Cost Estimates for Watertown Middle School Project Concern Building Committee

Members of the School Building Committee expressed concerns over the cost of the proposals for rebuilding or renovating and expanding Watertown Middle School.

On June 18, Ai3 Architects presented the preliminary cost estimates for the project, and the two “preferred” option came in more than $30 million above the amount of money set aside by the City: $84.7 million.

The “add/reno” option would keep the newer section of the Middle School. That includes the auditorium and gymnasium, both of which would receive “comprehensive renovations.” Each grade would be split into two clusters, each with its own “academic neighborhoods” with student commons where students could gather and collaborate. Known as Option 1A, the cost estimate is $118.9 million to $121.37 million, depending on optional parts of the project.

The cost of the new construction, Option 2E, is $122.06 million to $124.47 million depending on on the options. Along with a brand new school, the building would have a smaller footprint, allowing for more open space including an outdoor area between tow wings of the building. It would also be designed with academic neighborhoods to allow clusters at each grade. The new gym would be located near Waverley Avenue so that community use during afterschool hours would be easier.

The cost estimate for the basic repairs needed to keep the current Middle School operating is $89.79 million. Another plan — Option 1 — would have basic renovations and a smaller addition. The cost estimate for Option 1 is $90.4 million. Other options shown to the School Building Committee at its May 21 meeting would not have met all the educational goals, including having student commons, outdoor learning space, and the school split into academic neighborhoods.

School Building Committee members were split on which direction to go: find a way to fund the school that would have all the educational features wanted by School officials, or to find a way to build it for a cost closer to the City’s budget for the project.

City Council President Mark Sideris, who chairs the Building Committee, said he has discussed the numbers with City Manager George Proakis.

“These numbers were presented to the City Manager. We had a long discussion, and he raised the concern that we provided the City Council, and we provided the City with a Capital Improvement Program that included a cost of the Middle School in the $84 million range,” said Sideris, who added. “I think that in conversations that I’ve had with the Manager, and others on staff, they want to have some time to think about what’s going to happen here, because this is significantly higher than they had originally planned. Because we can’t continue designing something if we can’t pay for it.”

Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli noted that the Council voted to make the Middle School a priority because the swing space during the construction could be in the modular classrooms on Moxley Field. Currently they are being used for Watertown High School while the new WHS is being constructed. He had a few questions about the project.

“What other priorities are going to have to be delayed or push back for a number of years to make that happen?” Piccirilli said. “If we can make that happen, between what we did back in November with the $85 million versus what we have today. Obviously the building is bigger, there’s room for 630 students instead of 600, and did we add too much extra stuff? Maybe we should not have added. What are we willing to compromise on to kind of get the cost down and make this manageable?”

School Committee member Jessica Middlebrook said she echoed the disappointment in the numbers that were presented, and she added that school enrollment has been growing.

“The difference between 600 students and Option 1, and 630 is a lot,” she said. “And just kind of looking down the line, I want to make sure that we have space.”

Denise Moroney, the City’s Director of Public Buildings, said she thinks that the City should build what it could afford. Resident member Paul Anastasi said that Watertown has rebuilt three elementary schools and will be done with a new high school next year, and he believes the middle school students should have the same level of facility and experience as those at the other schools in town.

Resident member Kelly Kurlbaum had similar feelings.

“Just as a parent, I’m so proud of Watertown and all of the schools that we’ve built, and we’ve got one more left,” she said. “And I just, I just hope that we can just get this one last school done, and that we can, we can do it right.”

Assistant City Manager Steve Magoon said the City Manager has been clear that he does not want to do a project that would require a debt exclusion override vote and cost taxpayers more.

“Now we’ve gotten to the point where we have two options that are both significantly exceeding that number.” Magoon said. ” So I’m not sure if there’s a way to figure out a way to fund bigger project cost, but I’m very concerned about that. And I think we need to look at ways to perhaps make Option 1 more palatable, but within something that City can afford, as opposed to a couple options that are just a great project, but not something we can afford.”

Resident Elodia Thomas said she thinks the current building would work if renovated and she would not support a project that costs so much more that what the City can afford without a debt exclusion. She added that she was disappointed that the meetings included School officials and people with school children, but not other residents and taxpayers.

Lindsay Mosca, the education data analyst for the Watertown Schools, said that she was part of the visioning meetings where the educational needs for the buildings were discussed.

“I don’t think that what those buildings and what those costs and square footage represents is anything extra or fancy or luxurious or over the top,” she said. “I don’t want the public to get the impression that there’s all kinds of extra bonus things that were added into that design or programs, because that’s not what it is. It’s just expensive.”

Superintendent Dede Galdston said that the goal is to create a school with a cluster model, which can allow for independent learning opportunities and create a sense of community.

“What we’re thinking about is technology or more hands-on learning labs where we can really have experiential types of learning experiences for the students,” she said. “I wouldn’t say that we’re doing anything different than necessarily what we do. I think what we’re trying to do is just enhance the way that we organize the school and how it is that our students are given great opportunities to really dig in deeply to the concepts and the knowledge that we’re providing them in the school.”

School Committee member Lisa Capoccia, who is not a member of the Building Committee, said she works in a district with older buildings, and she said while it would be nice to have a new building, she does not think it is essential to have a new one to deliver the kind of education that School officials want. She also is concerned about money being spent on the school construction taking away from other programs.

“If this goes forward, then I think our options for seeking additional funds for other programmatic or staffing or instructional needs that we have — we won’t be able to do that, because all of the City’s money will be tied up in the building,” she said. “So that’s just a bit of a concern for me.”