School District May Replace Windows at Two Elementary Schools

The Reading Public Schools Committee took the first steps Monday toward participating in a state program that could pay as much as 80 percent of the cost to replace the roof and windows at Killam Elementary school as well as windows at Birch Meadow.

"These are our greatest maintenance needs in the schools right now," said Superintendent John Doherty. "If funding does become available, now we're getting it at a 30 to 80 percent discount."

The district recently upgraded the heating systems at both schools in an effort to reduce the schools' energy consumption and allow teachers and administrators to heat the building more evenly.

Birch Meadow principal Eric Sprung said recently that the school's old heating system left some areas of the building hotter than others. Replacing the schools' windows, which the board's motions described as "exceptionally inefficient," would further improve the district's energy efficiency.

While renovating Killam Elementary's roof would also save energy, the committee's motion included more practical benefits. The school roof has exceeded its "useful life," the motion said, "resulting in increasingly frequent leaks, water damage, and energy waste."

School Committee member Hal Croft said he would also like to use the opportunity to try peaked roofs on the schools. He described flat roofs as "antiquated, rectangular water basins," and said they have given the school district trouble in the past.

Mary Delai, the district's Director of Finance and Operations, said Monday's motions informed the Massachusetts School Building Authority that Reading is interested in the program. The MSBA has yet to accept applications. Delai said the board of selectmen will have to pass a similar motion, and she hopes that the district will be able to apply for the money by mid September.

Should the district qualify for the program, Delai said the district would have to complete construction by December, 2011.