and town partners and would notify families if the failure required a schedule change.
The board scheduled a site visit (proposed for July/August) to follow up on Mary Morrison completion and asked staff to present firmer cost estimates on robotics and fleet replacements at the next budget meetings.
