School Year 2012 Budget Planning and the MSBA's Mayor General Electric Project

Transcription

1 Massachusetts School Building Authority Next Steps to Finalize Submission of your FY 2013 Statement of Interest Thank you for submitting your FY 2013 Statement of Interest (SOI) to the MSBA electronically. Please note, the District s submission is not yet complete. The District is required to print and mail a hard copy of the SOI to the MSBA along with the required supporting documentation, which is described below. Each SOI has two Certification pages that must be signed by the Superintendent, the School Committee Chair, and the Chief Executive Officer*. Please make sure that both certifications contained in the SOI have been signed and dated by each of the specified parties and that the hardcopy SOI is submitted to the MSBA with original signatures. SIGNATURES: Each SOI has two (2) Certification pages that must be signed by the District. In some Districts, two of the required signatures may be that of the same person. If this is the case, please have that person sign in both locations. Please do not leave any of the signature lines blank or submit photocopied signatures, as your SOI will be incomplete. *Local chief executive officer: In a city or town with a manager form of government, the manager of the municipality; in other cities, the mayor; and in other towns, the board of selectmen unless, in a city or town, some other municipal office is designated as the chief executive office under the provisions of a local charter. VOTES: Each SOI must be submitted with the proper vote documentation. This means that (1) the required governing bodies have voted to submit each SOI, (2) the specific vote language required by the MSBA has been used, and (3) the District has submitted a record of the vote in the format required by the MSBA. School Committee Vote: Submittal of all SOIs must be approved by a vote of the School Committee. For documentation of the vote of the School Committee, Minutes of the School Committee meeting at which the vote was taken must be submitted with the original signature of the Committee Chairperson. The Minutes must contain the actual text of the vote taken which should be substantially the same as the MSBA s SOI vote language. Municipal Body Vote: SOIs that are submitted by cities and towns must be approved by a vote of the appropriate municipal body (e.g., City Council/ Aldermen/Board of Selectmen) in addition to a vote of the School Committee. Regional School Districts do not need to submit a vote of the municipal body. For the vote of the municipal governing body, a copy of the text of the vote, which shall be substantially the same as the MSBA s SOI vote language, must be submitted with a certification of the City/Town Clerk that the vote was taken and duly recorded, and the date of the vote must be provided. CLOSED SCHOOLS: Districts that have reported closed school information must download the report from the ''Closed School'' tab, which can be found on the District Main page. Please print this report, which then must be signed by the Superintendent, the School Committee Chair, and the Chief Executive Officer. A signed report, with original signatures must be included with the District s hard copy SOI submittal. If a District submits multiple SOIs, only one copy of the Closed School information is required. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FOR SOI PRIORITIES #1 AND #3: If a District selects Priority #1 and/or Priority #3, the District is required to submit additional documentation with its SOI. If a District selects Priority #1, Replacement or renovation of a building which is structurally unsound or otherwise in Massachusetts School Building Authority 1 Statement of Interest

2 a condition seriously jeopardizing the health and safety of the school children, where no alternative exists, the MSBA requires a hard copy of the engineering or other report detailing the nature and severity of the problem and a written professional opinion of how imminent the system failure is likely to manifest itself. The District also must submit photographs of the problematic building area or system to the MSBA. If a District selects Priority #3, Prevention of a loss of accreditation, the MSBA requires the full accreditation report (s) and any supporting correspondence between the District and the accrediting entity. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: In addition to the information required with the SOI hard copy submittal, the District may also provide any reports, pictures, or other information they feel will give the MSBA a better understanding of the issues identified at a facility. If you have any questions about the SOI process please contact Brian McLaughin at or Brian.McLaughlin@massschoolbuildings.org. Massachusetts School Building Authority 2 Statement of Interest

3 Massachusetts School Building Authority School District Hopkinton District Contact Steven Hiersche TEL: (508) Name of School Elmwood Submission Date 3/19/2013 SOI CERTIFICATION To be eligible to submit a Statement of Interest (SOI), a district must certify the following: gfedcb The district hereby acknowledges and agrees that this SOI is NOT an application for funding and that submission of this SOI in no way commits the MSBA to accept an application, approve an application, provide a grant or any other type of funding, or places any other obligation on the MSBA. gfedcb The district hereby acknowledges that no district shall have any entitlement to funds from the MSBA, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 70B or the provisions of 963 CMR gfedcb The district hereby acknowledges that the provisions of 963 CMR 2.00 shall apply to the district and all projects for which the district is seeking and/or receiving funds for any portion of a municipally-owned or regionally-owned school facility from the MSBA pursuant to M.G.L. c. 70B. gfedcb The district hereby acknowledges that this SOI is for one existing municipally-owned or regionally-owned public school facility in the district that is currently used or will be used to educate public PreK-12 students and that the facility for which the SOI is being submitted does not serve a solely early childhood or Pre-K student population. gfedcb After the district completes and submits this SOI electronically, the district must sign the required certifications and submit one signed original hard copy of the SOI to the MSBA, with all of the required documentation described under the "Vote" tab, on or before the deadline. gfedcb The district will schedule and hold a meeting at which the School Committee will vote, using the specific language contained in the "Vote" tab, to authorize the submission of this SOI. This is required for cities, towns, and regional school districts. gfedcb Prior to the submission of the hard copy of the SOI, the district will schedule and hold a meeting at which the City Council/Board of Aldermen or Board of Selectmen/equivalent governing body will vote, using the specific language contained in the "Vote" tab, to authorize the submission of this SOI. This is not required for regional school districts. gfedcb On or before the SOI deadline, the district will submit the minutes of the meeting at which the School Committee votes to authorize the Superintendent to submit this SOI. The District will use the MSBA's vote template and the vote will specifically reference the school and the priorities for which the SOI is being submitted. The minutes will be signed by the School Committee Chair. This is required for cities, towns, and regional school districts. gfedcb The district has arranged with the City/Town Clerk to certify the vote of the City Council/Board of Aldermen or Board of Selectmen/equivalent governing body to authorize the Superintendent to submit this SOI. The district will use the MSBA's vote template and submit the full text of this vote, which will specifically reference the school and the priorities for which the SOI is being submitted, to the MSBA on or before the SOI deadline. This is not required for regional school districts. gfedcb The district hereby acknowledges that this SOI submission will not be complete until the MSBA has received all of the required vote documentation and certification signatures in a format acceptable to the MSBA. Massachusetts School Building Authority 3 Statement of Interest

