Greylock Statement of Interest 2009

8/7/2019 Greylock Statement of Interest 2009

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Massachusetts School Building Authority

School District North Adams

District Contact James Montepare TEL: (413) 662-3225

Name of School Greylock

Submission Date 12/1/2009

Potential Project Scope: Renovation/ Addition

Is this SOI the District Priority SOI? YES

The MSBA ID for the District Priority SOI: 2010 Greylock

District Goal for School: Please explain the educational goals of any potential project at this school

The district goal for Greylock School is to convert it from a K-5 facility to a K-8 school to improve educational outcomes for

our students in grades 6-8. Up until this fiscal year, students in grade 6 to 8 were served by Conte Middle School, a failing

school and in its third year ofrestructuring status. Due to budget cuts the District was forced to close the middle school and

redistribute the 6 & 7 grade to the three elementary schools and 8 grade to the high school. Research has shown that middle

level students do best when served in a K -8 structure that maintains fidelity to a middle level model of service delivery. Thedistrict also seeks to expand the use of technology in the elementary curriculum to improve technological literacy, and improve

differentiation of instruction for elementary students through the use of computer and web -based learning tools.

District's Proposed Schedule: What is the District's proposed schedule to achieve the goal(s) stated above?

The District would like to accomplish as soon as possible yet will depend on financing.

Is this part of a larger facilities plan? YES

If "YES", please provide the following:

Facilities Plan Date: 7/15/2008

Planning Firm: New England School Development Council

Note

The following Priorities have been included in the Statement of Interest:

1. gfedcb 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 stateand approved local requirements.

8.gfedc

Transition from court-ordered and approved racial balance school districts to walk-to, so-called, or other schooldistricts.


Massachusetts School Building Authority 1 Statement of Interest


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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:

In light of our declining school enrollments, antiquated elementary schools and deteriorating condition of our 100 yea

old middle school, the North Adams Public Schools engaged NESDEC to conduct a feasibility study. This study

outlined the costs and benefits of reconfiguring our current school buildings to achieve the educational goals we have

set out for our students (see district plan above). The goal of the plan was to outline the various options that exist for

converting from our current structure of three elementary schools and one middle school to a system of K-8 schools

and improve technology access in our two out -dated elementary schools. The plan examined the long-termenrollment projections for our district, the capacities of the current schools, alternative solutions, and criteria forevaluating these options. Greylock School figures into each of the four options presented in the report. Option one

calls for the addition of 12-14 classrooms to Greylock School to accommodate grades 6-8. Option two suggestsconverting Greylock to a K-4 school and completing renovations necessary to make the building handicappedaccessible and improve infrastructure to support classroom use of technology. The third option envisions Greylockremaining a K-5 school, with the aforementioned renovations. The final option again suggests renovating the currentstructure to meet our 21st Century educational needs with a K -5 or K-6 structure.

Please provide the current student to teacher ratios at the school facility that is the subject of this SOI: 16 students

per teacher.

Please provide the originally planned student to teacher ratios at the school facility that is the subject of this SOI: 18students per teacher.

Is there overcrowding at the school facility? YES

If "YES", please describe in detail, including specific examples of the overcrowding.

Starting with this fiscal year there is currently overcrowding at this facility, due to the redistribution of the 6 & 7 students to thethree existing elementary schools, Greylock gained an additional 100 students, for a total enrollment of around 320, in excess o

it maximum capacity of 252 (as per NESDEC estimate).

Has the district had any recent teacher layoffs or reductions YES

If "YES", how many teaching positions were affected? 2

At which schools in the district?The middle school. We also had 7 teachers retired yet they were replaced.Please describe the types of teacher positions that were eliminated(i.e art, math, science, physical education, etc.):

The District lost a science and math position.

Has the district had any recent staff layoffs or reductions NO

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(i.e 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.

Does Not Apply

Please provide a detailed description of your recent budget approval process including a description of any budget

reductionsand the impact of those reductions on te District's school facilities, class sizes and educational program.

