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Plans for renovation and addition to Clarksburg School

Information Sessions Begin for Clarksburg School Project

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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CLARKSBURG, Mass. — School officials are pushing for a vote on school construction project for September that, if successful, means a projected opening in fall 2019.
 
The timeline was explained on Wednesday during the first public information session on the proposed $17.5 million school construction project. The entire presentation can be seen below. 
 
The plans, "Scheme E," is available on Clarksburg School's website and includes a renovation of the so-called 1960s wing, and addition on that wing in the back, and the tear down and reconstruction of the 1970s wing. 
 
Christian Whitsett, of Jones Whitsett Architects, said the building has numerous issues regarding accessibility and state guidelines. 
 
"It's below state standards throughout," he said, with only a couple exception. "More than 70 percent is below state guidelines."
 
During planning and meetings with the School Building Committee, four priorities emerged: preschool and updated classroom space, replacing the undersized and inefficient cafeteria/gym/auditorium, renovating or replacing the 1970s wing that has outlived its 20-year lifespan, and the cost.
 
The lowest estimate at $11 million would have renovated the existing building but not address space issues, the preschool or gym. Building a brand-new school that addressed everything came in at $23.5 million. 
 
Scheme E appears to solve the most pressing issues and comes in at $17.5 million, of which $8.8 million is projected to come from the state. 
 
Superintendent Jonathan Lev said state reimbursement for eligible costs is currently at 62 percent but that may increase if the state finds the town's overall wealth has gone down.
 
"Clarksburg is coming out at a higher poverty level so we may go down a little [on the town's share]," he said. "We're hoping that when the schematic design comes out it will look more favorable in our direction."
 
The new plans recommended by the School Building Committee and approved by the Massachusetts School Building Authority resolves accessibility issues throughout, and addresses security, new building envelope and heating system, sprinkler system, gymnasium, lack of instructional and flexible space, and early education needs. 
 
"We worked with the district to really get an understanding of what was needed and what spaces work well," Whitsett said. "We're proposing to add on 10,000 sqare feet from what you have today ... We're about halfway through schematic design."
 
The state Department of Environmental Protection is allowing the school to maintain its well, Whitsett said, but a tank would have to be put in place to cover the sprinkler system. The location of the well, near the front of the L-shaped building, also limits making any disturbance in that area. 
 
The front section connected to the town library will be torn down and rebuilt on the original foundation so the footprint won't change. A wider hallway, rather than the current "labrynthine" one, will better connect the wing to the rest of the school. It will continue to be connected to the library with the appropriate security measures. 
 
The new with will contain prekindergarten through Grade 1 with two smaller rooms for speech and Title 1. 
 
The main entrance will stay where it is but be reconfigured for larger administration space, the nurse and security. The plans envision a "window wall" on the north side inspired by old plans for the building. 
 
The main wing will be renovated with several specialized classrooms and storage and access to the addition that will have a sicence room and other workspace. An elevator will replace the current lift and allow access to all three levels.
 
The mezzanine area -- the stairways going down the back way to the gym -- will have storage space and the new wing will hold a new kitchen, cafeteria, art and music, storage and a 4,000 square-foot middle-school sized gym that would be a pre-engineered structure to save costs. 
 
The building will have brand-new energy efficient windows, fixtures, doors, boiler system and finishes to bring the school up to 21st century standards. Air conditioning would be limited to a few areas. 
 
Principal Tara Barnes said it is getting more difficult to keep the obsolete boilers operating; fixtures are so outdated they can no longer be fixed. 
 
To address bubble years, when two classes are required for a grade, four or five flexible spaces are built into the plans to accommodate expansions. 
 
Next fall, for example, there will be two kindergarten classes because of the number of children enrolled -- a situation that could continue through Grade 8. That's put "art on a cart" because a room had to be turned into another classroom. 
 
Whitsett said the music and art rooms on the lower level of the new building will have an accordian door between them that can be rolled back to create an 1,800 square foot room or closed to create two 900 square-foot rooms. Several support rooms will have semi-permanent walls that can be removed to create larger spaces and there are two special education rooms that while small, could be used. 
 
"We went back to these plans so many times because of this bubble question," Barnes said. "So to have four different options to accommodate this bubble class ... this team has done a remarkable job ... I think we've gotten to a really good point with the bubble class."
 
There were also questioned asked about where the students would go during construction if the project is approved. Lev said Sullivan School in North Adams was an option, and that recent fires set in the vacant building were primarily caused smoke damage that is covered by insurance. 
 
Clarksburg would not have to pay rent but would be responsible for any operational costs. Sullivan is for sale but, Lev said, the mayor would be able to say whether they could use it during the 2018-19 year once they get closer to the date. 
 
Another option is Cheshire Elementary, slated to close this spring, but it is farther away and the town's plans for it are unknown yet. 
 
"There are a couple other possibilities but that would cost more," he said. "If they worked here while the kids were here, it would cost a lot more because it would take longer to do it."
 
The MSBA does not reimburse for rentals or relocations so Lev anticipated and preparation or moving costs to come out of school choice funds. 
 
Final schematics and a project cost reconciled from two two independent estimators are due to the MSBA by June 29.  MSBA approval is expected by Aug. 23 and a vote on a debt exclusion to fund the project is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 27. 
 
"We plan to have a lot more of these informational sessions," Lev said. "We want to be as open and transparent and as honest as we can."
 
The plans and information on the school project can be found on the school's website
 


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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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