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Town Manager Andy Sheehan told the Select Board this week that cost estimates for the Josiah Haynes Elementary School and General John Nixon Elementary School roof projects have nearly doubled since their original ballpark projections, climbing from $6.3 million to $11.7 million.
Sheehan explained that the increase reflects updated construction costs, inflation, and additional requirements such as solar readiness, sprinkler upgrades, and accessibility improvements under state building codes. “The prices did come in significantly higher than the original estimate,” he said, noting the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) requires conservative estimates on the high side to prevent future overruns.
Under the current plan, the Town’s share would be about $7.1 million, with MSBA covering the balance of eligible costs. Roughly $3 million of that would go toward the Haynes roof and $1.6 million toward Nixon.
Sheehan said the design team, assigned by the MSBA, is still working at the schematic level and the final budget will become clearer if MSBA signs off in late October. If approved, the Town would bring funding to a Town Meeting vote later this year, aiming to bid and begin construction in June 2026 when schools break for summer.
Select Board members raised concerns about whether the timeline leaves enough room for accurate estimates and contracting, but Sheehan expressed optimism. “It’s tight, but we haven’t heard anything yet that calls that timeline into question,” he said.
While solar panels themselves may not be installed immediately, the roofs must be designed to support them under MSBA rules. Sheehan emphasized that the Town must follow state requirements to remain eligible for MSBA funding.
The discussion comes as Sudbury braces for multiple school facility needs, with Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School also expected to seek approval for roof work at a future Town Meeting.
The matter was also discussed in the Sudbury Public Schools School Committee meeting this week, which you can watch below at the 12:00 mark:
