9 Takeaways from the Nov. 10 ESBC Meeting

At last night’s Elementary School Building Committee meeting, the group received an update on project milestones. See our roundup of last month’s meeting for additional insights.

A temporary certificate of occupancy was granted on Nov. 9, with substantial completion achieved on Oct. 28. Final completion is scheduled for Dec. 12. Technology and furniture, fixtures and equipment should be fully installed the week before Thanksgiving to allow for move-in activities to begin on Nov. 28. 

In terms of the overall project budget, spending is still expected to come in below the allotted $98 million. That’s a significant accomplishment given that the foundation for the new Center Elementary School was poured in August 2020, at the height of Covid, and construction has proceeded through supply chain challenges and high inflation. Tewksbury’s MSBA reimbursement rate is 58.77%.

The green roofs are nearing completion, and library shelves are in. All classrooms will have Clear Touch interactive display systems. There’s been significant work on the kitchen, and the Board of Health is expected on site on Monday to sign off.

Committee member Shannon Demos brought up Lia’s Book Nook, a reading spot in the Trahan library named after student Lia DiFronzo, who passed away in 2008 at age 8 after a battle with leukemia. TPS Superintendent Brenda Regan said the transfer of items from the nook and other memorabilia from the Trahan and North Street schools will be discussed at next week’s School Committee meeting. 

The job site has been extremely safe — Planning Board representative member Jonathan Ciampa commended Consigli on a 99.3% safety score, with only three incidents. 

TPS Business Manager Dave Libby said there have been meetings with all teaching staff, and move packages have been distributed. Regan shared that teachers have been able to see the layout of a typical classroom to help them decide what to bring with them.

About $65,500 in change orders were approved, including some $14,000 for improvements at the Pleasant St. crosswalk. The DPW is doing line striping, and a flashing crosswalk sign should be installed by mid-December.

There was discussion on where to place the dedication plaque. The committee will walk the site prior to its Dec. 8 meeting and make a decision based on input from CBRE and Consigli. The plaque will list Elementary School Building and School Committee and Select Board members. 

Some parent/student field trips are planned for the week before the December break, said Regan. A ribbon cutting and public open house are also planned. Those dates will be finalized at the next meeting.