Woodbridge building committee presents rebuilt-or-renovate options for Beacher Road School amid cost, ADA and enrollment questions

The Woodbridge Building Committee on Monday reviewed completed feasibility and education‑specification studies for Beacher Road School and told residents it will present revised cost estimates and a full financial plan at a June 23 meeting.

Committee Chair Martin Halprin opened the session and turned the floor to Maria Madonic, the Board of Selectmen liaison to the building committee, who summarized three core challenges that led to the study: existing classroom‑space shortfalls for current students, projected enrollment growth over the next decade, and multiple infrastructure problems across the campus. "We were already ... over our capacity for the number ... for the students that we have and the classrooms that we have," Madonic said, describing the need for a full feasibility study and an education‑specification study to define the spaces required for the district's curriculum.

Why it matters: The studies—completed by Antonian Associates with Construction Solutions Group—provide the baseline for whether to renovate the existing campus or build new. The committee said Antonian presented five options at a prior tri‑board meeting (including a do‑nothing option, renovation/addition variants, and a new‑build option) and that architects were asked to rescale the lower‑cost alternatives to reflect recent housing approvals and planned preschool expansion. The committee said updated, rescaled cost estimates should be available ahead of the June 23 financial presentation.

What the committee presented: Madonic said consultants generated multiple costed alternatives. According to the presentation, renovation‑as‑new options can become more expensive than building new because of hazardous‑materials abatement, complicated topography and phasing constraints. The committee said the new‑build option presented at the tri‑board meeting appeared roughly $10 million more cost‑effective than some renovation variants in that analysis. The architects have been asked to increase square footage in the lower‑cost options so the referendum would include space for universal preschool and potential additional students from recently approved housing.

Community concerns raised: At the public Q&A many residents asked for greater detail and clarity before a referendum. Common themes included: • Cost transparency and timelines: Residents requested the consultants’ underlying assumptions and a clearer mapping of previous capital projects and what remains to be paid; the committee committed to posting the district’s conditions assessment and capital improvements summary and to presenting financials on June 23. • Grant and referendum mechanics: Madonic explained the project is contingent on state grant funding and a town referendum. "The referendum will show the full cost. It's not the cost minus the grant," she said, adding that state reimbursement rules favor the least expensive option and that the committee is pursuing several extra reimbursement incentives (cited examples included an additional 15% on preschool‑related square footage and extra credits for special‑education space). The committee cautioned that costs rise roughly 4% per year if the project is delayed. • Enrollment and planning horizon: Committee members said enrollment projections extend about 10 years. They reported a median 10‑year projection of roughly 960 students without pre‑K and approximately 1,139 students when pre‑K is included in the district’s planning space; the committee said it would provide the full projection tables at the next meeting. • ADA and accessibility: Several residents asked whether making the existing building ADA compliant was feasible. The committee said the current campus cannot be fully made ADA compliant without major work because of elevation changes across the site, and that piecemeal repairs often trigger additional ADA work that pushes renovation costs higher. "The new building will be 100% compliant," Madonic said. • Construction staging, ledge and safety: Residents pressed the committee for geotechnical (ledge) investigations and plans to limit disruption if construction occurs adjacent to occupied school space. The committee said tours and staged work will be coordinated with student safety but acknowledged residents’ concerns about timing and notice.

Consultant data, historical records and cost estimates: A former facilities committee member questioned whether the consultants initially missed data from a 2016 renovation (notably window replacements), which could affect renovation cost estimates. The committee replied that Antonian had been provided historical studies, meeting minutes and a capital improvements summary; members said they would re‑check records to confirm all inputs were considered and reconcile any discrepancies.

Facilities and sunk costs: Committee members emphasized some recent necessary repairs are already under payment and will continue to be paid whether or not a larger project proceeds (for example, a partial roof replacement and other projects from 2017 that the committee said will be paid off through 2037). They said the state granted legislative protection to preserve reimbursement eligibility for required emergency repairs.

Pool and South campus building: Residents asked about the on‑campus pool. The committee said pool repair is not in the current project budget; options under consideration call for separating (walling off) that building and making its mechanicals whole so the town could later decide on pool renovation in a different project.

Next steps: The committee said the architects are revising cost estimates for the scaled‑up square footage and that a comprehensive financial presentation will be posted and presented at the June 23 meeting. Tours of Beacher Road School are scheduled at 6:15 p.m. on June 16 and June 23 followed by meetings at 7:00 p.m.

Ending: The meeting closed after a brief reminder of dates and a motion to adjourn. The committee urged residents to attend the upcoming tour and the June 23 financial presentation to review revised numbers and the committee’s recommended path forward.