By NEIL ZOLOT
NORTH READING — School Department large capital projects, defined as those costing more than $25,000, could total $4,426,000 during Fiscal Years 2025-2027.
Expenditures are predicted to be most expensive in FY26 at $2,810,000 with $741,000 planned for FY25 and $470,000 for FY27.
These capital projects are divided into three categories: facilities, technology and vehicles. Overall, facilities work total $3,696,000 in the three-year period with $496,000 slated for FY25; $2,600,000 for FY26 and $275,000 for FY027.
Technology projects total $560,000, specifically $150,000 for FY25, $210,000 for FY26 and $120,000 for FY27.
That leaves $170,000 for vehicles, specifically $95,000 in FY25, $0 in FY26 and $75,000 in FY27.
“This proposal represents the hard work of our facilities and digital learning team as well as Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Michael Connelly to identify the priority items in our capital plan that we should address for the benefit of all students,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Daly said. “As discussed, all of these items are so important and we appreciate the discussion and the ongoing work of the Capital Improvement Plan Committee to identify the means to support as many projects as possible.”
Funding would be proposed to come from a variety of sources, including Free Cash and debt exclusions overrides. “I wish some of these projects could be funded in our operations budget, but it’s stitched too thin, so [we] appreciate the town’s commitment to investing in capital projects,” commented School Committee Chair Scott Buckley.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE EXCEPRTS
Excerpts from a presentation given to the School Committee at its meeting on Monday, October 23 outlined the numerous large capital projects the School Department aims to fund.
Fiscal Year 2025 excerpts
- Middle/High School Technology Instructional Equipment Phase 1: $150,000 to address the interactive display boards at the Middle/High School and bring a similar technology and solutions previously done at the elementary schools to these classrooms.
The smart-boards were installed with the building project in 2013 and 2014 and are approaching 10 years old and reaching the end of their useful life. The plan involves addressing this need with a phased-in approach beginning in FY25 with a goal of completing all classrooms by FY27.
There are 100 rooms between the Middle/High School and the estimated cost for this one-stop solution is $3,000-$3,500 per room for a total investment of about $300,000. The FY25 request includes $150,000 to begin this replacement plan at the High School first, which has the oldest boards installed in 2013.
- FY25 Vehicle Request: The 2014 Ford F-450 utility rack truck is 10 years old with over 65,000 miles on it. It has been breaking down and costing the district more in repairs each year, including costly engine and truck bed repairs in recent years costing over $10,000. It has recently failed multiples inspections and is in need of replacement at an estimated cost of $95,000.
- FY25 Hood School roof restoration: $400,000. The Hood roof was contracted in 1999 and fully installed and completed in September 2001. It is reaching the end of its useful life (25 years) as over the past five years there have been several leaks, costly repairs and maintenance work to maintain the structure and integrity of the roof. A smaller scale project could be performed in specific areas to repair the membrane thus extending its expected life another 10 years. However, the estimate of the cost of this project is still being determined as a new infra-red moisture scan needs to be performed. Such a solution could cost up to $400,000.
The roof project could also be a candidate for MSBA’s accelerated repair program similar to that of the Little School roof project. New age requirements of such a project requires the roof to be older than 25 years to be considered, which is another one- to two-year wait.
FY25: Elementary intrusion alarm system upgrades: $60,000. This phase would include upgrades to the intrusion alarm systems; which are outdated and have become costly to repair and troubleshoot. There has been a significant advancement in technology over the last five years as well and this project calls for a phased-in approach to address the intrusion alarm systems and the access control systems.
Phase 1 for $50,000 replaced the existing clock systems with a wireless clock system with an earmarked state grant and gift funds. This phase would replace the intrusion alarm systems at all three schools which would improve the uniformity and safety with a reliable consistent system at all three schools with the latest technology. The project involves a new main panel, new devices, and all new wiring; Quotes have been received at each school.
A feasibility study at the Hood and Little Schools that would include an analysis of all options at both locations including, replacement and removal, as well as installation of a more permanent structure and its cost to be studied by a qualified engineering and architectural firm. The immediate plan is to perform a feasibility study to include an analysis of all options at both locations including replacement and removal, as well as installation of a more permanent structure and its cost. a firm has performed walk-throughs of both units and has provided a price of $36,000 to perform such a study.
Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 excerpts
- FY26 future technology requests include a computer replacement plan for $60,000. The district has been able to use a combination of large capital and operating budget funds to replace aging devices and support the 1:1 student device program. This district was able to leverage Covid-19 funding and earmark state grants the last several years to purchase enough devices; an annual large capital request of $60,000 will allow the district to replace the needed student devices annually resuming in FY26.
- FY26 and FY27 technology requests include Middle/High School Technology Instructional Equipment Continuation of $150,000; continuing to address the interactive display boards at the Middle/High School and bring similar technology and solutions done at the elementary schools to these classrooms. There are of 100 rooms between the Middle/High School and the estimated cost for this one-stop solution is $3,000-3,500 per room for a total investment of about $300,000.
• Staff device replacement for $60,000. The district may periodically need additional large capital funds to replace aging staff laptop devices every few years, which is anticipated to occur in FY27.