Pell Building Committee Reviews Potential Cuts to Construction Budget

The Pell Building Committee met in the night to go over a categorized and simplifications to the construction of the Pell Elementary School.

The building committee and theare working together with architects from HMFH and other cost estimators to pare down unnecessary costs ever since construction bids came in approximately $4 million over budget.

Each one of the 43 line items were newly categorized as likely, potential, or unlikely cuts with an estimated cost savings for each.

Total savings if all Level 1 “likely” cuts were implemented came to approximately $2.7 million.

School Committee Chairman Patrick Kelley said the goal for the construction budget is to “get as much waste out” without impacting the school’s aesthetics, academic integrity or sustainability, all things the community has showed interest in keeping, rather than shooting for exactly $4 million.

Superintendent John Ambrogi said there were other funds as part of the $30 million bond designated for furnishings that could be applied to the construction budget, as well as other utilization funds.

One of the largest structural changes involves the bridge. The first option would result in $87,600 in savings by removing the end convenience stair, leaving only the bridge. Eliminating the bridge altogether in favor of a second stairway for students would result in only $4,000 in savings, basically “a wash” HMFH architects said.

Architect Laura Wernick said the issue with two stairways and no bridge would be handicap accessibility, especially in the case of an emergency where students could not use the elevators.

In a previous meeting, Fire Marshal Wayne Clark said he would rather keep the bridge because of the level exit and entrance.

No final decision on the bridge was made during the meeting and was moved for further discussion.

Several alternatives for flattening and simplifying the roof lines were discussed as well, which included flattening the gym roof and simplifying sloped roof edge gutter details. These alternatives were also moved for further discussion.

Ambrogi fought hard to keep a true stage for the elementary school, which he called the “heart and soul of a school.” He said in an elementary school, the stage is an integral part of bringing outside learning to the students as well as providing a space for productions and events for families to enjoy. 

Simplifying the stage structure to a raised millwork platform with no enclosures, a cost savings of about $50,000, and eliminating the stage and ramp altogether to be replaced by a mobile platform, or $84,616 in savings, were both ranked as unlikely cuts.

The committee agreed to accept the likely simplifications preliminarily pending further value engineering cost estimates.

“We need to know better dollar estimates on these before looking at [potential] cuts,” Ambrogi said.

This is by no means a final vote on anything, Gaines stressed.

“We’re just trying to move forward with the process,” she said.