North Adams Officials Present Case for Conte School

	Superintendent James Montepare described the Conte School project as 'a huge opportunity.'

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The mayor and school officials presented once again on Wednesday night their case for renovating the former Conte Middle School into a new elementary school.

Nearly 100 residents and local officials attended the event in Room 218 at Murdock Hall on the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts campus. The presentation included an overview of the process, the background, the plans and the costs, which are $23 million from the state and $6.5 million from the city, expected to be covered without affecting the tax rate.

While each speaker received a round of applause, a contingent at the information session continue to question the validity of the project and the cost to the taxpayer.

"I am convinced, I'm absolutely fully convinced this is the right decision," said Mayor Richard Alcombright, who added the session was to clear misinformation floating around the community with facts. "... the children of our district deserve this project. If our community votes no, I truly think it will set us back in ways in ways I cannot imagine."

Funding for the project goes to a vote on Tuesday, April 30, after a citizens' petition successfully called for a public ballot after the City Council approved borrowing for the nearly $30 million project.

Councilor John Barrett III, who voted against the borrowing, said the plans were great but "other designs that could have been put forth for other schools that could have done the same thing" and noted that Conte had been considered "less flexible" for 21st century learning in the planning stages.

But his argument has been mainly that renovating Conte won't solve the overcrowding in the school system.

"I think that's why I and others have a concern about this because it's not going to answer the problems," he said. Both Greylock and Sullivan had been in "deplorable" condition when the city first began the process for a new building, said Barrett, under his mayoral administration. "Let's look at the other options out there."

The School Building Committee had been charged with finding a solution for 620 children after Conte Middle School closed and the eighth grade sent to Drury High and Grades 6 and 7 reabsorbed into the elementary schools.

It had initially pursued a "two-school" solution by submitting plans for renovating Conte (rather than Sullivan, which because the amount of needed site work unreimbursed by the state would cost the city $3 million to $4 million more) and building a new Greylock School. However, the Massachusetts School Building Authority scotched that plan, indicating it would fund one project. (See options discussed here.)

The decision was to go forward with Conte, based on the determination that Sullivan was in worse shape than Greylock. Greylock would be considered as a next, and final for now, phase in the school improvements.
 

The mayor responded that at least half the overcrowding would be ameliorated by the Conte project, and further aided by the relocation of a burgeoning preschool to Johnson School. He also said he would "push back" that Conte was not a neighborhood school, pointing to the heavily residential area around Conte.

Alcombright took issue with Barrett's assertion that the Conte designs were "only done in the last month."

To a parent who asked about safety at the Monument Square intersection, the mayor said it was an issue that was being studied, with the thought of putting a bumpout at the very long crosswalk by the library. The city would also use crossing guards and focus on ensuring sidewalks were clear.

Superintendent James Montepare said most children are bused or dropped off by parents now, that there were very few children who walked to school.

Conte would include two dedicated dropoffs for buses and cars; a full-size gymnasium; fenced play area in the front; new administration area and main entrance for security; and more parking than Sullivan currently has.

The interior of the building would be completely renovated with new windows, HVAC, electrical and elevator. Alcombright said the building had "been poked and prodded" by both the MSBA and the city's consultants.

"It would feel very much like a new school within a historic shell," said Kristian Whitsett of Margo Jones Architects in going over the plans.

Montepare described the project as "a huge opportunity."

"I am passionate about what happens in North Adams, I wouldn't work anyplace else, I wouldn't send my children to any other school," he said.

Michael P. Filpi of Pittsfield, business manager of Local 473 of the Laborer's Union of Berkshire County, said his executive board had determined that should one of its signatory contractors be chosen for the work, "we would do everything in our power to make sure North Adams residents would be working on the project because they would have kids going there and pride of ownership is always great in construction."

MCLA President Mary Grant, who opened the session, closed with the comment that there maybe differences of opinion but all are "deeply concerned" about well-being of the city's children.

"If we keep that in mind and we think about the kids, we do the right thing."

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