Cost For Templeton School Discussed

Cost For Templeton School Discussed
Public forum set for Thursday
‘There’s good news and bad news.’ — Jon Winikur, project manager

Rebecca Leonard
News Correspondent

TEMPLETON  Updates on the cost for the new elementary school building are being reviewed by the Elementary School Building Committee.

“There’s good news and bad news. The good news is the team worked very hard to make sure the cost didn’t rise and it didn’t. The bad news is what was eligible to be reimbursable also dropped,” ex­plained project manager Jon Winikur at a meeting on Thursday.

According to Phillip Poinelli and Joel Seeley of Symmes Maini & McKee Associates, the total cost of the project is $48 million which includes the building construction, site work, fees and expenses, furniture, fixtures, equipment and contingencies.

Of that cost, about $36 million is considered core costs, and 62 percent of that amount will be reimbursed by the Massachusetts School Building Authority – about $22 million making the final total to the town $26 million.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hemman requested that SMMA create a detailed list of the eligible costs that will be reimbursed to be provided at the first public hearing.

Items that are ineligible for reimbursement include the furniture costs and the reconstruction of the intersection of South Road and Wellington Road.

Although the town will be reimbursed, the full $48 million will need to be approved to be borrowed at the election.

“We’re going to get the questions about what cutbacks we can make so it’s not as high,” stated Mr. Hemman.

Mr. Winikur explained that any cost they put forward for the building will be too high. However, he assured that making cuts won’t take off millions of dollars.

“There are always opportunities to reduce cost. But we want to make sure we don’t dig into the educational program,” he said.

“It’s not worth it. You’re talking small little things,” said Elementary School Building Committee Chairman Kirk Moschetti.

The committee agreed to present the cost to the public as is and discuss cutbacks if necessary at a later time.

The amount of money that will be added to residents’ tax bills hasn’t been calculated yet but Mr. Hemman states that he will be sitting down with assessors this week and discussing the correct amount.

The entire schematic design project must be submitted on Oct. 1 to the MSBA for their review on Nov. 18.

A public forum will be held on Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Safka Auditorium at Narr­agansett Middle School. Mr. Winikur and members of SMMA will be available to answer questions posed by anyone who attends. All residents of Templeton are encouraged to attend.

“This is Templeton’s time. It effects the whole district. If we don’t do this, what’s going to happen in the future,” expressed Mr. Hemman.