Monument Mountain forum narrows three school‑building options as committee seeks public input before Dec. 4 vote

Monument Mountain school officials on Tuesday presented three final options for replacing or renovating the high school and asked the public to weigh priorities ahead of a Dec. 4 building‑committee vote to identify a preferred schematic that will be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

"We will be voting on which of three choices ... on December 4th," said Jason St Peter, a member of the school committee and chair of the building project, opening the forum and urging community input on the tradeoffs among the options.

Why it matters: the high school is approaching 60 years old and officials and consultants said it no longer meets current educational and safety needs. The study team emphasized that MSBA will participate in any renovation/addition or new construction project but will not reimburse a repair‑only option, and that the town would face significant local share obligations if it moves forward.

The three final alternatives. The team presented: (1) Alternative 2C, a phased addition/renovation that keeps the current building occupied through as many as eight construction phases and could require roughly 48 months of on‑site construction; (2) Alternative 3E, a three‑story new building built into the hill west of the site with demolition of the existing school after the new facility opens; and (3) a two‑story new‑build sited on the current parking area with temporary construction parking on the field during work. Designers said both new‑build options aim to limit long‑term disruption once complete.

Costs and funding. Presenters provided preliminary cost comparisons and MSBA participation levels and described local share estimates that vary by option. They cited utility incentives and potential federal incentives for ground‑source heat pumps but cautioned those federal funds are not guaranteed. "MSBA is actually a quasi state agency ... they are providing funding a significant amount of funding for the project," a project designer said. Presenters said detailed, line‑item cost estimates prepared by independent cost estimators are available on the project website for residents seeking breakdowns.

On energy and lifecycle savings, the designers said the project aims to deliver an all‑electric building that reduces lifetime carbon and energy costs. "We can actually deliver a new school that will be off fossil fuel ... it will be an all electric building," the designer said, and committed to posting a life‑cycle cost analysis that compares air‑source, VRF and ground‑source options.

Phasing, programs and disruption. The renovation/addition option requires careful phasing to keep classes running and poses more sustained construction disruption, while the new‑build options would enable school operations to move into the new building with shorter total disruption. Project leads stressed the challenge of swing space and said special programs — particularly career‑technical (CTE) programs and science labs — will need sequencing so instructional continuity is preserved.

Public questions and alternative proposals. Residents raised specifics about cost breakdown, enrollment projections, kitchen and locker sizing, and whether Simon's Rock campus could be used as an alternative site. "Where can we as residents go to get a more defined breakdown of how these numbers were arrived at?" asked Doug Robbins of Great Barrington. Presenters pointed listeners to monumentmountainbuildingproject.org and a 'connect' form to submit follow‑up questions. On the Simon's Rock idea, presenters said they do not view the campus as a viable solution for Monument Mountain on educational and financial grounds.

Next steps. The building committee will pick a preferred alternative on Dec. 4 and the project team will submit the Preferred Schematic Report to MSBA on Dec. 19. The team plans schematic design and further cost checks through mid‑2025, with an MSBA vote and a possible local voter decision in fall 2025 if the project proceeds. Presenters estimated a new‑construction timeline that could start in 2027 and reach substantial completion in 2029–2030.

What officials asked of the public: attendees were asked to rank priorities (educational programs, construction duration, outdoor/solar opportunities, and disruption tradeoffs) in a live poll so the building committee can weigh community preferences before selecting a preferred scheme.