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Laurel board approves Certificate of Necessity for North Laurel Early Learning Academy renovations and addition
Summary
The Laurel School District board voted to approve a Certificate of Necessity application to the state for major renovations at North Laurel Early Learning Academy, including security upgrades, HVAC and sprinkler installation, an 8,300 sq ft gym addition and up to seven new classrooms; estimated total cost is about $36.6 million.
The Laurel School District Board of Education voted to approve a Certificate of Necessity application for renovations and an addition at North Laurel Early Learning Academy.
Brad Hastings, principal architect with Becker Morgan Group, told the board the existing facility was built in 1965 with later additions and partial renovations, and currently houses about 234 pre-K and kindergarten students — roughly 50–56% of its rated capacity. Hastings said the project would renovate underused classrooms in the C and D wings, replace heating, ventilation and cooling equipment, add sprinklers, abate asbestos in some finishes, renovate restrooms to meet ADA standards and construct an 8,300-square-foot gymnasium. The existing small gym would be converted into two classrooms.
Hastings said renovations that exceed $1,000,000 trigger requirements under state law (referred to in the meeting as "House Bill 49") that make a Certificate of Necessity necessary for the security and safety upgrades the project includes — notably a secure entry vestibule, ballistic-rated glazing at controlled entrances, classroom hardware upgrades and panic-button systems. He said those security measures add cost to the project.
Updated cost estimates presented to the board put the work described (mechanical upgrades, security, site work and related renovations) at roughly $29.0 million, with the classroom addition estimated separately at about $7.5 million, producing a combined project total of approximately $36.6 million. Hastings stated furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) are included in the estimate. The presenters and board members described these figures as approximate and subject to design and inflation adjustments.
A district official explained the CN process to the board: if the state approves the Certificate of Necessity, state funding would cover roughly 80% of eligible costs and the district would be responsible for about 20%; the presenter estimated the local 20% share at approximately $7.2 million for the project figures discussed. The CN application is due to the state Department of Education on Aug. 31; board members were told the project could take three to four years to complete, including design and construction.
Board members asked questions about site work and stormwater management; Hastings said the stormwater approach would use bioretention areas near the parking and cafeteria rather than a pond. The board also discussed gymstage needs and were told a portable riser could provide a stage without adding a permanent built-in stage.
After the presentation and questions, the board recommended approval of the Certificate of Necessity as submitted. A motion was made, seconded and approved by roll call.
The board directed staff to include the CN and the current expense timeline on a future meeting agenda for more public review and to proceed with application materials for the Aug. 31 deadline.
