HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE UPDATE
November
12, 2008
This update describes
the work of the High School Building Committee (HSBC) since the Annual Town
Meeting on April 10, 2008. The work of
the HSBC, in prior years, is summarized in the Report of the HSBC published in
the January 2005 Special Town Meeting Warrant.
It and the more extensive Preliminary Design Report are both available
on the HSBC web site (www.waylandschoolcommittee.org/whs/hsbc/index.htm) and at
the Wayland Public Library.
Over the past six
months, the HSBC met five times for a total of 57 meetings since January
2004. These most recent meetings
focused on the required steps leading to the Feasibility Study phase defined by
the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). More information on the topics highlighted below is available on
the HSBC web site and at the Wayland Public Library.
The MSBA laid out
the process for school districts as follows:
1. Submit the
Initial Compliance Certification
2. Form a School
Building Committee
3. Complete an
enrollment questionnaire
4. Complete an
enrollment projection working with the MSBA consultant
5. Procure an
Owner’s Project Manager subject to approval by the MSBA
6. Procure a
Feasibility Designer through the MSBA’s Designer Selection Panel
7. Execute a
Feasibility Study Agreement with the MSBA detailing scope, schedule, milestones
and cost-sharing parameters of the Feasibility Study.
8. Execute Project
Scope and Budget Agreement including schedule, price, and MSBA participation.
9. Conduct a local
vote on project
10. Execute Project Funding Agreement
Wayland has completed
the first three steps and is awaiting action from the MSBA on an enrollment projection
meeting, Owner’s Project Manager selection, and Designer selection.
During the past
summer the HSBC conducted a search for an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM). This process attracted many qualified firms. The HSBC reviewed proposals from eight firms
and interviewed four. In August, the
HSBC presented its selections to the MSBA.
The HSBC’s first two choices for OPM
are unwilling to sign the MSBA contract. They and many other OPMS are working with the MSBA to iron out
issues with the newly defined MSBA process and contract. Until these issues are resolved, Wayland’s
final selection has not been settled.
In the meantime, the HSBC’s selected designer, HMFH Architects,
presented a new team for the Wayland High School project to the MSBA for
approval in September.
The HSBC reviewed
enrollment projections and worked to refine its proposal for a design
enrollment number to negotiate with the MSBA.
This discussion should take place within the next few weeks.
Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) – MSBA regulations define a five-phase process, with
guidelines that clearly define the components, their sizes, and their
characteristics for which the state will provide reimbursement.. The state and local community will work
together at every step of the new process.
The five phases are: identify
the problem, verify the problem, collaborate on a solution, agree on a
solution, and implement the agreed upon solution.
Identify the Problem (Statement of Interest) – The Wayland School Committee and Board of Selectmen
submitted a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building
Authority in August 2006. There were
423 SOIs submitted from 162 districts.
The SOI was the first step in the application process for state funding.
Collaborate
on a Solution - The Massachusetts School Building
Authority (MSBA) at its Board of Directors meeting on Nov. 28, 2007, invited
Wayland High School to move forward to the Feasibility Study phase of applying
for state funding.
The MSBA has defined a rolling capital pipeline of $2.5
billion spread over five years. The
MSBA will introduce projects into this pipeline as they are deemed ready.
Wayland has been told
by the MSBA to plan for 40% reimbursement on the Feasibility Study. Wayland voters approved $300,000 at the 2007
Annual Town Meeting in anticipation of being selected by the MSBA. Those funds have not been spent and are
available to begin the Feasibility Study as soon as the state is ready.
Next Steps –
When Wayland and the MSBA begin working on the Feasibility Study, the HSBC will
begin again to engage the community in developing a solution to the facility
problems at Wayland High School. The
MSBA will define the scope of a reimbursable project by determining the
enrollment, the square footage per student, and the allowable cost per square
foot.
It is the intention
of the HSBC to generate a plan for Wayland High School that will be widely
supported by the taxpayers of Wayland.
Building on the consensus that something needs to be done to improve the
high school facility, the HSBC will work closely with the MSBA to secure state
funding and with the taxpayers of Wayland to agree on a project.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lea T. Anderson, HSBC
Chairman
High School Building
Committee Members
Lea
Anderson 508-358-2667 lea@anderson.name
Josh
Bekenstein 508-358-5651 jbekenstein@baincapital.com
Dianne
Bladon 508-358-0068 dehbladon@aol.com
Steve
Breit 508-358-7966 sbreit@comcast.net
Brian
Chase 508-788-1081 abchase@comcast.net
Jim
Howard 508-358-2619 howard.james@comcast.net
Fred
Knight 508-358-0834 fred@knightway.org
David
Lash 508-358-5294 david.lash@comcast.net
Mary
Lentz 617-542-4141 mlentz@mccallalmy.com
Joe
Lewin 508-653-9952 joelewin@comcast.net
Cindy
Lombardo 508-358-5958 sweetlifer@aol.com
Eric
Sheffels 508-358-5461 eric.sheffels@lmp.com
Jennifer
Steel 508-652-1952 jsteel@FraminghamMA.gov
Karen
Talentino 508-358-5961 talentino@comcast.net