By By Clarence Fanto,The Berkshire Eagle

Copyright berkshireeagle

LENOX — The school district leadership has reversed its decision to pursue state funding for a combined building addition and renovation project at the middle and high school.

Citing potential complications associated with dealing with the state, the district announced the change during last week’s School Committee meeting, available on demand via Channel 1302 at ctsb.org.

“This step back was to be fiscally prudent for the town and its timelines for expenses,” schools Superintendent William Collins said. “But there’s still a full will, dedication and commitment to having an addition in a way that makes a lot of sense and fits in with the needs of the town.”

Funding for safety and security upgrades for the two school buildings are his No. 1 priorities “for obvious reasons,” he told The Eagle on Monday. Roof repairs are second on his list.

The plan for a potential $20 million to $30 million project, including a new wing at the middle and high school for up to eight additional classrooms, had been on a potential fast track for state funding support from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

But School Committee Chair Oren Cass, describing the MSBA as “a wonderful partner,” said that the “envisioned small addition to an existing building” is not what the building authority program is designed for. He said the total amount of possible state funding support “just really didn’t pencil out.”

As a result, a combined school department and town committee formed to shepherd the project decided unanimously to “exit the MSBA process at this point,” Cass said, adding that the decision was strongly supported by the school administration, Town Manager Jay Green and the Select Board.

Instead, Cass said, a five-year plan will be developed to coordinate school maintenance projects such as HVAC, parking lot renovation and locker room upgrades that need to be prioritized for a timeline based on availability of town capital investment support.

The size and scope of each capital improvement project and the order of priority is being explored by a team of school administrators, working with P-Three Inc. project manager Daniel Pallotta.

He and his design team are credited for the new Richmond Town Hall and Library, and for the nearly completed Lenox public safety center.

The five-year plan would be proposed at next May’s annual town meeting, according to Cass, based on approvals by the School Committee and the town’s Finance Committee and on available town funding.

School Committee member Kim Graham inquired about possible delays affecting needed roof repairs at the middle and high school, especially over the gymnasium, and at Morris Elementary School.

The state SBA has a separate program to cover repairs and renovations to roofs, windows, doors and heating systems that could support the Lenox school district’s needs two years from now, Collins noted.

The gymnasium roof repair is the most immediately needed project, Cass noted.

Urgent repairs would be covered by the town on a faster schedule, Collins said Monday.

As for current roof and window repair needs, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Melissa Falkowski explained that contractors can be hired for urgent work “in order to limp toward the two years.”

“So, we’re going to do the Band-aid thing for the next two years,” Graham suggested. “Yes,” Falkowski responded.