Budget Update

We are pleased to report that we’ve completed value engineering (VE) for the “90% Construction Document” phase. Our school building project remains on time and within budget. The next steps (proceeding through December) include finalizing plans and the 100% Construction Document drawings (Bid Documents) in preparation for soliciting sub-trade bids.  

Just as we did at the end of the “60% Construction Document” phase in September, the SBC made a number of difficult but necessary tradeoffs to keep the project on budget and to ensure we are getting the best value for our money. As they have been at each phase, decisions were guided by our project values: transform the educational environment, make the building net zero, recognize the school as a community asset, ensure that decisions are based on long-term value.

Our project is very complex and these cost deliberations are not always easy or straightforward.  For example, originally the project specified permeable pavement for the access road behind the school because the access road is in the wetland buffer zone and permeable pavement would allow water to percolate back into the soil.  However, after discussions with our Conservation Commission and the City of Cambridge (we are in the watershed for Cambridge’s supply, so it is within their purview to review site plans that impact the watershed), it was agreed that more conventional pavement is preferable in case of a spilled contaminant. Not only was this change better for protecting the wetlands and watershed, it, along with some other site work refinements, saved $167K in the construction budget.

Other VE decisions included:

• Changing the size of ceiling panels in the Dining Commons from 2’ x 8’ to 2’ x 2’ ($41K)
• Simplifying the roof blocking plan for all sloped roof eaves ($69K)
• Changing the type of coat cubby that will be installed for grades K-2 (out of a total of $141K, took an $81K reduction from construction budget, kept $30K for installation, and put $30K into the furniture/fixtures budget)
• Reducing the scope of kitchen equipment that needs to have an exhaust system ($8.5K)

In addition, several items were put on an “add-alternate” list. These are items that will be added back into the project if bids are favorable and/or there are contingency dollars left at the end of the project:

• New divider for the Auditorium (separates the Lecture Hall from the rest of the Auditorium)
• Roof screens to hide HVAC mechanical equipment.
• 1/2 basketball court outside Reed Gym

From Superintendent Becky McFall

PROJECT UPDATE: Temporary Parking Lot Paving

Aggregate Industries was recently on site to review the porous paving operation for the temporary parking lot and sidewalks around the modular building. What to expect during the paving:

• 2-3 trucks/per hour with an expected total of 15-20 trucks a day
  • Delivery of asphalt during the hours of school drop off and pick up is prohibited
  • Trucks will be timed so they are not staged on Ballfield Road.
• Consigli Construction will be utilizing 4 parking spots in front of the Smith entrance alongside the field for the asphalt truck while they are paving the sidewalk along the West portion of the site. Barrels and signage will be installed for clear notification of which spots will be utilized. 
• If you are travelling to or from the Ballfield Road campus while school is in session, you should expect the possibility of delays due to increased truck traffic.

Preschool Students At Work! (reprinted with permission from the October 23rd Superintendent’s Bulletin)