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The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has given approval for two school roof projects in Sudbury. Inclusion in the MSBA Accelerated Repair program sets Sudbury up for millions in reimbursements from the MSBA… assuming voters at an upcoming Special Town Meeting and special election approve the projects.
The two roof projects are for General John Nixon Elementary School and the Josiah Haynes Elementary School. The Nixon project has an estimated cost of $4,064,845 according to draft warrant articles in the latest SPS packet. The Haynes project has an estimated cost of $7,821,563 according to the same packet. (Page 64)
The estimated MSBA reimbursement for Nixon is $1,596,082 and it’s $2,983,235 for Haynes. That’s a total of $4,579,317 in State money for a combined roof project estimated at nearly $12,000,000, and it could go higher depending on some variables outlined in the MSBA letter. (Embedded below)
The acceptance is a major victory for the Sudbury Public Schools Committee, SPS administration, and Town staff — all of whom had a part to play in navigating the MSBA process when hard estimates and project scoping got real earlier this year. Estimates from the MSBA-designated resource significantly exceeded the ballpark estimates that were developed locally in prior years. As a result, all parties had to work through the project scope and other requirements until a viable project could be submitted for final review with the MSBA Board.
Combined Facilities Director Sandra Duran has played a central role in developing the application, pulling upon her deep experience with roofing projects. Sudbury Public Schools Director of Business and Human Resources, Don Sawyer, brought hist expertise in the MSBA process to school committee deliberations. Superintendent Brad Crozier and Town Manager Andy Sheehan also had to coordinate efforts to make sure the Town held a Special Town Meeting and special election in the small, 90-day window after the MSBA approval.
The MSBA letter noted “Pursuant to the terms of the MSBA’s Accelerated Repair Program, the Town has 90 days to acquire and certify local approval for an appropriation and all other necessary local votes or approvals showing acceptance of the cost, site, type, scope, and timeline for the General John Nixon Elementary School and the Josiah Haynes Elementary School Projects.”
The SPS School Committee, led by Chair Karyn Jones and Vice-Chair Jessica McCready, maintained their support for the project while all parties worked through the complexities of the higher-than-expected MSBA estimates.
Special Town Meeting is scheduled for December 1.