Due to budget cuts the School Committee advised that the school budget needed to be reduced by $1 million. In order toachieve this the decision was made to close Conte Middle School and redistribute the 6 & 7 graders to the three elementary

schools and the 8 graders to the high school. By doing this and planning the use of School Choice money the school budget

was reduced by $960,102 with no loss of educational programs with a small increase to class sizes.




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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).:

Greylock Elementary was original built in 1953 with an addition being added in 1965 and a new roof in 2001. Overall thebuilding is in good condition yet is currently overcrowded due to the redistribution of the 6 & 7 graders back to the

elementary schools.

TOTAL BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE: Please provide the original building square footage PLUS the square

footage of any additions.:

58500

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 (maximum of 5000 characters).:

Greylock School sits on a flat 3.6 acre open site, surrounded by grassy fields in a residential neighborhood. The site includesa fenced playground. Parking is adjacent to the main entrance. There is no bus loop.

BUILDING ENCLOSURE: Please provide a detailed description of the building enclosure, types of construction

materials used, and any known problems or existing conditions (maximum of 5000 characters).:

Greylock School was built in 1953, with a major addition in 1965. It is on three levels connected by stairs. Exterior walls are

of brick, 98% of which is now cracked and crumbling, allowing water to leak into the building. The 1965 addition isconstructed of pre-stressed concrete which is showing signs of settling. Windows are original to the building and renovationand are a combination of single-paned glass and plexiglass. The roof is of sarnafil dating from 2001. All original windowframes. All but one of the exterior doors in the 1953 sections of the building were replaced with non -insulated metal doors

10-15 years ago. The exterior doors in the 1965 section are original metal doors.

Age of EXTERIOR WALLS (In Years): 55

Year of Last Repair or Replacement: 1953

Description of Last Repair or Replacement:

There has been no repair or replacement of the exterior walls.

Age of ROOF(In Years): 8


Type Of ROOF The roof is PVC rubber.


Old roof was removed and replaced with sarnafil. Additional roof drains were also added.

Age of WINDOWS(In Years): 55


Type Of WINDOWS The windows are single pane


In original 1953 section, all single-paned glass and has been replaced with the same material as they are cracked or

broken. In the 1965 section of the building, original single pane glass windows were replaced with plexiglass over theyears and the plexiglass windows have continued to be replaced at a rate of 5 or 6 per year as the plexiglass discolors.Window frames are all original to the two constructions.

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).:

One of the two sectional, oil-fired, forced hot water boilers at Greylock School is original and the second dates from 1992.




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The heating system is a single continuous loop, making it impossible to regulate temperatures in different parts of the building

to increase efficiency. There is a computerized climate control system, however, that allows the Director of Facilities to

program settings and adjust heat seasonally and for time of day. Heating pipes are under the floor, making them inaccessible

for repairs without tearing up the floor. Heating pipes rupture 2 to 3 times per year. The electrical systems also date from the

original construction, with only two outlets per classroom, making it impossible to support todays technology. There is no

sprinkler system in the building. Finally the plumbing system is of galvanized pipe and is deteriorating. Over the past two yearsthere have been two major sewage leakages.

Age of BOILERS(In Years): 55



There have been no major repairs to the boilers.

Age of HVAC SYSTEM (In Years): 3



A new climate control system was installed that regulates the boilers based on outside air temperature.

Age of ELECTRICAL SERVICES AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM(In Years): 55


Description of Last Repair or Replacement:There have been no major repairs or replacements of the electrical system.

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).:

Interior walls in the 1953 section of the building are cinderblock and wood framing covered in masonry finish. Because of

leakage through the outside walls, the interior walls are continuously moist, causing the paint to peel. Ceilings in this section

are wood frame covered with masonry and glass blocks to allow for additional light in the classrooms. Floors throughout the

building are 8 in floor tiles over poured concrete. There are fluorescent lights throughout the buildings, fixtures have been

replaced through the years and upgraded with energy efficient bulbs and ballasts. Doors in the original section are lockable,but are not lockable in the 1965 addition.