4 Chief Executive Officer * School Committee Chair Superintendent of Schools (print name) (print name) (print name) (signature) (signature) (signature) Date Date Date * Local chief executive officer: In a city or town with a manager form of government, the manager of the municipality; in other cities, the mayor; and in other towns, the board of selectmen unless, in a city or town, some other municipal office is designated to the chief executive office under the provisions of a local charter. Massachusetts School Building Authority 4 Statement of Interest

5 Massachusetts School Building Authority School District Hopkinton District Contact Steven Hiersche TEL: (508) Name of School Elmwood Submission Date 3/19/2013 Note The following Priorities have been included in the Statement of Interest: 1. gfedc Replacement or renovation of a building which is structurally unsound or otherwise in a condition seriously jeopardizing the health and safety of school children, where no alternative exists. 2. gfedc Elimination of existing severe overcrowding. 3. gfedc Prevention of the loss of accreditation. 4. gfedc Prevention of severe overcrowding expected to result from increased enrollments. 5. gfedcb Replacement, renovation or modernization of school facility systems, such as roofs, windows, boilers, heating and ventilation systems, to increase energy conservation and decrease energy related costs in a school facility. 6. gfedc Short term enrollment growth. 7. gfedcb Replacement of or addition to obsolete buildings in order to provide for a full range of programs consistent with state and approved local requirements. 8. gfedc Transition from court-ordered and approved racial balance school districts to walk-to, so-called, or other school districts. SOI Vote Requirement gfedcb I acknowledge that I have reviewed the MSBA s vote requirements for submitting an SOI which are set forth in the Vote Tab of this SOI. I understand that the MSBA requires votes from specific parties/governing bodies, in a specific format using the language provided by the MSBA. Further, I understand that the MSBA requires certified and signed vote documentation to be submitted with the SOI. I acknowledge that my SOI will not be considered complete and, therefore, will not be reviewed by the MSBA unless the required accompanying vote documentation is submitted to the satisfaction of the MSBA. Potential Project Scope: Is this SOI the District Priority SOI? Renovation/ Addition School name of the District Priority SOI: NO Center District Goal for School: Please explain the educational goals of any potential project at this school In general, Elmwood School continues to serve the community well. However: 1. Roof, windows, HVAC, data wiring and electrical systems are all old and in need of replacement or significant updating. 2. The facility s interior is aging, and needs updating both to support 21st century instruction and to remain a positive work environment for the future. 3. Many of the building s spaces are not adequate and require expansion or redesign. 4. Site traffic flow and pedestrian access have long been problematic and should be reorganized to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion. Parking is inadequate and should be Massachusetts School Building Authority 5 Statement of Interest

6 expanded. As the building ages, the Elmwood School has developed problems. Unit ventilators & valves are in poor condition. As a result, classrooms are either too cold or overheat. Teachers often turn univents off manually, which prevents fresh air circulation. Univents break down frequently. Windows are single pane steel casement in the 1964 section, are inefficient, damaged, and leak both water and air. We have done caulking over the past three years, undertaking stopgap measures to reduce drafts and leaks. Electrical outlets are insufficient for contemporary technology uses. Wireless capability is uneven in the building; telephone and alarm systems, while adequate, lack features that are now standard in newer facilities. The main data closet is small and does not have air conditioning. The core wiring is jumpered through a smaller closet. This jumper degrades the signal and is not to current standards. The 2006 Habeeb & Associates Capital Asset Assessment declared that the building s roof should be replaced. In the last 3 summers, the maintenance department has addressed school roof leaks via patches to the roof. The roof is being replaced in the summer of The interior has become old and tired. Ceiling tile dates back to 1964; walls need painting; VAT floor tile is old and worn. Gymnasium flooring is sheet vinyl and the School Committee would like to replace that covering with a wooden gym floor. The following spaces in the building are cramped and problematic. The library and library office are 2,250 SF not large enough for more than one class to use simultaneously, nor to house a full complement of computers for searches. The computer lab is 730 SF and room design obstructs monitoring of students work The reading room shared by two teachers is 400SF. Total SPED space is 4265 SF, which includes one classroom, one large room with small group instructional cubicles for 5 teachers and common storage space, the Speech and Language room, the OT/PT room, and the psychologist s office (90 SF). None of these spaces is adequate to the functions performed there. The Nurse s Office is 375 SF, which is a problem for medical confidentiality. The guidance office is 235 SF. Both need to be expanded and redesigned. The ELL space is small, limiting the number of students able to meet at one time, and lacks appropriate egress. Three lunch periods are necessary due to the size of the cafeteria (3,615 SF); this reduces scheduling flexibility and increases staffing costs. The playground has no grass space, limiting the types of activities in which the students can participate during recess. Total administrative space including the main office, Principal s and Assistant Principal s offices and conference room total 926 SF. There is a small teachers workroom on the first floor (336 SF) and a teachers dining area (270 SF). To improve the learning environment at Elmwood School, which houses Hopkinton s 2nd and 3rd grades, we seek to: Replace the 1989 roof, which is at the end of its useful life. This will be done summer Replace the inefficient, leaky single pane windows. Update HVAC, electrical and data wiring systems. Update the interior of the building, including new cabinetry, whiteboards & tackboards to improve educational utility and extend the life of the building. Update restrooms, replacing aging plumbing and extending the life of the building. Expand the Main Office suite to enhance functionality, and improve the sightlines from the Main Office to the outside of the building. Expand and improve the functionality of the Special Education instructional spaces, the educational spaces for reading and ELE instructors, for the OT, PT and S&L staff, for Guidance, the Guided Reading book room. Expand the library and computer lab to improve educational function. Create accessible grassy play space for use during recess. Reorganize traffic and pedestrian routes into and out of the site to enhance safety and reduce traffic problems. District's Proposed Schedule: What is the District's proposed schedule to achieve the goal(s) stated above? Results of community survey were presented to School Committee (SC) and Board of Selectmen (BoS) 1/4/2012, and are attached to this SOI. Annual Town Meeting (ATM ) begins the first Monday in May. The first priority of the School Committee will be a new solution to the Center School, including gaining May 2013 ATM approval for funding of a new Feasibility Study. However. if the solution to the center school includes utilizing the Elmwood school in any way the Elementary School Building Committee and the School Committee would consider the work at Elmwood that is necessary to the project. Options identified by any Feasibility Study at the Center School will be vetted by the community before a solution is selected for schematic design. Any proposed solution must have the backing of the community as well as town leadership and the MSBA. Is this part of a larger facilities plan? YES If "YES", please provide the following: Facilities Plan Date: 1/23/2012 Planning Firm: Habeeb and Associates, Inc.; Bayside Engineering Please provide an overview of the plan including as much detail as necessary to describe the plan, its goals and how the school facility that is the subject of this SOI fits into that plan: The Town of Hopkinton completed a Town Master Plan in January However, the goals developed in that Plan do not address school construction. The public schools have contracted with Habeeb Associates to conduct a Facilities Needs Assessment of all school-owned buildings. This study will be completed prior to the New Year. In Massachusetts School Building Authority 6 Statement of Interest

