Easthampton panel pares cost of school

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

EASTHAMPTON - Members of the High School Building Committee, urged by the state's School Building Authority to find ways to reduce costs on the proposed construction of a $43.5 million high school, approved several cost-cutting measures at a meeting Wednesday night that was focused on aligning public support for the project.

Committee members voted to cut costs by eliminating windows in the school's gymnasium, replacing some metal roofing with a lower-cost membrane material, replacing standard bricks with larger ones and installing concrete curbing in lieu of using granite, measures the committee estimated would save approximately $300,000. But they were split down the middle when discussing plans to provide air conditioning to all of the building's classrooms.

Carl Weber, a representative for architects Strategic Building Solutions, told committee members that, at a meeting in Boston last Thursday, the Massachusetts School Building Authority noted that Easthampton's is the only new project that included air conditioning in all classrooms.

Those in favor of air conditioning throughout, most vocally school principal Vito Perrone, argued that future school years may be longer than 180 days and could require holding classes during the summer months, when heat affects the learning environment. Also, Perrone said, one of the original goals of the project was to create a community space in the event of an emergency, and lack of air conditioning might leave the town unprepared.

"We need to have a building that is flexible in the long term," Perrone said, adding that what he is most worried about is preserving a learning environment that will benefit future students.

Mayor Michael Tautznik, who twice voted against the installation of air conditioning in all classrooms, argued that it would already be required in some classrooms, common areas, auditoriums, administrative offices and core parts of the building, and eliminating it wouldn't make or break a local voter's decision.

"I think people who go to the polls will still vote for a building without air conditioning," Tautznik said. "But there are some people out there who are going to vote against this because of it."

Following a split 6-6 vote on keeping air conditioning as a requirement for all classrooms, committee members regrouped and passed a motion in favor of providing air conditioning only to the building's south-facing classrooms. An estimate on the savings in this plan was not available Wednesday.

Members also voted to keep a "daylight harvesting" line item that would require each classroom to have sensors capable of turning off lights if adequate sunlight is available.

"I think it would be crazy to go to all this trouble to conserve energy and have a green building if we aren't going to do passive things to conserve," Superintendent Deborah Carter said.

Committee members were careful not to make decisions that would cost them incentive points awarded this month for the new building's energy-efficient features and maintenance of the current building.

Although the total cost is likely to change after Wednesday's meeting, the current proposal has a total project budget of $43.5 million, somewhat less than the $44.9 million proposed in early February. After eliminating costs recently deemed ineligible by the state authority, the town would then be reimbursed 62.84 percent of the resulting $40.51 million, bringing the town's portion to roughly $17.9 million.

Final project plans are due in Boston March 22. The state authority is set to vote on the schematic design March 31. The public will have a chance to weigh in on the project at two forums: one April 1 at White Brook Middle School and the other May 4 at the high school.

on Williston Avenue and will feature guided tours, has been scheduled for May 4.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.