Williamsburg officials thrilled with school decision

By OWEN BOSS
Staff Writer

WILLIAMSBURG — The seven-year-long effort to renovate and expand the Anne T. Dunphy School took a giant step forward Thursday, when the state’s School Building Authority authorized the town to conduct a feasibility study.

The board’s decision means that the town, with financial support from the MSBA, can now hire a licensed design consultant to review a slew of problems with the building including a lack of available space, outdated electrical and heating systems and structural damage to the building itself, according to State Rep. Stephen Kukik, D-Worthington.

After years of submitting design plans to the MSBA without any results, School Committee Chairwoman Charlene Nardi moved in June to allocate $60,000 from free cash at this year’s Town Meeting; a warrant item that residents supported unanimously. That money will now be used along with the state money to conduct a more ambitious feasiblity study.

Kulik said the state’s sudden change of heart followed a recent tour of the school by building authority’s Executive Director Katherine Kraven.

“I invited Katherine Kraven to the school so she could see the deplorable conditions of the heating system there as well as problems with leaks and ventilation,” Kulik said. “The town and school system have done a great job of working with what they’ve had available at that school, but its not up to current standards for a school building.”

Kulik said the town’s commitment to conducting the project economically was the driving force behind the state’s decision to move forward with the renovation study.

“The MSBA was very pleased with the way the town has done its best to maintain the building and think this could be a model for an efficient and cost-effective renovation and expansion,” Kulik said. “They have shown a good small town Yankee way of doing things by using donated and volunteered equipment and spending money very efficiently. That seemed attractive the state and helped them to pony up to the table with money for this project.”

The board’s approval also opens the door for the town to look into adding a 9,000-square-foot addition to the building which would allow for the consolidation of the local school system by sending students from the nearby Helen E. James School to the newly renovated building on Main Street.

“A newly renovated and expanded school will allow for all of Williamsburg’s elementary children to be educated under one roof,” Nardi said in a prepared statement. “The expansion of the Dunphy School...will provide a significant cost savings to the town.”

Although the building authority’s involvement in the process will mean the Commonwealth will pick up the tab for a portion of the project, translating to big savings for the town, Town Administrator Steven Herzberg said state requirements may mean the feasibility study could cost more than previously anticipated.

“Now that the state got involved they have their own requirements about the design process,” Herzberg said. “Which means the ($60,000) may end up being kind of a down payment on the feasibility study because it may or may not be enough to cover the whole thing.”

Kulik also noted that when the renovation moves forward, efforts made to install more modern, energy-efficient heating, lighting and ventilation systems in the school will save the town a significant amount of money in the future.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com