7 parallel, the Town has contracted with GRLA to conduct a Facilities Needs Assessment study of Town-owned buildings. Both studies will use the same methodology. The School Committee and Board of Selectmen will review the results of both studies to collaboratively prioritize building projects in the community. Projects will include extraordinary maintenance but also larger undertakings like new construction. While the problems at Center School are acknowledged by both the SC and BoS to be most urgent, the Elmwood School is among other facilities are also known to need significant work. In 2007, an SOI was submitted for renovations at Elmwood School.The BoS and SC are submitting this SOI for renovations at Elmwood Elementary School, which needs both renovations and modest facility expansion, along with the priority Center School SOI as a placeholder if the Elmwood School is part of the solution for the Center School. The newly formed and appointed Permanent Building Committee reviewed the results of both studies to collaboratively prioritize all building projects in the community. Projects included extraordinary maintenance but also larger undertakings like new construction. The report was accepted by the Board of Selectman. The problems at Center School are acknowledged by the SC, BoS, and the PBC to be urgent. Together with this SOI, the BoS and SC are also submitting an SOI for renovations at Elmwood Elementary School. The Elmwood roof will be replaced in the summer of The Central Office of the school district is currently housed in leased space, and there is interest in moving to town-owned space in order to avoid the annual lease costs. On the Town side, the community is seriously exploring a major expansion of the Town Library, construction of a new DPW shed and headquarters. Town Hall renovations, and a Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The Library and Downtown Revitalization efforts are supported in the 2007 Master Plan. The joint prioritization exercise to take place in January is driven by the knowledge that, when the Fruit Street project was rejected at the polls, many voters told pollsters and town leaders that before they would be prepared to vote for a new solution, they would want to understand how an elementary school building project fit into the larger context of other, upcoming projects and how that and potential future projects might affect their tax bills. This work was performed by the newly formed Permanent School Building Committee which issued its report in the Fall of Please provide the current student to teacher ratios at the school facility that is the subject of this SOI: 18 students per teacher Please provide the originally planned student to teacher ratios at the school facility that is the subject of this SOI: 20 students per teacher Does the District have a Master Educational Plan that includes facility goals for this building and all school buildings in District? YES If "YES", please provide the author and date of the District s Master Educational Plan. Strategic Plan - School Committee and Superintendent Jack Phelan - September 2009 Strategic Plan Progress Summary - Superintendent Jonathan Landman - March 2012 Is there overcrowding at the school facility? If "YES", please describe in detail, including specific examples of the overcrowding. NO Has the district had any recent teacher layoffs or reductions? If "YES", how many teaching positions were affected? 0 At which schools in the district? Please describe the types of teacher positions that were eliminated (e.g., art, math, science, physical education, etc.). Has the district had any recent staff layoffs or reductions? If "YES", how many staff positions were affected? 0 At which schools in the district? Please describe the types of staff positions that were eliminated (e.g., guidance, administrative, maintenance, etc.). Please provide a description of the program modifications as a consequence of these teacher and/or staff reductions,including the impact on district class sizes and curriculum. NO NO Massachusetts School Building Authority 7 Statement of Interest

8 Does Not Apply Please provide a detailed description of your most recent budget approval process including a description of any budget reductions and the impact of those reductions on the district's school facilities, class sizes, and educational program. The School Committee s budget timeline is guided by the Town Charter. The Finance Director distributes budget forms in September. Principals request input from department leaders and faculty. The Superintendent develops a recommended budget based upon administrative recommendations, which is submitted to the School Committee (SC), in late December. In January, the SC conducts budget hearings with building principals and other district administrators, with Appropriations Committee members in attendance and actively participating. In late January the School Committee holds a Public Budget Hearing. The SC submits its budget to the Town Manager on or before Feb. 1. District and town leaders meet thru winter to further develop and refine the budget based on updated state and Federal data. The district promotes equity throughout its budget development. Guided by the Strategic Plan, the Superintendent promotes continuous improvement in the system. The School Committee reviews, adjusts, and recommends educationally sound budgets, and advocates for its budget with other Town boards. The Committee encourages community engagement in the budget process. At the Annual Town Meeting in May, the administration and School Committee present the requested budget. In FY2013, the district s budget rose 3.4%. This increase allowed Hopkinton s schools to benefit from additional teaching, technology and continued favorable pupil/teacher ratios. The FY13 budget also provided $53,000 for extraordinary maintenance projects in the schools, and capital warrant articles totaling $142,000 for electrical & electronics upgrades at Hopkinton Middle School. Budget constraints nonetheless impact Hopkinton s ability to fund all of our facilities needs. These needs are prioritized as part of a 10-Year Capital Plan, and submitted to the town s Capital Improvement Committee annually for their consideration. Massachusetts School Building Authority 8 Statement of Interest

