State Approves Next Phase Of Andover School Project

BOSTON, MA -- The Massachusetts School Building Authority this week approved its collaboration with Andover to move forward with a feasibility study for replacing the West Elementary School. Town meeting approved funding for the study in May. With the state approval, Andover can begin working on a design and assign a project manager.

Nicole L. Kieser, Director of Communications for Andover Public Schools, said officials expect the study to be completed in early 2020. That study would recommend a "preferred solution," which could be a renovation of the existing building or a completely new school building. Town Meeting would consider the recommendations after the study is completed.

The West Elementary School opened on Beacon Street in 1952. After additions in 1956 and 1970, the school is the second largest after Andover High School of the eight schools in the system. The school currently serves 660 students and has a staff of 100 teachers, tutors, instructional assistants, and other support personnel.

MSBA would pay for up to 40 percent of the construction costs, which are currently estimated to be as much as $45 million. In September, the Tri-Board tax summit projected the average Andover residential property tax bill of $9,965 could jump by as much as $668, or 5.66% under the most expensive capital improvement projects for Andover Public Schools, including the West El replacement or renovation.

At the summit, officials laid out the different tax scenarios from the projects as they would apply to the average residential property tax bill. The West El project would increase that bill by $212 in the first year, with the cost declining to $108 in the final year of the 30-year amortization schedule.

The projections presented at the summit rely on revenue projections that include annual property tax increases of 2.5% -- the most allowed under Massachusetts law without voter approval. Andover has exceeded that 2.5% increase in all but two of the past 10 years, with the average annual tax increase at 3.4% in that time frame. The projections also assume a five-year average of $2.3 million from new growth and increases in state aid and local tax receipts.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).