Facilities director outlines summer maintenance needs; Spalding Foundation must raise funds for athletic project estimate

The Barre Unified Union School District #97 Facilities Committee received a summer projects briefing from facilities director Jamie covering maintenance and small capital work at the district’s schools and heard that the Spalding High School Foundation currently has no funds for a project estimate.

Jamie said planned work at Berry City Elementary includes paving the fire lane used for emergency access, annual pump‑room maintenance (replacement of victaulic fittings with welded stainless pipe), gym‑floor recoating, classroom floor tile replacements and an epoxy coating for a student bathroom floor to improve sanitation.

At Berrytown Middle/Elementary, Jamie listed carpet removal in classrooms in favor of tile for sanitary reasons, postponement of an internal 'Door 18' project, upgrades to moving parts for the wood‑chip boiler system and rooftop AC unit replacements staged over multiple years. "That is an annual project we do every year," Jamie said of boiler fitting replacements.

Spalding High’s maintenance list is smaller this summer because funds are largely committed to replacing oil boilers; scheduled work includes gym‑floor recoating and one exterior door replacement. Jamie said Portland Glass will replace certain exterior handles soon and that the district will research grant opportunities the police department had offered for security‑related door work.

On the funding front, a Spalding High School Foundation representative told the committee the foundation’s athletic budget is zero and that the group must raise money to hire Dubo King for a professional assessment and cost estimate before soliciting donors. "We are at the point now where the foundation needs to fundraise for the estimate portion of the project," the representative said, describing the fundraising as a gating item that leaves the project at a standstill until those funds are secured.

Committee members also discussed a facilities‑usage accounting issue: staff reported a current calculation of 19.1% occupied square footage versus an agreement figure of 20%. Staff explained the discrepancy stems from differing building square‑footage baselines and noted that shared common areas are not included in the classroom‑space percentage.

The committee set its next meeting for Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. and adjourned at the scheduled time.