9 General Description BRIEF BUILDING HISTORY: Please provide a detailed description of when the original building was built, and the date(s) and project scopes(s) of any additions and renovations (maximum of 5000 characters). Elmwood School an elementary facility which currently houses all Hopkinton 2nd and 3rd graders, is located at 14 Elm Street. It was built in 1965 as a school for all students residing in the Town of Hopkinton enrolled in grades 4-6. The school was originally constructed with a cafetorium, gymnasium, school office, nurse s office, and 19 classrooms. In 1989, the original building was expanded at each end. Seven classrooms were attached to the gymnasium end of the building, which was then converted into a library. At the other end of the building 5 classrooms, a music room, a large storage room, and a gymnasium were constructed in a two story addition. Several of the original classrooms were partitioned with plasterboard to create office and meeting space. With the completion of this project, third grade students were moved from the Center School and housed in the new wing of the building attached to the newly created library. With these renovations, 28 rooms were made available for classroom instruction. In 2000, Elmwood became Hopkinton s elementary school for students enrolled only in grades 2 and 3. In 2005, two modular classrooms were added to the end of the original main corridor of the building to accommodate increased enrollment. In addition to the new classrooms, new exterior doors at the receiving entrance, new carpeting and stair treads in selected areas were installed. In May of 2005, the town approved a capital article for $3,000,000 for the architectural design of a new early childhood center, a new K-5 elementary school on Fruit St., and for renovations to the Elmwood Elementary School. Ultimately, the closure of the SBA meant that this design was not completed. In March of 2007, the School Committee hired Lawson and Associates to conduct a land survey at the Elmwood School. Lawson recommended changes to the site to incorporate additional parking at Elmwood and to improve the school s transportation loop. Necessary ADA improvements were also undertaken in which included sink, water fountain, toilet, and toilet room partition adjustments in some, but not all areas of the building; as well as an accessible path to the main entrance which included new treading and curb cuts. In 2009, a fiber data network was put into place connecting the town and school buildings including the Elmwood school. This project included upgrading the core switch at Elmwood. Also playground upgrades were performed. With minor modifications, the 1989 building systems were extensions of the original 1965 components. The architectural firm Habeeb & Associates performed a 1999, 2006, and 2012 building audit of major structural and equipment components. These audits identified areas in need of repair/replacement over the period Most of those have not yet been performed. In 2012, a capital article was approved to add data points to each classroom in preparation for VOIP project in future years. This included upgrading network infrastructure to POE switches which are an additional strain on the electrical capacity of the building. In 2008, the Hopkinton Public Schools submitted an SOI to the MSBA for the Elmwood School. However, the MSBA required Hopkinton to identify a priority SOI, and the district chose to prioritize the Center School SOI over the one for Elmwood. The SOI was submitted in 2008 seeking state funding for moderate renovation to the building and improvements to parking and transportation. The moderate renovations included replacement of the aging roof; aging window systems; an aging boiler (replaced in 2010); improving the safety of traffic and pedestrian activity outside the building through modifications of the existing traffic loop; expanding the Main Office, library, computer lab and special education spaces; upgrading the gymnasium floor; and generally updating the interior spaces in the building. The roof is being replaced in the summer of In February of 2003, an Elementary Parity Task Force presented its findings to the School Committee. Among its findings were recommendations for additional or improved spaces for the library, computer lab, special education, school administration, and gymnasium at Elmwood. TOTAL BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE: Please provide the original building square footage PLUS the square footage of any additions. Massachusetts School Building Authority 9 Statement of Interest

10 81600 SITE DESCRIPTION: Please provide a detailed description of the current site and any known existing conditions that would impact a potential project at the site. Please note whether there are any other buildings, public or private, that share this current site with the school facility. What is the use(s) of this building(s)? (maximum of 5000 characters). The total site size is 23 acres. The site includes 69 parking spaces, 2 little league and one general use field (none with irrigation), a one-way driveway which loops in front of the main entrance and must accommodate busses, parents automobiles lined up for drop-offs and pick-ups, and foot traffic. There is a grove of pines between the building and Wood Street. An emergency access road runs through the pine grove to Wood Street. It has been examined as a possible route for a dedicated bus entrance. At the rear of the building, there is a playground. Originally installed in 1993, minor ADA improvements were undertaken between 2007 and According to O Brian & Sons playground contractors, the playground partially conforms to ADA guidelines. A Tennessee Gas Pipeline runs through the school property on an easement. The school s access road crosses the pipeline. There are wetlands that extend behind the school, and part of which are on the school property. Both the pipeline and the wetlands would have to be avoided in any construction project. There is ledge visible on the property. The property is fairly level. ADDRESS OF FACILITY: Please type address, including number, street name and city/town, if available, or describe the location of the site. (Maximum of 300 characters) 14 Elm Street, Hopkinton, MA BUILDING ENVELOPE: Please provide a detailed description of the building envelope, types of construction materials used, and any known problems or existing conditions (maximum of 5000 characters). Elmwood School has a concrete foundation. With the exception of the two modular classrooms at the rear of the building, the building is constructed of concrete block with a brick facade. The windows are single pane steel casement in the 1964 section. In the 1989 section, there are double-glazed aluminum extruded casement windows. The windows in the original 1964 building are old, inefficient, damaged, and leak water and air. These windows do still open and close reasonably well. We have done caulking over the past three years, undertaking stopgap measures to reduce drafts, leaks, and general inefficiency. The windows in the 1989 section are in relatively good condition. As early as 2006, the Habeeb & Associates Capital Asset Assessment declared that the building s roof should be replaced. Special Town Meeting in fall of 2012 supported a ballot question on the roof and then the Town voted to support the replacement of the roof. The roof is being replaced in summer Has there been a Major Repair or Replacement of the EXTERIOR WALLS? NO Year of Last Major Repair or Replacement: 0 Description of Last Major Repair or Replacement: Has there been a Major Repair or Replacement of the ROOF? YES Year of Last Major Repair or Replacement: 1989 Type Of ROOF: EPDM and asphalt shingle Description of Last Major Repair or Replacement: When the building addition was put on in 1989, the roof of the original structure was replaced. The roof is being replaced in the summer of Has there been a Major Repair or Replacement of the WINDOWS? NO Massachusetts School Building Authority 10 Statement of Interest

