Arlington School Committee Unanimously Votes in Favor of Gibbs Building

ARLINGTON, MA—On the heels of a 7-2 vote by the Arlington School Enrollment Task Force, the Arlington School Committee unanimously endorsed the use of the Gibbs Building during a special meeting Monday.

The School Committee unanimously voted 7-0 in favor of repurposing the Gibbs Building, following the vote by the School Enrollment Task Force and a recommendation from Superintendent Kathleen Bodie. The borrowing of the $2.55 million for the Gibbs project is contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion vote.

The motion also states that the Superintendent will work with the Arlington Center for the Arts to find a new space for the center's summer camp in 2017.

School Committee Chair Jennifer Susse told the decision to use the new building as either a sixth grade facility or a 6-8 grade facility has not yet been made, but financial projections for the project will use the sixth grade-only model. The School Committee is set to discuss that decision at a later date.

Susse also told Patch that the earliest a decision would come on the matter would be May 26. 

According to a report by HMFH Architects, the renovation of the Gibbs building would cost an estimated $19.9 million.

An addition to the Ottoson would cost approximately $22.8 million, according to the feasibility study. Total construction costs are estimated at $19.0 million, not including a 20 percent factor for soft costs.

Construction at the Gibbs building would cost $16.6 million, before the 20 percent factor.