MSBA: No Stearns in Proposed West Pittsfield School
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Stearns may not be part of the proposed consolidated West Side elementary school after all.
During the School Building Needs Commission meeting on Monday, the owner's project managers, Skanska, reported that the Massachusetts School Building Authority would not fund a three-school project.
Stearns Elementary School had been included in the feasibility study to see if Crosby Elementary, Conte Community School, and Stearns Elementary could all be located at 517 West St.
Project designers TSKP reviewed 12 different school options, and it was relayed that only the rebuilds of Crosby and Conte could be fully funded. Pittsfield would have to pay for Stearns.
"I also think it's important to look at long-term and affordability, and if we choose to keep Stearns in, we're going to make the decision to keep PHS out," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.
"The city cannot afford it all."
He added that he would vote "no" on Pittsfield High School if the city is doubling down on Stearns. The city is also pursuing a statement of interest to the MSBA to fund repairs to the high school, which is almost a century old.
"I'm not going to go to the taxpayers and say, 'give me two debt exclusions so we can build new schools,'" the mayor said.
"It's not going to happen. It's not going to pass, and I'm not going to put myself or the community through it."
Stearns was renovated in 2000, designers reported, and is in better shape compared to other schools.
Skanska is about halfway through the preliminary design program, and it will be submitted at the end of January, followed by the preferred schematic report. The goal is to settle on an enrollment by this time so that the vision is streamlined, a vote the School Committee takes.
In December, a report of the pros and cons of different enrollments will be presented.
"We think it's a pretty obvious answer, but we'll let you guys make that decision," the OPM said to the commission.
Superintendent Latifah Phillips replied that she doesn't know if it is that obvious, but it is a hard decision.
"We should be concentrating on the facts, making the decision a well-informed decision to go forward," Co-Chair Frank LaRagione said.
The planners will compile costs as part of the enrollment report, including operational costs, to ensure they have thoroughly reviewed things from every angle and "not just make a quick decision based on the MSBA's position."
Community outreach meetings and a public survey will gauge the community's feelings on the proposed new school.
Tags: Crosby/Conte project, MSBA,