11 Year of Last Major Repair or Replacement: 0 Type Of WINDOWS: The windows are single pane steel casement in the 1964 section. In the 1989 section, there are double-glazed aluminum extruded casement windows. Description of Last Major Repair or Replacement: MECHANICAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS: Please provide a detailed description of the current mechanical and electrical systems and any known problems or existing conditions (maximum of 5000 characters). The building currently has three boilers. When we replaced an aging boiler in 2010, we replaced it with two high-efficiency condensating boilers. The system is a hot water system, with unit ventilators in classrooms, and air handlers supplying the gym, cafeteria, library and computer lab. The computer lab and library are the only spaces in the building that are centrally airconditioned. The Principal s and nurse s offices have window units. For a number of years, the Principal has requested installation of A/C in the main office area staffed by building secretaries which currently have no A/C at all. The unit ventilators in the classrooms are old and in poor condition. Hot water valves are in need of replacement. As a result, classrooms are either too cold or overheat. Teachers often turn univents off manually, which prevents fresh air circulation. The Univents break down frequently. When they do, we generally service them in-house. Univent cabinetry is also old and beaten up. The main electrical service is VAC 1200 AMP 3 phase, 4 wire. There are not sufficient electrical receptacles in classrooms to meet current or future technology needs. The100 amp VAC emergency generator was added in 1989, and services boilers, pumps, kitchen refrigeration, telephones, and lighting. The core data closet does not have air conditioning and the wiring to this closet is jumped through a closet behind it. Data connections within the classrooms are limited, and often wiring runs along furniture and walls not using appropriate conduit and raceways. Has there been a Major Repair or Replacement of the BOILERS? YES Year of Last Major Repair or Replacement: 2010 Description of Last Major Repair or Replacement: Original 1964 boiler replaced with two high efficiency new boilers Has there been a Major Repair or Replacement of the HVAC SYSTEM? NO Year of Last Major Repair or Replacement: 0 Description of Last Major Repair or Replacement: Has there been a Major Repair or Replacement of the ELECTRICAL SERVICES AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM? NO Year of Last Major Repair or Replacement: 0 Description of Last Major Repair or Replacement: BUILDING INTERIOR: Please provide a detailed description of the current building interior including a description of the flooring systems, finishes, ceilings, lighting, etc. (maximum of 5000 characters). Flooring The flooring in the original portion of the building consists of vinyl asbestos tile in all hallways and the cafetorium. The floors in the halls of the 1989 addition are covered with vinyl composite tile. All classrooms, with the exception of the occupationalphysical therapy room are carpeted. The OT/PT floor is covered with vinyl composite tile. Classroom carpeting was replaced in stages from and is an ongoing project. The library carpet was replaced in The special education room was originally built as storage space needs new carpeting and does not have access from a hall; instead children walk through either the health or art rooms to get there. The art room floor was retiled in 2006 with VCT. The flooring in the gymnasium is sheet vinyl. Ceilings The 1965 section of the building has 12 x 12 concealed spline ceilings. The 1989 section has 2 x 4 drop ceilings. The cafetorium and gymnasium have acoustic ceiling panels. There is no access above the x12 spline to run electrical or Massachusetts School Building Authority 11 Statement of Interest

12 data/telephone wires, which makes installations labor-intensive. Walls Walls are painted concrete block and glazed block, as well as some drywall. The building interior needs to be painted. Cabinetry The classroom cabinetry is old and worn, and should be replaced as part of a renovation. PROGRAMS and OPERATIONS: Please provide a detailed description of the current programs offered and indicate whether there are program components that cannot be offered due to facility constraints, operational constraints, etc. (maximum of 5000 characters). Elmwood School currently houses 501 second and third grade students in 23 classrooms. During the year there are 12 second grade classes and 11 third grade classes. All instruction in the Hopkinton Public Schools is standards-based. Curriculum has been created using the Understanding by Design model. We employ a professional learning community approach requiring ongoing collaboration by staff on curriculum, and reviewing data to meet the needs of students. In addition to the core curriculum consisting of 150 minutes of English Language Arts and 70 minutes of Math instruction daily; there is a combination of three hours per week of Science and Social Studies. Each student participates in choice-based Art, Music and Library classes, each for 40 minutes/week; PE and Health 3X40 minutes weekly, Grade 3-Library 1X40 weekly, Grade 2--either Library or Guidance class once per week for 40 minutes. In addition, each student spends a minimum of 40 minutes per week in the Computer Lab. Two reading teachers provide remediation to approximately 60 students in a model that includes both push-in and pull-out services. Other professionals include six Learning Specialistsmoderate and intensive, an Occupational Therapist, School Psychologist, School Counselor, Speech and Language Pathologists (1.3), Physical Therapist (.3) and.5 Team Chairperson. The Educational Program is compromised by the facility in the following ways. In the Learning Center for moderate special education pull-out services, cubicles are not soundproof. Student voices can be heard by those not in the cubicle. Access is through specialists rooms, thus creating distractions during entry and exit. The spaces cannot be used for testing and there are insufficient areas within the building for special education evaluations/testing. The ELL teacher s space abuts a workroom with a copier, causing periodic noise. The HVAC system in the Speech and Language Room is particularly noisy and makes teaching students proper articulation challenging. The psychologist s office at 90 SF is cramped and space for confidential records remains challenging. Students currently enter the Guidance Office through the Teachers workroom. There are machines such as the laminator and copier that should not be accessible to them due to safety issues. Teacher workspace is also too limited, and there is a need for a second workspace on the second floor. The Remedial Reading room is inadequate for the two teachers, and close quarters increase distractions for children. The Guided Book Room, at under 400 SF, lacks room for additional books. The Computer Lab is undersized and its shape does not permit a clear view of every computer. Renovations would enable teachers to maintain instructional momentum, efficiently support children who are in need of support or ready for extensions during technology-based lessons. The Library is undersized at 2250 SF, with inadequate space for computers and is too small to be used simultaneously by two classrooms of students. The lack of appropriate data connections in classrooms and wiring issues lead to degraded performance and dropped network connections, ultimately loss of student and teacher work and time on learning. Teacher lack of confidence that technology will work reliably discourages teachers from giving students tech-integrated experiences. The Principal s office is too small to hold a meeting with more than four people, which is not conducive to collaborative team-building. The conference room is too small to hold grade level meetings. The playground has no grassy space, limiting the types of recess activities that are possible. Massachusetts School Building Authority 12 Statement of Interest

