Superintendent confirms Central School won't open on schedule
Published on July 5th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - It has been one delay after another with the beleaguered Central School building project, and School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly reported the latest set backs to the School Committee last Wednesday night.
An increase in the scope of work for Gayle Associates, the firm hired to monitor remediation of contamination around the site, has led to another $3,000 increase in costs.
Connelly explained that before remedial work begins, the interior of the Middle School must be tested in order to establish baseline data, against which subsequent testing during remediation and construction can be based. The Middle School lies adjacent to the future Central School.
At a meeting of the School Building Committee two weeks ago, a cap of $35,000 was set for remediation work, according to Connelly. This figure is expected to be raised to $38,000 due to this latest request from some parents.
Connelly said he was hopeful that Gayle's contract would be ready for School Committee endorsement on July 6.
Another hurdle resulted when the contractor for the Central School building project, Alexandra Construction of Newton, rejected a letter to proceed from the town on the basis that it contained no language specifying that the town would guarantee any costs incurred prior to the actual contract being signed.
After review of the matter by Town Counsel William Solomon, it was recommended not to issue a letter to proceed, which would allow the construction company to begin the work to facilitate this project, but to instead to go through with the contract signing once Solomon has met with the contractor. Connelly said that this contract should likewise be ready for School Committee endorsement on July 6.
"At this point...we've lost another week," he said.
If the contract is signed on July 6, Connelly said that a meeting would be scheduled for July 11 with the contractor, the subcontractors and town officials.
A public meeting is scheduled for the following night, July 12, from 7 to 8 p.m., with Alexander Construction, Gayle Associates, the fire and police departments, the Board of Health, the School Building Committee and the public to present the scope of the work and answer questions.
Both firms, according to Connelly, are "very anxious to assist us in this public meeting."
Yet, the clock continues to tick on this second of the town's elementary school projects, and the opening date of the new school continues to be jeopardized.
"...This project will not be done in time for September, 2001 because we've been delayed now two or three months," said Connelly.
South School construction has spanned 14-15 months, according to Connelly, and is expected to be ready for student arrival this September.
Central School construction is expected to begin the week of July 10.
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