Schools postpone Dale and seek Wheelock boilers

Jeffery Marsden, Superintendent of Schools, wrote the Board of Selectmen a 2/4/14 letter (copied in below) asking the Board of Selectmen to approve the schools approaching the School Building Authority about replacing the boilers at the Wheelock School this year, instead of continuing to proceed with the previously initiated discussions with SBA about renovation of the Dale Street School.  The schools decided that with the current expenses of the new DPW garage and the imminently prospective public safety bulding, that it made more sense for the town to postpone dealing with the Dale Street School.  From my tour of the Dale Street School it is clear that the dilapidated and antiquated condition of that school needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.  My understanding is that the cost to renovate it is likely more than the cost to build new, so that if the town wants to get SBA reimbursement for what we do, that we will probably have to build new.  There is a previously identified site behind the Wheelock School where another school could be built.  That site was the original suggested site for the Memorial School replacement in 2001 – however, ultimately the decision was made to renovate the existing Memorial School instead.

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MEDFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Office of the Superindendent
459 Main Street _3rd Floor
Medfield, Massachusetts 02052
Jeffrey J. Marsden, Ed.D
Superintendent
(508) 359-2302
February 4,2014

Mr. Mark L. Fisher, Chairman
Board of Selectmen
459 Main Street
Medfield, MA 02052

Dear Mark:

The School Committee and I are asking the Board of Selectmen to support a Statement of Interest (SOl) for the replacement of the Wheelock School boilers. The boilers are over 40 years old and have required significant repairs over the past 3 years. The SOl will be submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for consideration with the Accelerated Repair Program (ARP). A vote of support by the Board of Selectmen does not commit the Town of Medfield to any allocations of funds; it only allows the superintendent of schools to submit the application. The Medfield School Committee voted to support this submission at their meeting on January 27, 2014.

The Wheelock boiler replacement project is currently a part of our capital plan. If we are chosen through the SOl process, Medfield will receive 39.84% (2014 rate) in reimbursement for the cost of the project. The boilers will need to be replaced in the near future and this program will give Medfield the opportunity to share the costs with the state.

In addition, the School Committee and I have decided to delay the SOl submission for the Dale Street School for at least another year. Given the fmancial implications of the potential land purchases and new public safety building, the timing is not right for the community. Delaying the Dale Street SOl will also give us additional time to study enrollment trends and any impact of new construction on those trends.

We will be notified by MSBA in March or April as to whether our SOl has been accepted or denied. I will keep in contact with Mr. Sullivan as the process moves forward. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey J. Marsden

Superintendent of Schools
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