13 Operationally, our first priority is, of course, the safety of our students. However: The Nurse s Office does not provide the necessary privacy for the nurse to hold conferences or to make telephone calls, while students are there. There should be separate examination and rest areas. There should also be designated space for secure health records, a refrigerator, and locked cabinet for student medications and sharps The Main Office has no sight lines to the third grade wing. While the building is kept locked during the school day, entry is monitored through a close circuit camera and an Electronic Entry system. Those who choose not to sign in at the office need to be pursued, since those choosing to go to the 1989 addition where 7 third grade classrooms are housed, do not pass the office. In the event of the need for a lockdown, not all areas of the building can be locked. All current locks require the teacher to leave his/her classroom to lock the door from the outside. the locks will be addressed. Elmwood School has a single traffic loop for private cars and school buses, and insufficient parking. These site features are inadequate, and as a result, both unsafe and inefficient. CORE EDUCATIONAL SPACES: Please provide a detailed description of the Core Educational Spaces within the facility, a description of the number and sizes (in square feet) of classrooms, a description of science rooms/labs including ages and most recent updates, and a description of the media center/library (maximum of 5000 characters). Elmwood has 30 classrooms ranging in size from 800 to 1,160 SF; total classrooms equal 25,188 SF, with an average class size of 907 SF. The music room has fixed risers so is only able to be used for that purpose; the music room and its office total 1,032 SF. The original building is 47,000 SF. The 1989 addition is 33,000 SF, and the 2005 modulars are 1,600 SF. Some of the specialized instructional and service-delivery spaces are not large enough, or have other programmatic drawbacks. 1 classroom space is used for Title 1 reading and conference room. Total SPED space is 4265 SF which includes one classroom, one large room with small group instructional cubicles for 5 teachers and common storage space, the Speech and Language room, the OT/PT room, the psychologist s office (90 SF), and Team Chair s office (345 SF). The Nurse s Office is 375 SF. The guidance office is 235 SF. The second teachers workroom has been converted to an ELL teaching space. It has only one door for egress; the limited size and lack of egress limit the number of students able to meet at one time. The computer lab is 730 SF and the design of the room does not enable teachers to monitor students work. The library and library teacher s office, as stated above, total 2,250 SF. Only one class can be accommodated at a time due to the limited size. There are currently four PCs in the library and there is no additional space for additional computers. The library is cramped due to the number of bookcases and tables and chairs. The librarian is shared between two schools. A teaching assistant provides instruction when the library teacher is at the other building to enable the library to remain open throughout the school day. Other spaces are also undersized. The kitchen is 2065 SF and the cafetorium is 3,615 SF, requiring an extra lunch each day, which puts constraints upon the school schedule. The teachers workroom on the first floor (336 SF) and teachers dining area (270 SF) are undersized. Total administrative space including the main office, principal s and assistant principal s offices and conference room total 926 SF. The Team Chair s office is 345 SF. Several of the classrooms are currently utilized for other purposes. These include Art, OT/PT, Speech and Language, Health instruction, intensive special needs classroom, and a math instruction/teaching assistants room. The classroom currently used for art instruction is 930 SF; the OT/PT room is an oversized room currently built for special education with an odd shape that does not conform to the needs of a general education classroom; the Speech and Language Massachusetts School Building Authority 13 Statement of Interest

14 Room is the smallest classroom in the building. The Health, Intensive Needs, and Math Tutor/Teaching Assistant rooms are each 900 SF. CAPACITY and UTILIZATION: Please provide a detailed description of the current capacity and utilization of the school facility. If the school is overcrowded, please describe steps taken by the administration to address capacity issues. Please also describe in detail any spaces that have been converted from their intended use to be used as classroom space (maximum of 5000 characters). Currently all available spaces within Elmwood School are in use and more are needed. There are 23 rooms being used as general education classrooms. During the current academic year, class sizes range from 18 to 24 depending upon the needs of students assigned to each room. On average, class size is 22.2 students per classroom teacher. The Learning Center for moderate special education pull-out services has been converted from a storage space into cubicles for student instruction. Cubicles do not reach the ceiling, thus are not soundproof and cannot be used for testing. There are insufficient areas within the building for testing for special education evaluations and re-evaluations. In addition, these spaces are not as distraction-free as desired, since student voices can be heard by those not in the cubicle. Access to this area is only available by entering and exiting through specialists rooms, thus creating distractions during entry and exit. The ELL teacher s space abuts a workroom with a copier, causing periodic noise. A refrigerator for storage of teacher lunches remains in the ELL room, for lack of any other space, requiring teachers to go in and out at their lunch period. The HVAC system in the Speech and Language Room is particularly noisy and makes teaching students proper articulation challenging. The psychologists office at 90 SF is cramped and space for confidential records remains challenging. Students currently enter the Guidance Office through the Teachers workroom. There are machines such as the laminator and copier that should not be accessible to them due to safety issues. The guidance office was originally a classroom that has been subdivided to make a teacher s dining room, teachers work space, and guidance office. Teacher work space is also too limited. The current work room needs to be larger and there is a need for a second work space on the second floor. The Remedial Reading room is inadequate for the two teachers. Requests have been made for a third teacher due to numbers of students requiring support. However, there is no space to provide for that position. The Guided Book Room is undersized at under 400 SF. There is no room to add additional books. It adjoins the reading room and the two were originally one classroom. The Main Office is undersized and does not have a line of vision to those going to the third grade wing. While the building is kept locked during the school day, entry is monitored through a close circuit camera and electronic entry system. Those who choose not to sign in at the office need to be pursued, since those choosing to go to the 1989 addition where 7 third grade classrooms are housed, do not pass the office. There is inadequate storage space to retain files within this area. The conference room is too small to hold grade level meetings. The Nurse s Office does not provide the necessary privacy for the nurse to hold conferences or to make telephone calls, while students are there. The bathroom is not ADA compliant. There should be separate examination and rest areas. There should also be designated space for secure health records, a refrigerator, and locked cabinet for student medications and sharps. The art room does not have natural sunlight. Its windows have been obscured by the addition of the two modular classrooms. An art room needs a natural source of sunlight. Currently the Elmwood School has an ineffective transportation pattern, insufficient staff and community parking, school signage and play fields. The traffic pattern is confusing. The school lacks a boulevard style entrance that facilitates separate and efficient parent and bus drop-offs. The school also lacks sufficient staff and community parking, which result in parking on field space and Elm Street and resulting in problems with public safety and bus transportation. Play space and signage are also inadequate. Massachusetts School Building Authority 14 Statement of Interest

