State Does Not Green Light Framingham School Project, Again

Massachusetts School Building Authority has denied Framingham Public School’s application for the Fuller-Farley project, for the second year in a row.

The state sent a letter notifying the Town of Framingham to Town Manager Bob Halpin, Superintendent of School Stacy Scott, and School Committee Chair Beverly Hugo in mid-December.

Framingham Patch obtained a copy of the letter from the state today

The Framingham submission requested funding to conduct a feasibility study, conceptualize and plan renovations, identify funds for the estimated $48 million Fuller-Farley project, and ultimately break ground and complete construction. The recent application proposed a possible K-8 model, to deal with overcrowding in the middle and elementary school levels.

Framingham applied to the state to be eligible for state funding for the project. Framingham is eligible, if approved by the state, for up to 59 percent reimbursement of the project.

Fuller Middle School, built in 1958, is the former Framingham South High School. It is located on Flagg Drive across the street from McCarthy Elementary School and adjacent to the former Farley school, currently the Framingham campus of Mass Bay Community College. The Town of Framingham is leasing the former largey school to the college for a fee.

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The Framingham Public School administration has stated the Fuller-Farley proposed project is needed to alleviate overcrowding in the schools. School administration said Fuller is home to about 500 students, but the population is “expected to increase to 650 over the next 5 to 10 years.”

“We really thought we nailed this application,” said Framingham Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Edward Gotgart, to Framingham Patch. “We have to step back and think about this application now.”

Gotgart said when the state does not approve an application it does not state the reason why. It could be that there was not enough money available this year or the state had an issue with the application or some other reason.

There were 108 applications in 2014, of which 14 were approved, said Gotgart, who added “money is always an issue.”

In 2013, there were more than 200 applications, when Framingham was not approved.

Framingham can re-apply this year. The deadline is April 10, said Dan Collins, spokesperson for the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

Gotgart said Massachusetts School Building Authority Executive Director Jack McCarthy toured Fuller Middle School and based on exit comments, it was clear there is a “fundamental need” and that “Fuller has reached the end of its life.”

Gotgart said school administration and the School Committee will need to make a decision on what to do next.

We need to decide if there is something “fundamentally wrong with the proposals” that have been submitted the last two years, or submitted a different type of application.

“We will have to take a hard look at what we will do next,” said Gotgart, this afternoon.

“We are not discouraged, and we will re-submit an application,” said Gotgart.

He just said what the application is is unclear at the moment, and it may be a change from the previous applications.

Any application submitted requires both the vote of the Framingham School Committee and the Framingham Selectmen.

With the rejected application, any timeline for Fuller & farley schools would need to be re-adjusted. Last year, the schools were looking at this timeline:

• Farley renovations beginning in 2015.
• Moving Fuller Middle School students to Farley in 2016.
• Beginning renovations at Fuller Middle in 2016.
• Completing Fuller Middle renovations in 2018.
• Possibly opening Farley as an elementary school in 2019.

Fuller Middle School was created in 1995. Repairs made since then include:

• Roof replacement in 1995
  
• Heating system converted from oil to natural gas and boilers replaced in 2005
  
• Auditorium renovated in 2007
  
• North masonry wall replaced in 2009
  
• ADA accessible ramp and railings installed at the main front entrance in 2010

Originally published on Jan. 6. Updated for Jan. 7 newsletter.

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