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City officials and teachers toured the school a few weeks ago.

North Adams Ready to Take Possession of Colegrove School

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city is expected to take possession of Colegrove Park Elementary School this week, with the teachers scheduled to begin moving in on Dec. 14.

It's a sign that the $30 million project is finally nearing completion — albeit four months late.

Mayor Richard Alcombright on Monday told the School Building Committee that the city's building inspector was ready to issue a certificate of occupancy, as soon as the architects deemed that the renovation project had reached the "substantial completion" point.

"I think I will be ready to issue it tomorrow," said Margo Jones, of Jones Whitsett Architects.

Two weeks ago, the city's architects and owner's project manager felt there were too many outstanding issues; this week, they say the progress has been sufficient.

"We've gone through the list of outstanding items that need to done. Most of the big items are done," Jones said. "So the list is now less than a page ...

"I'm pretty pleased with the progress that has been done and it's coming together."

Some of the still outstanding projects are because of change orders, such as the exterior handrails that were measured late for fabrication.

Another issue is the leaking near the boiler room and cafeteria kitchen that is currently being fixed. The contractors had followed the plans for waterproofing when the north wall of the gym was excavated but the plans did not include a 10-foot section.

Andy Gentile, of owner's project manager Colliers International, noted he was not on the project when the wall was excavated so didn't know why that section wasn't done.

"Shame on the contractor for not bringing it up, shame on us for not noticing it," he said.

The change order to waterproof that section is about $21,000, mostly for labor because it has to be dug out by hand because of piping in that area.



"It was up there originally but we got it down a good chunk," Gentile said, but still, "it's a good chunk of change."

The renovation of the former middle school is still on track; about $670,000 in change orders is still awaiting reimbursement approval by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

The century-old structure is also being "exhausted" as all the mechanical systems are tested. Jones said that will take care of the outgassing from the new flooring and furniture that's been installed. The consultants are still unhappy with the cleanliness factor, although Gentile pointed out the use of the air ducts is pushing all the old dust that's been sitting in them.

Jones said they have been pushing the contractor to ensure the building is properly cleaned before hand over; Gentile agreed but noted "all the schools we've done, the owner has come in and done the final polish."

Principal Shelley Fachini said the moving boxes would be delivered to Sullivan School this week and she planned to meet with teachers and staff to discuss the logistics of the move — and begin purging no longer needed items.

"It's really hard for people who have been there for a long time," she said.

The teachers' response to the new school has been positive, Fachini said.

"People were really amazed how bright and beautiful the place was," she said, referring to the faculty's tour of the building a few weeks ago."

Sullivan pupils and their parents will be invited to tour the school and see their new classrooms next week, with kindergarten through Grade 3 one night and Grades 4 through 6 the next.

Alcombright said he is planning a ribbon cutting with state officials and an open house for the public in late January. The school is set to open on Jan. 4.

"I want them to see it active as a school, not as a project," he said.


Tags: Colegrove Park,   school building committee,   

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Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will see a three-way race for a seat on the Select Board in May. 
 
Colton Andrews, Seth Alexander and Bryana Malloy returned papers by Wednesday's deadline to run for the three-year term vacated by Jeffrey Levanos. 
 
Andrews ran unsuccessfully for School Committee and is former chairman of the North Adams Housing Authority, on which he was a union representative. He is also president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council.
 
Malloy and Alexander are both newcomers to campaigning. Malloy is manager of industrial relations for the Berkshire Workforce Board and Alexander is a resident of Gates Avenue. 
 
Alexander also returned papers for several other offices, including School Committee, moderator, library trustee and the five-year seat on the Planning Board. He took out papers for War Memorial trustee and tree warden but did not return them and withdrew a run for Board of Health. 
 
He will face off in the three-year School Committee seat against incumbent Cynthia Brule, who is running for her third term, and fellow newcomer Bonnie Cunningham for library trustee. 
 
Incumbent Ronald Boucher took out papers for a one-year term as moderator but did not return them. He was appointed by affirmation in 2021 when no won ran and accepted the post again last year as a write-in.
 
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