15 The Computer Lab and Library are undersized and do not contain functionality for 21st century instruction and learning. The shelving and coat hooks throughout the building need to be replaced. The closet doors all need to be replaced. MAINTENANCE and CAPITAL REPAIR: Please provide a detailed description of the district s current maintenance practices, its capital repair program, and the maintenance program in place at the facility that is the subject of this SOI. Please include specific examples of capital repair projects undertaken in the past, including any override or debt exclusion votes that were necessary (maximum of 5000 characters). The district maintains a comprehensive Facilities Maintenance Plan, updated as recently as December The Plan includes a statement of intent, and a Mission Statement which fully explains the following eight elements: Establish, implement and review capital requirement; Proper maintenance of physical asset; Proper maintenance of school grounds; Establish comprehensive cleaning programs; Maintain a quality standard of record keeping; Establish personnel planned performance standards; Provide professional development opportunities for all staff; and Afford community use of school buildings. Processes for carrying out each of the eight elements of the Mission are described in detail. The Plan is attached. The Plan gives an overview of the current conditions of each asset in the system, and describes how maintenance is conducted, as follows: Maintenance work orders are attended to by one maintenance supervisor and four maintenance workers, shared by the district. Work orders are generated by staff or the principal, authorized by the principal, and forwarded for disposition by the maintenance supervisor. Generally, work order requests are generated for the installation of room accouterments; window, door, or hardware issues; heating and ventilating issues; communications issues; furniture repair; plumbing and electrical issues; any other building component failing or where safety is compromised. In the Maintenance Plan work orders are divided into three categories: Emergency; Request for service within a school day; General service request. They are handled in priority order. Additionally, maintenance performs regularly scheduled preventative maintenance on unit ventilators (filter, oil, grease), motors, pumps, boilers, water supply systems, waste discharge systems, air handling equipment, communication equipment, building automated systems, etc. The maintenance department also maintains all landscaped grounds and play fields. This includes tree pruning, lawn mowing, edge trimming, plant and flower beds, athletic turf mowing, game and practice field line striping, seeding, fertilizing, irrigation maintenance, playground maintenance, athletic equipment set-up and breakdown, plowing/sanding sidewalks, equipment and vehicle maintenance, etc. Generally, three to four part-time workers are added from late May through August to assist with outdoor chores, some minor painting chores, and furniture, equipment and personal belongings relocations. Each year, the administration recommends capital improvements and priorities for extraordinary maintenance to the School Committee. The School Committee reviews these recommendations and moves forward a Capital Forecast spreadsheet and Capital Warrant placeholders to the Town s Capital Improvement Committee (CIC) and the newly appointed PBC. The CIC meets with administration and SC representatives and reviews the SC s priorities. The CIC monitors overall capital spending in an effort to maintain a manageable debt load. The SC also brings its proposed capital improvement warrants before the Town s Appropriations Committee before any capital improvements are placed on a warrant. Ultimately, the SC places its priority warrants before Town Meeting for approval. In addition, a line item is included each year in the School Committee s budget for smaller extraordinary maintenance projects. The Facilities Maintenance Plan makes the following requirement: The Facilities Director shall include in his budget requests every five (5) years an amount for the cost of an independent review of the capital asset assessment. Such review shall be performed by an architectural firm utilizing engineering disciplines specific to the facilities being reviewed. The results of this review shall be considered by the Director and administration for Massachusetts School Building Authority 15 Statement of Interest

16 input into the long-range capital projection. Habeeb and Associates completed a capital asset assessment and it was used by the PBC to develop a long range Capital Asset Management Plan. Two full-time and one part-time custodian attend to the daily cleaning operations of the school. In that number is one head custodian, charged with establishing the daily cleaning schedule, managing personnel, accommodating facility use by the community, implementing inventory control measures, coordinating daily issues with the principal and performing work as allowed by the occupancy of the building. The remaining 1.5 FTE custodians are responsible for carrying out the daily chores of cleaning bathrooms, classrooms, the gymnasium, library, art room, music room, offices, corridors, cafeteria, and ancillary areas. In addition, one part-time worker is added to the staff to perform the major cleaning operations during the summer break. Summer work includes stripping and waxing tile floors, deep cleaning carpets, scrubbing wall surfaces, cleaning student furniture, floor finishing, etc. Massachusetts School Building Authority 16 Statement of Interest

17 Priority 5 Question 1: Please provide a detailed description of the issues surrounding the school facility systems (e.g., roof, windows, boilers, HVAC system, and/or electrical service and distribution system) that you are indicating require repair or replacement. Please describe all deficiencies to all systems in sufficient detail to explain the problem. The HVAC system is old and much of it should be replaced. The building currently has three boilers. When we replaced an aging boiler in 2010, we replaced it with two high-efficiency condensating boilers. The system is a hot water system, with unit ventilators in classrooms, and air handlers supplying the gym, cafeteria, library and computer lab. The unit ventilators in the classrooms are old and in poor condition. Hot water valves are in need of replacement. As a result, classrooms are either too cold or overheat. Teachers often turn univents off manually, which prevents fresh air circulation. The univents break down frequently. When they do, we generally service them in-house. Univent cabinetry is also old and beaten up. The control systems were replaced and are currently funded through a grant. The computer lab and library are the only spaces in the building that are centrally air-conditioned. The Principal s and nurse s offices have window units. For a number of years, the principal has requested installation of A/C in the main office area staffed by building secretaries which currently have no A/C at all. In a renovation, we would provide central air conditioning for the entire Main Office area, the library, and sufficient classrooms to support a Special Education Extended Year Program and other summer programming. The electrical system is out of date and does not meet 21 st century needs. The main electrical service is VAC 1200 AMP 3 phase, 4 wire. There are not sufficient electrical receptacles in classrooms to meet current or future technology needs. The100 amp VAC emergency generator was added in 1989, and services boilers, pumps, kitchen refrigeration, telephones, and lighting. This system is not in need of renovation. The data wiring infrastructure needs to be upgraded to current standards for 21 st century technology uses. The laptop carts in some areas of the building cannot connect to the Internet due to inadequate wireless.wireless access points have been added. to alleviate problems. The head-end room is undersized and in need of rewiring. It is not air-conditioned which leads to equipment overheating, dropped connections, loss of data, and loss of equipment. In addition, there are inadequate electrical outlets for desktop computers which are currently hooked up by use of extension cords, some of which spread the length of the classroom. The building s windows are leaky and inefficient. The windows in the 1964 section are original, single glaxed steel casement. The system in the 1964 building is old, inefficient, damaged, and leaks water and air. These windows do still open and close reasonably well. We have done caulking over the past three years, undertaking stopgap measures to reduce drafts, leaks, and general inefficiency. Massachusetts School Building Authority 17 Statement of Interest

18 Priority 5 Question 2: Please describe the measures the district has already taken to mitigate the problem/issues described in Question 1 above. 1. The most acute current deficiency in the building is the leaking, aging roof. Funding for the roof replacement was received from Special Fall Town Meeting and a successful ballot Question in November/December The roof will be replaced in the summer of As noted, in 2010, an original 1964 boiler was replaced with two high-efficiency condensating boilers. 3. In 1989, a 100 amp VAC emergency generator was added. It services boilers, pumps, kitchen refrigeration, telephones and lighting. 4. Window air conditioners have been installed in the Principal s and nurse s offices, to partially address the absence of central air in the office suite. 5. As part of a warrant article placeholder for the May 2012 Town Meeting, funds are included to upgrade the wiring and wireless connectivity throughout the building, to provide 3 data connections in each classroom, and to upgrade switches. 6. An ADA compliance review of all school and town buildings was undertaken by Cubellis Architects in At that time, there were significant ADA compliance issues at Elmwood. The large majority of these issues have already been addressed, including: Bringing handicapped and handicapped van accessible parking to compliance; Altering walkway curb cuts to make them compliant; Altering exterior door thresholds to make them compliant; Making building signage compliant; Adding an automatic door opener to the rear exterior door to make access to the playground accessible; Installing new matting under the playground to make the playground accessible; and Updating all accessible bathrooms for children and adults to contemporary compliance standards. Remaining compliance steps which a renovation would still have to address include installation of accessible viewing stands in the gymnasium; possibly altering classroom sink cabinetry to make classroom sinks wheelchair accessible; making the nurse s office restroom accessible; and installing audible elevator signals. 7. In each of the last 3 years, district maintenance staff have done window caulking at the Elmwood School to reduce drafts and leaking. 8. In the Special Education suite, cubicles were introduced in summer 2011 so that students would be less distracted during individual and small group instruction sessions. 9. Interactive Whiteboards have been installed in each classroom, largely through grants from the Hopkinton Education Foundation and the HPTA. 10. Vinyl Asbestos Tiling was carpeted over in all classrooms. Hallways in the original 1964 structure are still laid with VAT. Massachusetts School Building Authority 18 Statement of Interest

