School Building Committee Endorses EGHS Library Renovation

The School Buildings Oversight Committee and the School Committee discussed Tuesday night. The building committee ended up recommending that surplus money from the $52 million bond issue be used to renovate the library.

The School Committee, and then the Town Council, must vote to approve such spending before any work can begin.

This project would possibly include removing a stairwell within the library and offices on that second floor. The offices would be replaced by a a classroom while the stairwell space could be utilized by the library. According to building officials, the base cost of the library renovation would run just over $1 million. A more extensive renovation, alternatively, would cost about $1.4 million.

EGHS Principal Michael Podraza told members that he could definitely utilize the extra classroom if they decided to move forward with the project.

School Committee Chairwoman Diedre Gifford argued that she didn’t know why they couldn’t just put in new lighting, carpets, and furniture to make the library nicer instead of having to completely renovate it. She also mentioned that as of now, library hours are very restricted.

“Kids want to go to the library after practice to study but they can’t get in there because its closed,” Gifford said. She said that she would hope that the hours could be extended if the library is improved.

According to Jon Winikur, with project manager Strategic Building Solutions, even with all the projects that have taken place from the $52 million bond issue (including the new Cole Middle School), there is . It’s from that money that any library improvements would be paid for.

Building Committee Chairman Jay Gowell reminded those assembled that there is no need to make a definite decision tonight but rather to figure out what level of an upgrade the school is interested in.

Also during the joint session, Ken Romeo of SBS updated committee members on both the new and the old Cole Middle School.

“At this time, there are about 12 people working everyday at the school on the punch-list items,” Romeo said about the new school, which opened in April before it was completely done.

Some people asked Romeo questioned whether the to be safely used. Romeo said that it will all be tested but that he expected it to be warm enough during the cold winter months and cool enough during the summer months to be used yearround. Air conditioning at the new Cole was limited to the administrative offices and the library to keep down costs.