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.:

Greylock School currently offers a comprehensive elementary education (including instruction in reading, writing, mathematicsscience and social studies) to 262 students in grades K to 7, in 14 self-contained, single-grade classrooms. In addition,students take 45 minute art, music and physical education classes on a weekly basis throughout the school year. Each class is

scheduled for 45 minute per week in the computer lab. Children who are making inadequate academic progress in reading

receive 30 to 60 minutes of small group instruction per day, and special education services are also delivered in small group

settings. Greylock also houses a district wide self-contained program for children with autism in grades 2 to 5. The school hasno science lab facilities, which limits our ability to include the laboratory component in science education. The limited electrical

supply and the lack of an elevator prevent the distribution of instructional technology (fixed and mobile) throughout thebuilding. Classrooms in the 1965 addition are 800 square feet, less than the recommended space for elementary classrooms.There are an insufficient number of spaces for small group instruction, requiring the use of the stage and converted closets for

instruction, or the sharing of space in larger rooms without dividers. The program for emotionally disturbed students has not

been configured for that purpose and does not contain a quiet room or lavatory. The building contains no elevator, whichprevents us from serving students with physical disabilities that limit mobility as part of our inclusive education program.

CORE EDUCATIONAL SPACES: Please provide a detailed description of the Core Educational Spaces within the

facility, a description 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




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characters).:

Greylock School contains 20 classrooms which range in size from 800 to over 1000 square feet. There is a small library that

serves only as a book depository. There are no science labs in the building.

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 capacityissues. 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).:

The current enrollment of Greylock School is 219. NESDEC puts its capacity at 252. There are few spaces for small group

instruction. Small group instruction currently occurs in regular classrooms shared by multiple specialists. Music and art classesnow take place in regular classroom spaces with little modification for these special purposes (e.g. soundproofing, extrastorage capacity, etc).

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 if any

override or debt exclusion votes were necessary (maximum of 5000 characters).:The districts current maintenance practices include monthly inspection of all roofs and drains, and weekly blowdowns of all

boilers to ensure that safety and shut-off systems are working correctly. The custodial staff inspects and replaces bulbs daily.Electrical and plumbing system repairs are made as needed. Maintenance and routine repairs run between $40,000 and$60,000 annually. There is an annual capital maintenance budget of $150,000 per year for the entire district. Priorities are set

across buildings and reviewed on an annual basis. Capital projects are completed as funds and priorities allow. The last major

capital repair was the replacement of the roof in 2001, which was financed through a bond anticipation note. Last year thisnote was converted to long term debt of $370,000.




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Priority 1

Please provide a detailed description of the perceived health and safety problems below. Attach copies of orders or

citations from state and/or local building and/or health officials.

Heating pipes at Greylock are original to the building and most are buried in the floor. They break several times a year, spraying h

water into the classrooms and other areas. To repair them, the floor must be jackhammered away.




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Priority 1

Please describe the measures the School District has taken to mitigate the problem(s) described above.

No action has been taken to mitigate this problem.




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Priority 1

Please provide a detailed explanation of the impact of the problem described in this priority 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.

Because of the rupture of the heating pipes, individual classrooms and occasionally the entire school need to be closed with a

concomitant loss of instructional time. Moreover, as pipes burst and hot water sprays or leaks into the classrooms, educational

materials are damaged, and the district has not always been able to absorb the cost of replacing them.

At Greylock School the entire plumbing system is of galvanized pipe which is breaking down. In the past two years there have

been two serious sewage leaks which have caused the closing of effected areas, health risks to employees, loss of instructional tim

and considerable loss of instructional materials.

Please also provide the following:

Name of Firm that performed the Study/Report:

Conserve Through Control

Date of Study/Report: 11/14/2008

Synopsis of Study/Report:

Lists various repairs to the heating systems over the past three years.

