Permanent Building Committee moves to support full roof replacement for Norton Middle School

The Permanent Building Committee moved on Nov. 25 to support a full replacement of the Norton Middle School roof after hearing a design and cost update from town project staff and the owner's project manager.

"The roof in general is beyond its useful life," said James Rawol of Next Level OPM/Tai & Bond, who presented the schematic design and cost estimate. Rawol said a 1999 investigative report from SGH that the project team uncovered during design showed systemic problems with through-wall flashings — soldered seams that were missing or improperly installed — and that those hidden failures meant a membrane restoration would not fix the underlying leaks.

Rawol said the project team conducted infrared moisture scans that showed insulation wetness under 10 percent in surveyed areas, a result that previously made restoration plausible. But after reviewing the SGH findings the team revised its recommendation to pursue full removal of the roof down to deck level, replacement of through-wall flashings, new code-compliant insulation (a minimum 6 inches), rebuilt HVAC curbs and new membrane or metal roofing as appropriate. "Restoration is not going to fix the flashing issue," Rawol said.

Why it matters: the full-replacement estimate shown to the committee was about $9.2 million, compared with roughly $8.6 million for the restoration option presented earlier; staff told the committee the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) would reimburse 55.63 percent of eligible costs. Rawol and committee members discussed alternates — notably an asphalt-shingle alternate the team estimated could save about $1 million compared with metal — and agreed the bid package can include a base and alternate so officials can decide after firm pricing is received.

Committee members repeatedly flagged the risk of hidden interior damage once the roof is stripped. "When you take the deck up, who knows what's coming," one member said, noting possible rusted framing, damaged conduits and ceiling repairs. Rawol said the design includes construction and owner's contingencies (MSBA typically allows a 5 percent construction contingency) and suggested unit-price allowances for potential metal deck replacement so that unknown decking work can be handled within the contract rather than as a surprise change order.

Timeline and next steps: Rawol said the team plans to submit the updated full-replacement package to the MSBA on Dec. 17 and that the MSBA typically responds in mid-February. If the MSBA approves the project, the town will need to place the funding question on the April 11 ballot and finalize amounts for the May town meeting; construction was projected for the summer/fall cycle following MSBA approvals. Rawol noted that MSBA reimbursements flow during construction as invoices are submitted, with final retention paid at closeout.

On the record: a committee member moved that the Permanent Building Committee support a full roof replacement for Norton Middle School; the motion appears in the transcript but the record provided does not include a complete roll-call tally. Committee members asked the project team to return with the final submission materials and updated financials; staff said they will coordinate MSBA submission, finance-committee briefings and joint outreach with the school committee in the coming weeks.

The committee also discussed outreach and ballot planning, noting the May town meeting and April ballot calendar that will determine when voters see the funding request.