19 Priority 5 Question 3: Please provide a detailed explanation of the impact of the problem/issues described in Question 1 above on your district s educational program. Please include specific examples of how the problem prevents the district from delivering the educational program it is required to deliver and how students and/or teachers are directly affected by the problem identified. The HVAC system is old and much of it should be replaced. The uneven heat in the building causes some rooms to be overheated and as a result students become sleepy and unable to focus upon instruction. In other rooms students are cold resulting in a loss of focus. The rooms are also drafty due to single pane windows that allow both air and moisture to blow in. Addressing these issues will reduce student distraction.the building s windows are leaky and inefficient. This increases annual expenditures on heating fuel. The electrical system is out of date and does not meet 21 st century needs. The data wiring infrastructure needs to be upgraded to current standards for 21 st century technology uses. The laptop carts in some areas of the building cannot connect to the Internet due to inadequate wireless. The head-end room is undersized and in need of rewiring. It is not air-conditioned which leads to equipment overheating, dropped connections, loss of data, and loss of equipment. In addition, there are inadequate electrical outlets for desktop computers which are currently hooked up by use of extension cords, some of which spread the length of the classroom. None of the following spaces meet the needs of the professionals and children who use them: the Special Education instructional spaces, the educational spaces for reading and ELE instructors, for the OT, PT and S&L staff, for Guidance, Psychology, and the Guided Reading book room. The Learning Center for moderate special education pull-out services has been converted from a storage space into cubicles for student instruction. Cubicles do not reach the ceiling, thus are not soundproof and cannot be used for testing. There are insufficient areas within the building for testing for special education evaluations and re-evaluations. In addition, these spaces are not as distraction-free as desired, since student voices can be heard by those not in the cubicle. Access to this area is only available by entering and exiting through specialists rooms, thus creating distractions during entry and exit. The ELL teacher s space abuts a workroom with a copier, causing periodic noise. A refrigerator for storage of teacher lunches remains in the ELL room, for lack of any other space, requiring teachers to go in and out at their lunch period. The HVAC system in the Speech and Language Room is particularly noisy and makes teaching students proper articulation challenging. The psychologists office at 90 SF is cramped and space for confidential records remains challenging. The Remedial Reading room is inadequate for two teachers. Requests have been made for a third teacher due to numbers of students requiring support. However, there is no space to provide for that position. Even with two teachers, the space is small enough to create learning distractions for children. The Guided Book Room is undersized at under 400 SF. There is no room to add additional books. It adjoins the reading room and the two were originally one classroom. The library and computer lab need to be redesigned and expanded. The Library is undersized at 2250 SF resulting in the library teacher being unable to provide 21st century learning experiences since there is inadequate space to house computers with which to infuse technology into lessons. Only one class can make use of the library at a time. The computer lab is small, and does not allow the teacher to supervise all children s online activities. Massachusetts School Building Authority 19 Statement of Interest

20 The Main Office is undersized. The Principal s office is too small to hold a meeting with more than four people. There is inadequate storage space to retain files within this area. The conference room is too small to hold grade level meetings. The Nurse s Office does not provide the necessary privacy for the nurse to hold conferences or to make telephone calls, while students are there. There should be separate examination and rest areas. There should also be designated space for secure health records, a refrigerator, and locked cabinet for student medications and sharps The Main Office has no sight lines to the third grade wing. While the building is kept locked during the school day, entry is monitored through a close circuit camera and electronic entry system. Those who choose not to sign in at the office need to be pursued, since those choosing to go to the 1989 addition where 7 third grade classrooms are housed, do not pass the office. There is no grassy play area for children to use during recess. Elmwood School has a single traffic loop for private cars and school buses, and insufficient parking. These site features are inadequate, and as a result, both unsafe and inefficient. There is insufficient space along the driveway for all of the Elmwood buses to fit during arrivals and dismissals. Thus, some buses stick out onto Elm Street causing traffic issues. Only five buses can unload at a time because that is the length of the sidewalk. When parents pick students up or deliver them, there are insufficient spaces for them to park their cars, since the buses are situated in front of some of the available spaces. Elmwood School has a large island in front of the building around which the buses travel. This loop allows one-way, single-lane traffic, only. Approximately 500 students take the bus to and from school daily. Between 20 and 35 cars deliver and pick up students daily. Since Elmwood School has only one entrance, they too, must wait in a line which extends out onto Elm Street. There is insufficient staff parking in the winter when snow banks take up many spaces. This leaves visitors to find alternative parking in no-parking areas. There is only one way in and out of Elmwood School leaving parents to bottle neck and clog the opening to Elm Street. The building infrastructure is in many respects out of date and worn out. o Asbestos flooring should be removed, and the vinyl floor in the gymnasium should be replaced. The flooring in the original portion of the building consists of vinyl asbestos tile in all hallways and the cafetorium. The flooring in the gymnasium is sheet vinyl. The rest of the building is carpeted or tiled appropriately with VCT, and might not have to be changed in a renovation. o The ceiling in the 1964 section of the building should be replaced. It is 12 x 12 concealed spline ceiling. There is no access above the x12 spline to run electrical or data/telephone wires, which makes installations labor-intensive. The 1989 section has 2 x 4 drop ceilings. The cafetorium and gymnasium have acoustic ceiling panels. o The building interior needs to be painted. Walls are painted concrete block and glazed block, as well as some drywall. o The classroom cabinetry is old and worn, and should be replaced as part of a renovation. Cabinetry also blocks handicapped access to classroom sinks. Massachusetts School Building Authority 20 Statement of Interest