Is the perceived Health and Safety problem related to asbestos?: NO

If "YES", please describe the location in the facility, if it is currently friable, and the mitigation efforts that thedistrict has undertaken to date.:

Is the perceived Health and Safety problem related to an electrical condition?: NO

If "YES", please describe the electrical condition, any imminent threat, and the mitigation efforts that the district

has undertaken to date.:

Is the perceived Health and Safety problem related to a structural condition?: NO

If "YES", please describe the structural condition, any imminent threat, and the mitigation efforts that the district

has undertaken to date.:

Is the perceived Health and Safety problem related to the building envelope?: NO

If "YES", please describe the building envelope condition, any imminent threat, and the mitigation efforts that the

district has undertaken to date.:

Is the perceived Health and Safety problem related to the roof?:NO

If "YES", please describe the roof condition, any imminent threat, and the mitigation efforts that the district has

undertaken to date.:

Is the perceived Health and Safety problem related to accessibility?: NO

If "YES", please describe the areas that lack accessibility and the mitigation efforts that the district has undertak

to date. In addition, please submit to the MSBA copies of any federally-required ADA Self-Evaluation Plan and

Transition Plan.:




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Priority 5

Please provide a detailed description of the energy conservation measures that are needed and include an estimation

of resultant energy savings as compared to the historic consumption.

GreylockElementary School was built long before energy conservation became an important factor in school constructio

The building has inefficient, single pane glass windows.One of the two boilers in the building is original, and the heating system is a single continuous loop, making it impossible to regulate temperatures in different parts of the building to increase efficiency. With

the replacement of the current windows (including framing) and resign of the heating, we would reduce energy consumption by a

least 30% to 40%.




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Priority 5

Please describe the measures the School District has already taken to reduce energy consumption.

The district has installed a computerized climate control system that allows the Director of Facilities to program settings aadjust the heat seasonally and for time of day. A grant from National Grid has helped to pay for a recent replacement of inefficien

400 watt mercury vapor bulbs in the gym with T5 fluorescent lights on motion detectors.




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Priority 5




identified.

Our inability to regulate the temperature within the buildings causes considerable discomfort to staff and students in the winter

months. Some classrooms are too hot while others are too cold. This interferes with students and staffs ability to concentrate on

learning and instruction. These additional fuel costs associated with poor energy efficiency diverts funds from m ore educationally

relevant expenditures such as instructional materials and professional development (both areas in which our district underspends

according to best-practice models of educational funding allocation). Students lose time on learning when we have to close

classrooms, and occasionally the entire building, due to breakages in the heating system. Moreover, ruptured h eating pipes spray

water in the interior of the building and damage educational materials.

Please also provide the following:

Age of Exterior Walls (Years): 55

Were any major repairs or renovations of the exterior walls undertaken in the past?: YES

If "YES", please provide the year of the last major repair/renovation of the exterior walls: 1953

Age of Roof (Years): 8

Were any major repairs or renovations of the roof undertaken in the past?: YES

If "YES", please provide the year of the last major repair/renovation of the roof: 2001

Age of Windows (Years): 55

Were any major repairs or renovations of the windows undertaken in the past?: YESIf "YES", please provide the year of the last major repair/renovation of the windows: 2006

Age of Boilers (Years): 55

Were any major repairs or renovations of the boilers undertaken in the past?: YES

If "YES", please provide the year of the last major repair/renovation of the boilers: 1953

Age of HVAC (Years): 3

Were any major repairs or renovations of the HVAC undertaken in the past?: YES

If "YES", please provide the year of the last major repair/renovation of the HVAC: 2005

Age of Electrical System (Years): 55

Were any major repairs or renovations the electrical system undertaken in the past?: YES

If "YES", please provide the year o f the last major repair/renovation of the electrical system: 1953

Have the systems identified above been examined by an engineer or other trained building professionals?: NOIf "YES", please provide the name of the individual and his/her professional affiliation:

Please also provide the date of the inspection::

Please describe how addressing the system will extend the useful life of the facility that is the subject of this SOI

(maximum of 5000 characters).:

Updates to the electrical, heating and plumbing systems will allow us to continue to use the buildings without disruption to

instruction that are now caused by system failures, or, in the case of updates ti the the electrical system, provide capacity t

meet 21st century technology needs.




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Priority 7

Please provide a detailed description of the programs not currently available due to facility constraints, the state or

local requirement for such programs and the facility limitations precluding the programs from being offered.

