Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wayland Town Building
School Committee Conference Room
Attendees
HSBC members: Josh Bekenstein,
Dianne Bladon, Steve Breit,
Brian Chase, Jim Howard, David Lash, Joe Lewin, Erric Sheffels, Jennifer Steel
Absent: Lea Anderson, Fred Knight, Mary Lentz,
Cindy Lombardo, Karen Talentino, Steve Tise
HMFH Team: Arthur Duffy, Stephen Friedlander, Chin
Lin, George Metzger, Steven Millington
Ex Officio members: Gary Burton, Brad Crozier, Pat Tutwiler
Call to order Ð HSBC Acting Chairman, Dianne Bladon, called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
Enrollment Projection Ð discussion. Jeff
Dieffenbach, member of the Wayland School Committee, joined the meeting through
a speakerphone and gave an enrollment presentation he and David Lash
developed. The presentation
reviewed historical enrollment and trends, as well as enrollment drivers. Jeff discussed the difficulty of making
projections based on history and reviewed several projections. He noted that once children are in the
school system, it is not difficult to predict the cohort survival from year to
year; however it is very difficult to predict kindergarten enrollment and we
have not historically been very accurate at doing so. The enrollment figures we received from
MSBA were based on only five years of history and only go out to 2017, i.e.
only the first five years of use for an updated school. JeffÕs conclusion: a reasonable hypothesis has WaylandÕs
enrollment continuing a gradual, fluctuating increase, probably between 800 and
1100, with a reasonable target midpoint at 950. Jeff had to leave the meeting after the
presentation concluded.
A discussion followed
with several points being made:
-
How does
Wayland compare to state and regional demographic trends? We should review these and consider this
information. It is difficult to
know whether these would apply to Wayland, however. For example, historically WaylandÕs
enrollment usually behaves like WestonÕs, but has been very different from
other towns in the same region and state.
-
We should
project enrollment beyond just five years, and look at a 30-year cycle.
-
MSBA does not
appear to have considered demographic trends or build-out in their
analysis. WeÕve been as high as
1200 with the fewer bedrooms than currently exist in Wayland, so it could
happen again.
-
We should
consider a long-term enrollment figure for sizing common spaces, and a
shorter-term projection for classrooms.
However this may not be acceptable to MSBA.
-
MSBA has said
in several meetings that it wonÕt support building for maximum enrollment.
-
Several other
communities have reached agreement with MSBA on an enrollment figure, through a
process of discussions and meetings.
MSBA has been most receptive when communities brought new information or
analysis to their attention.
-
MSBA verbally
mentioned a figure of 930 for Wayland in an earlier meeting attended by Lea and
Gary.
-
Several
committee members voiced a concern that this figure seemed low, and expressed
their support for a figure closer to 1,000.
The next step will be for
Wayland to respond to MSBA, by asking for a meeting to discuss the projections
and present additional information that the HSBC believes is relevant. It was concluded that a smaller group
should work offline to refine JeffÕs presentation and develop a more specific
enrollment recommendation for MSBA to consider. It was suggested that the smaller group
should consult with Fred Knight, and also should seek information from Belmont
and Hanover, who have reached an enrollment agreement with MSBA already. When Lea returns, she will contact MSBA
to ask for a meeting.
Motion: A motion was made by Joe Lewin and
seconded by Eric Sheffels that the HSBC would support the continued analysis of
the smaller group and their conclusion, with a target figure between 930 and
1050.
Vote: The motion was approved unanimously, 9
in favor, 0 opposed.
Proposed HMFH Team. George Metzger introduced the proposed
team from HMFH and distributed their resumes. Each team member gave a brief review of
their experience and their qualifications.
An HSBC member asked how HMFH would bring fresh eyes and a new
perspective to this project, given their involvement so far. George noted that many HMFH team members
were new to the project and emphasized HMFHÕs commitment to being
open-minded. He also pointed out
that the industry has seen many changes in the years since the last project was
done, for example in the technology of mechanical systems in schools. He said that HMFH is constantly looking
at ways school buildings can be different and improved.
MSBA Update. Gary gave the committee an update on a
presentation Katherine Craven of MSBA made to 100 school superintendents at
M.A.S.S. in August. She emphasized
MSBAÕs wish to control every aspect of the school construction process and
noted that the process would be new.
The old SBA no longer exists, but many aspects of the process are still
being developed. Building needs and
enrollments will be key priorities for project approval. Communities will not be allowed to
overbuild.
Dianne reported on a
meeting Lea, Joy Buhler and the Turner team attended August 11th
with the OPM Review Committee, when Turner presented their proposals for
Wayland and Belmont. MSBA is
struggling with accountability for the OPMÕs and asked if Turner would be
willing to Òwork for two bosses.Ó
Although Turner has assured us they will work with MSBA, there are
outstanding contract issues around indemnification.
Next Steps. MSBA has requested HMFH to present
before their Designer Review Panel on Tuesday, September 9, and sent an email
in which they were very specific about the content and format of the 10-minute
presentation. Dianne and Gary will
also attend. MSBA approval of HMFH
should follow, at which time the contract negotiation subcommittee (Dave, Joe,
Mary, Lea and Joy) will begin work.
Before
she left on vacation, Lea spoke with Mary Pichetti at MSBA, who asked to meet
with us and with Turner to discuss the outstanding issues. Dianne spoke with Trip Elmore at Turner
last week, and he was confident the issues could be resolved in this
meeting. When Lea returns from
vacation on Sept. 15, she will arrange the meeting. Lea and others from the contract
negotiation subcommittee as needed will work with Turner to prepare for this
meeting. With MSBA approval of
Turner, the contract negotiation subcommittee will begin work on this contract
as well.
Members
of the committee will continue to work on enrollment analysis, and will refine
the presentation Jeff gave. When
Lea returns, she will contact Mary Pichetti to ask for a meeting with MSBA to
discuss enrollment.
At the
next School Committee meeting on Sept. 15th, the HSBC will present
the HMFH team and the enrollment analysis for approval.
It is
hoped that these three MSBA approvals (designer selection, OPM selection, and
target enrollment for design) can be obtained before the end of September. If so, work will begin to update the
Feasibility Study and the HSBC will resume an every other Thursday meeting
schedule.
At this
point in the meeting Dianne thanked the HMFH team for their participation and
they departed.
Vote on HMFH Proposed Team. The members discussed the team proposed
by HMFH, the use of subcontractors, and the scope of decision-making by the
contract negotiation team.
Following this discussion, the committee took a vote.
Motion: A motion was made by Josh Bekenstein and
seconded by Steve Breit that we approve the proposed HMFH team.
Vote: The motion was approved unanimously
- 9 in favor, 0 opposed.
Motion Ð A motion was made by Josh
Bekenstein and seconded by Dave Lash to approve the minutes of the HSBC meeting
#55 on July 23, 2008.
Vote Ð The motion was approved
unanimously Ð 6 in favor, 0 opposed.
Adjournment Ð The HSBC adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Observers: Janet Correia, Lisa Valone