Sue Flicop

As I watched the School Committee deliberate on how to spend $1.75 million in capital funds, I kept asking myself how I would vote if I were sitting at the table.

This is an extraordinarily difficult situation, though quite simple to explain:  there simply isn’t enough money to pay for the capital projects the School Committee would like to undertake this year.  This means that some projects need to be put on hold–the question is how to determine which ones.  Among the choices were:  roof improvements; new second boilers; new windows and doors at an elementary school; an elevator in an elementary school; and four new modulars for a middle school.

There was an extensive discussion that addressed many alternatives and needs.  The only area I would have like to see explored was the possibility of adding only two modulars at Oak Hill next year, followed by two the following year.  While this would not be the most cost-efficient method for design and construction, these inefficiencies might be offset by the ability to continue to move forward with other projects.  I’m not suggesting this is the way to go, but it is another alternative that could have been evaluated.

In the end, the argument that made the most sense to me was to focus on the items that would have a substantial impact on the educational program–the ones that would lead to significant impact on education if they weren’t done now.   To me, this includes the roofs, the elevator, and the modulars.  Clearly, a roof failure could mean a class or classes need to shut down or be moved until repair can be done.  This could also mean a substantial repair expense–far more than a proactive repair would cost today.  The elevator is a no-brainer–it not only means giving all students the ability to move easily around the school, but also it gives them dignity and self-sufficiency.

The Oak Hill modulars are necessary because in September, 2010, a large cohort of students begins entering the school, causing a space crunch.   Not enough space leads to large team sizes (predicted to be greater than 100 students) which will substantially affect students’ education.

I forsaw the Oak Hill space situation  several years ago when Bowen and other Oak Hill feeder schools were struggling with increases in student population.  However, without a comprehensive capital plan that includes both municipal and school needs, it is impossible to properly plan for and meet the capital needs and the associated financing necessary to avoid these difficult situations.

Unfortunately the current funding difficulties require placing the needs of one school over the needs of another, and in the end no decision satisfies everyone.