CCHS is in jeopardy of losing its accreditation because of structural, operational and educational space shortcomings.
For 12 years, community leaders, school administrators, parents and faculty have overseen numerous, independent studies, seeking to solve the CCHS facility challenge.
We have known for over 12 years that the high school facility is in need of significant capital investment.
The infrastructure: the roof, building enclosure, windows, boilers, HVAC, electrical and gas distribution systems are all in need of repair or upgrade. The sprawling building is inefficient, difficult to maintain and creates safety concerns.Many areas, like the science labs, don't have the space or ventilation for routine science curriculum. We lack the necessary space for delivering Special Education Services, which results in expensive "out-of-district" placements. In fact, The New England Association of Schools and Colleges has issued CCHS a warning citation for these deficiencies and we are at risk for losing our accreditation.
These conditions, which have been documented over the past 12 years through study after study, negatively affect our ability to deliver essential curriculum.
Why don’t we just fix what’s broken?
This option was studied in 2009 and 2010 and was rejected by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), because of the level of deterioration.We will not receive reimbursement from the state for funds used to renovate the existing structure.
The independent cost estimate for renovation is $70 million.
The renovation option was explored extensively in the 2009 Master Plan and the 2010 Feasibility Study.The sheer volume of work needed at CCHS, along with the nature of its design, makes it effectively impossible to “fix it” in a cost-effective manner.We would not be able to keep the building open while this type of work was happening, which would require phasing the project over a longer time frame, renting upwards of 60 portable trailers, thus increasing cost, but more importantly, increasing safety hazards to students, faculty and to citizens who use the building for Continuing Education and Town Meeting, etc. The cost would be nearly $70 Million to bring the building up to code.This spending would only address the “brick and mortar” and systems. It would not address the facility-related educational deficiencies.
What is the proposed plan for CCHS?
After 2 ½ years of analysis, the CCHS Building Committee, in agreement with the MSBA, proposes building a new facility behind the existing building (on the south side).
This plan is:
the most cost-effective approach to remedying the issues at CCHS
the least disruptive and safest for students, faculty and citizens who use the facility
the shortest time to completion which helps keep the cost down
The proposed building has:
4 levels, creating a compact, efficient footprint
flexible design to accommodate 21st century learning
controlled entrances and access points for better security
logical academic groupings, administration and support groupings
space to bring costly Special Education services back in district,
a “green” design that will make operating and maintaining the building more efficient and healthier
The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) collaborated closely with the Building Committee and provided shrewd oversight during each step of the analysis and design process. The MSBA agrees that of the dozens of options the Building Committee explored, this proposal is indeed the most prudent course of action to resolve the facility issues at CCHS.
If Concord and Carlisle approved the project in the MSBA-allotted timeframe, the MSBA will partner with Concord and Carlisle in funding this project.
What will this new building cost?
Total Project Cost
$92.5 (in millions)
Projected MSBA reimbursement
$28.0
Cost to Concord
$47.1 (based on 73% assessment ratio)
Cost to Carlisle
$17.4 (based on 27% assessment ratio)
Why must we approve the project this fall?
The MSBA requires that communities vote to approve their building projects upon receipt of the MSBA's authorization to grant state funds.
If either Concord or Carlisle does not approve the project at both town meeting and by ballot vote, the MSBA will pass over the project and move on to one of 200 school districts in line behind us, seeking grant funds.
If we don't pass the project, we will lose reimbursement and be forced to undertake a project without state funding or invest million in repairs and upgrades to bring CCHS up to code.
In order to secure the reimbursement from the state, we need to get voter approval from both Concord and Carlisle in the timeframe required by the MSBA. There are more than 200 school districts in line behind Concord and Carlisle to apply for MSBA funding. The state will pass over any project that does not receive timely approval to accept funding and commence building within a specified time limit. We would be forced to undertake a building project without state funding or invest millions in repairs and upgrades to bring CCHS up to code.
This a two-step process in each town.Voters must approve the project at a special Town Meeting and then again by ballot at the polls.
The tentative dates are:
Concord Town MeetingMonday, November 7th
Carlisle Town Meeting Tuesday, November 8th
Ballot (at polls)Tuesday, November 15th
What is the schedule for the project?
With affirmatives votes in November, the project moves into design development. Construction would begin in early 2013 and the building would be ready to be occupied in the fall of 2015.We are exploring ways to accelerate the schedule.