In light of the problems that faces, the school district and its school committee have made the decision that it is in the best interests

of students, in regard to their health, safety, social and academic achievement, to move towards a K -8 model of education. The

North Adams school system plans therefore to replace the current K-5 elementary and 6-8 middle school mod el with a K-8

configuration. This would involve the conversion of to a K -8 school. However, the current facilities at the b uilding are inadequate

support the educational program necessary for middle schoolers. Examples of inadequacies include the lack of science labs or

facilities for family consumer science and other middle school curricula, lockers inappropriately sized for middle school aged

students, no lockers or playing field for sports activities, no dedicated music rooms for instruction and practice.

Moreover, even if we were to keep the current grade configuration, the current facility does not allow us to teach laboratory

science (no science labs), or to fully integrate technology into classroom instruction (due to insufficient electrical supply and lack o

mobility for computer carts within the building). Small group instruction is currently delivered in inappropriate spaces including

converted closets and subdivided classrooms. Finally, the library is too sm all to support its expansion into a full med ia center, and

remains fixed in 20th century mode of accessing information and other educational materials, making it difficult to meet the state s

media literacy educational standards.




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Priority 7

Please describe the measures the School District has taken or is planning to take in the immediate future to mitigate

the problem(s) described above.

The district has not yet taken steps to renovate the building to suit the educational needs of middle school aged students,and had not planned for major building renovations to better meet the educational needs of its current students.




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Priority 7




identified.

The current facility does not allow us to teach laboratory science (no science labs), or to fully integrate technology into classroom

instruction (due to insufficient electrical supply and lack of mobility for computer carts within the building). Small group instruction

currently delivered in inappropriate spaces including converted closets and subdivided classrooms. Finally, the library is too smal

support its expansion into a full media center, and remains fixed in 20 th century mode of accessing information and other

educational materials, making it difficult to meet the states media literacy educational standards.




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Vote

Vote of Municipal Governing Body YES: 8NO: 0Date: 7/24/2007

Vote of School Committee YES: 5NO: 0Date: 7/20/2007

Vote of Regional School Committee YES: NO: Date:




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Form of Vote

The following form of vote should be used by both the City Council/Board of Aldermen, Board of

Selectmen/equivalent governing body AND the School Committee in voting to approve this Statement of

Interest.

If a regional school district, the regional school district should use the following form of vote.

Resolved: Having convened in an open meeting on ___________________, the

_________________________________________________________________ [City Council/Board of Aldermen,

Board of Selectmen/Equivalent Governing Body, School Committee] of ___________________________[City/Town/School District],

in accordance with its charter, by-laws, and ordinances, has voted to authorize the Superintendent to

submit to the Massachusetts School Building Authority the Statement of Interest dated _____________

for the __________________________________[Name of School ] located at

_____________________________________________________________________[Address] which

describes and explains the following deficiencies and the priority category(s) for which

_________________________________________[Name of City/Town/District] may be invited to apply to the

Massachusetts School Building Authority in the future

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________[Insert a description of the priority(s) checked off on

the Statement of Interest and a brief description of the deficiency described therein for each priority]; and hereby further specifically

acknowledges that by submitting this Statement of Interest, the Massachusetts School Building Authority

in no way guarantees the acceptance or the approval of an application, the awarding of a grant or any

other funding commitment from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, or commits the

_________________________________ [Name of City/Town/District] to filing an application for funding with the

Massachusetts School Building Authority.




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CERTIFICATIONS

The undersigned hereby certifies that, to the best of his/her knowledge, information and belief, the statements and information

contained in this statement of Interest and attached hereto are true and accurate and that this Statement of Interest has been

prepared under the direction of the district school committee and the undersigned is duly authorized to submit this Statement o

Interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The undersigned also hereby acknowledges and agrees to providethe Massachusetts School Building Authority, upon request by the Authority, any additional information relating to this

Statement of Interest that may be required by the Authority.

LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER/DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT/SCHOOL COMMITTEE CHAIR

(E.g., Mayor, Town Manager, Board of Selectmen)

Chief Executive Officer School Committee Chair Superintendent of Schools

(print name) (print name) (print name)

(signature) (signature) (signature)

Date Date Date


Documents

Greylock Statement of Interest 2009