Needham High School Expansion Faces $722,000 Budget Gap

NEEDHAM, MA — How will the funding gap in the Needham High School expansion project be addressed? That’s the $722,000 question the project now has.

In a memo to the school committee that was shared with the selectmen, Superintendent Dan Gutekanst wrote that the figure is the difference in the cost of the project and the funds appropriated by the Annual Town Meeting in May for the renovation. He wrote that the increase happened after his Aug. 4 update.

The renovation calls for 10 new classrooms, a three-story addition on the Webster Street side, current classroom renovation, the renovation of gym A, and a new chiller. The total cost is $14.1 million, but town meeting appropriated $13.4 million.

“Any further cost reductions will require a reduction in project scope, and I do not recommend that at this time. However, if the Town Manager is not able to identify a funding source for the $722,000 shortfall needed to fund the project as presented, I will propose possible reductions to the overall project,” Gutekanst wrote.

Members of the school committee will be in front of the selectmen Tuesday at 7:25 p.m. to discuss the project.

The proposal goes to Special Town Meeting in early October and if approved, construction would start in February with a target to finish by fall 2018.

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