Renovation is the most risky option
BY NICOLE BOUCHER
We’re facing three options: renovate for $78 million, renovate more extensively for $104 million, or build a new middle school at $114 million.
Anyone who’s renovated their home knows to expect the unexpected. Mold, water damage, structural problems and code violations can turn extensive renovations into costly, time-consuming nightmares. This risk only magnifies in a project spanning 36,000 - 126,000 sq. ft. in buildings originally constructed 60-90 years ago.
The “unexpected” at this scale comes with significant drawbacks: higher costs, project delays, extended student displacement with added costs for temporary classrooms and a significant loss of public trust.
The discovery of asbestos and lead, standard construction materials in the 50s and 60s, would inflate renovation costs and give rise to a new dilemma: how do we fund the gap? You can raise more taxpayer funds, scale back the project, or both. In the end, you pay more for less. This doesn’t just hit the budget; it damages the educational setting we aim to improve.
Renovation is the most risky option on the table today. Investing $78+ million in an outdated 65-year-old building, displacing students in portables for at least two years, and hoping for no surprises is a poor use of taxpayer money.
A new building promises the best long-term value today and for future generations. Let the School Board and Town Council know that renovation is the riskier choice and that you support a long-term plan for our school campus.
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