New Elementary School

Litchfield School District Building Proposal

Where we are now & how we got here

• 1930: GMS opens, 4 classrooms• 1955: 4 classrooms added• 1958: 2 classrooms added• 1960: 4 classrooms added• 1972: 9 classrooms, gym, offices• 1978: 5 classrooms, library, cafeteria• 1983: 3 classrooms • 1984: Grades 1-8 = 643 students• 1988: LMS opens - 300 student capacity

• 9 regular classrooms• 2 science rooms• 4 rooms (music, art, FACS, tech ed)• 2 sped rooms

A Lot of History

• 2004: School bond fails• GMS repairs• New smaller school

• 2005: School bond fails• 1 large school

• 2006: School bond fails (smaller than ’05)• 1 large school

• 2006: School board re-vamps building committee• No school board voting members• 5 community members volunteer• SAU & school board liaisons

• 2008: upcoming bond vote

Recent history

Building Committee Members2006-2007

Voting members (*) reside in Litchfield

• Tracy Caprioglio*, Chair• Mike Boschi*, Vice-chair • Karl Franck* • Jack Scheiner* • Shawn Egan*• Cathy Hamblett – SAU Liaison• Steve Martin – SAU Liaison• Cindy Couture – School Board Liaison• Bo Schlichter – GMS Liaison• Dan Cecil – Architect

All school board members are Litchfield residents

What’s the problem?

There’s a real need for:There’s a real need for:

newer, modern educational spacesnewer, modern educational spaces

ADA & building code compliance ADA & building code compliance

solving the water problem solving the water problem

standards compliancestandards compliance

kindergarten spacekindergarten space

energy efficiencyenergy efficiency

storage spacestorage space

What options were considered ?– Renovate GMS with an addition

– The roof on GMS could not handle the weight of a second story addition

– Restrictions on state building aid– Renovate GMS with a new small school

– construction costs alone were higher than a one school option

– Restrictions on state building aid– Replace GMS with a new larger school

– Least expensive option– No questions on state building aid– One elementary school to maintain– No state building aid for GMS site new

construction– Kindergarten space

So what’s the repair list and associated costs?• The list is extremely detailed and too The list is extremely detailed and too

large to list here (copies available) large to list here (copies available) • Major itemsMajor items

– Stop ALL use of the 1930’s buildingStop ALL use of the 1930’s building– New HVAC systemsNew HVAC systems– New electrical and lightingNew electrical and lighting– Central dehumidification (attempt to resolve Central dehumidification (attempt to resolve

humidity issue)humidity issue)– New windows and doorsNew windows and doors– ADA code complianceADA code compliance– New insulation above ceilingsNew insulation above ceilings– Additional roof support (snow load bearing)Additional roof support (snow load bearing)– Septic system life unknownSeptic system life unknown

• Total: $10.5 million to “revitalize” GMSTotal: $10.5 million to “revitalize” GMS• Average $150,000 per year in repairsAverage $150,000 per year in repairs

OK, $10+ million is still less than a new school

• Repairs would update the physical Repairs would update the physical systems in the buildingsystems in the building

• Repairs do not address the Repairs do not address the educational shortcomings of the educational shortcomings of the building (no movement of walls, etcbuilding (no movement of walls, etc))

– Designed for 401 studentsDesigned for 401 students– Special Ed student spaces not appropriateSpecial Ed student spaces not appropriate– 1930’s building usability ( 4 classrooms + 1930’s building usability ( 4 classrooms +

storage lost)storage lost)– Classroom square footage restrictionsClassroom square footage restrictions– Technology un-friendlyTechnology un-friendly– Lack of storageLack of storage

Can’t we renovate GMS?• Renovation has to meet State Department of Renovation has to meet State Department of

Education specificationsEducation specifications– Square footage per studentSquare footage per student

• Reduces the capacity of GMS even furtherReduces the capacity of GMS even further

• State Department of Education won’t provide building State Department of Education won’t provide building aid for ANY NEW construction on the GMS siteaid for ANY NEW construction on the GMS site

• Still have the water issue to solve for state aid Still have the water issue to solve for state aid availabilityavailability

• Where to put the students while work Where to put the students while work progresses?progresses?

– Can’t do the work in phasesCan’t do the work in phases

• Costs could approach new construction costsCosts could approach new construction costs• Still requires additional new constructionStill requires additional new construction

Proposal Overview• Use district owned land next to LMSUse district owned land next to LMS

– Dry, excellent soils for constructionDry, excellent soils for construction– No land acquisition costsNo land acquisition costs

• Classroom capacity for 705 students at openingClassroom capacity for 705 students at opening– 625 students in grades 1-5625 students in grades 1-5– 80 ½ day kindergarten students80 ½ day kindergarten students

• Cafeteria and Library designs easily expanded to Cafeteria and Library designs easily expanded to accommodate any future growthaccommodate any future growth

– Initial size reduced by educational spacesInitial size reduced by educational spaces• State Building AidState Building Aid

– 30% reimbursement for grade 1-5 areas30% reimbursement for grade 1-5 areas– 75% reimbursement for kindergarten areas75% reimbursement for kindergarten areas

• Durable, modern and energy efficient Durable, modern and energy efficient • Cost effective forCost effective for long & short term• Provides “breathing room” given the current 10

year enrollment projections

How does it all fit at the LMS Site?

How many classrooms, and what layout?

How many classrooms, and what layout?

Project Financials

Project Financials

Kindergarten ImpactConstruction : $1,141,800Administrative: $ 252,990Fees/Services: $ 116,000Sub-total: $1,510,790

75% state aid: $1,133,093

District cost: $ 377,697

Impact Fees: $ 377,697

Net cost $ 0

What about my taxes over 15 years?15 year bond @ 5%

$300,000 home: Year 1 = $132 Year 2 = $429 Year 3 = $429 Year 2 is the highest tax impact Total taxes over 15 years: $6345

$400,000 home: Year 1 = $176 Year 2 = $572

Year 3 = $572 Year 2 is the highest tax impact Total taxes over 15 years: $8460

What about my taxes over 20 years?

20 year bond @ 5%

$300,000 home: Year 1 = $138 Year 2 = $366 Year 3 = $366 Year 2 is the highest tax impact Total taxes over 20 years: $7068

$400,000 home: Year 1 = $184 Year 2 = $488 Year 3 = $488 Year 2 is the highest tax impact Total taxes over 20 years: $9424

Questions

Dollars and Sense

Putting it into perspective..

$1.80/dayFor coffee

$1.57/day

$1.70/dayFor cable TV

$2.15/dayMovies -1/month

Next Steps

• Get community members involved!Get community members involved!– Public forumsPublic forums– GMS “Behind the Scenes” ToursGMS “Behind the Scenes” Tours– Host a neighborhood/group meetingHost a neighborhood/group meeting– Send postcardsSend postcards– Adopt a signAdopt a sign– Flyer distributionFlyer distribution– Voting day supportVoting day support– Letters to the editorLetters to the editor

• HLNHLN• Nashua TelegraphNashua Telegraph• Manchester Union LeaderManchester Union Leader

– Provide your email addressProvide your email address• Forward communications to friendsForward communications to friends• Upcoming eventsUpcoming events

Unanswered questions• What will happen to GMS ?What will happen to GMS ?

– Need community inputNeed community input• Public forumsPublic forums

• QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

• SurveysSurveys

– Stay sensitive to town master plan and zoningStay sensitive to town master plan and zoning– Obtain an updated appraisalObtain an updated appraisal– ““Best use” might be residential housingBest use” might be residential housing

• Sports fields?Sports fields?– Remain in use during constructionRemain in use during construction– School board is sensitive to usageSchool board is sensitive to usage

• We have 2 years to determine the best solution