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SPENCER-EAST BROOKFIELD – At its last meeting, the David Prouty High School Building Committee had the center court logo as well as a bell, time capsule and commemorative bricks as topics of discussion.
But first, members approved invoices totaling $3.1 million, with most of that to Fontaine Brothers ($2.8 million) and Jones Whitsett Architects ($88,444).
Rather than pay approximately $6,000 to buy a 20-foot storage trailer for use by facilities and custodial staff, member Mark Carpentier said his neighbor had one bought and delivered for half that price. Nick Pimentel of Colliers (OPM) was advised to contact Island Industries on the Sturbridge border to talk about the possibility.
Work updates given
In updating the board on the project, Pimentel noted “a lot of big things happened,” as phase two of the project officially gets underway.
The high school administration has moved into the pre-K wing and the “A” wing renovation and site work begins this month. Abatement and demolition of the “B” wing also starts in July.
The North addition and site work is slated to begin in September, according to Pimentel.
“I drive by every day and it looks like big changes are going on,” Carpentier said.
Nicole Ferreira, representing Fontaine Brothers, led the board members through some photographs of work being done including the field and track; metal roofing on the South wing; pre-K playground equipment; wood cap railings on stairs; tile and flooring; and fencing and gates up for phase two.
“Things are cooking out in the field,” Ferreira said.
Historic bell placement pitched
Architect Kristian Whitsett of Jones Whitsett tried to gauge the board’s interest in locating an historic bell (from Spencer Country Inn) in the common area at the main entrance.
Whitsett said the bell could either be integrated into a wall with display cases on each side of it or put on a free-standing metal structure.
“It is a nice way to bring history into the building. It seems like a fun artifact to show off,” Whitsett said.
He said the bell, weighing “a few hundred pounds,” would be adequately supported with either option.
Superintendent Paul Haughey, who was chair at the meeting, said his main priority is safety and ensuring the item is sturdy enough “not to come down on someone.”
Getting a consensus that board members are interested in the bell, Whitsett said it would be incorporated into project costs and he would return at a future meeting with more information.
Salvaged center court logo hits snag
Whitsett reported that final costs to embed the center court logo in the gym lobby floor will be more than the “not to exceed $27,000” price they approved at a previous meeting.
He noted that project would total $38,594.
Embedding a high-resolution picture of the logo in the gym floor instead would cost $10,000.
The reason for the increase was “additional structural complications with cutting out the existing slab and putting in new slab…over excavate so we can tie in to those two concrete pieces,” said Whitsett.
Whitsett said he still believes it is better the logo goes in the floor rather than get hung in the gym because of its vast weight. Both options cost around the same now.
Member Jason Monette, who is also on the School Committee, asked about the less expensive replica option.
“Who is going to know the difference between the real (logo) and fake one?” he asked.
Monette said he was not saying the high-resolution picture was the answer, but added, “The price difference is kind of crazy.”
Ultimately, the committee voted 9-2 to pay the $38,594 for the logo installation. Voting in opposition were members Mike Ethier and Donald Berthiaume.
Change orders approved
Other business included approving change orders totaling $115,785, bringing Fontaine Brothers’ contract value to $96, 677,177.
Other than the logo installation, larger ticket items included $31,156 for a wood slat ceiling in the criminal justice area to conceal an amount of duct work and mechanical piping.
Also approved was:
- $12,913 in final costs to program the high school existing network and security system at Wire Village School so the new Spectrum service can be activated in the high school.
- $11,496 for a larger LED screen for the entrance sign (19” height by 113” width to 29” by 113”). Whitsett said it can be paid for by a credit given back by the general contractor for two observation decks no longer required at the press box roof.
- Not to Exceed (NTE) $17,000 to provide new wood doors at the individual bathrooms throughout the high school. The bathroom door nine-inch undercuts were found to be too much and create a privacy issue. The options are to either have one-inch undercuts instead or get a louvered door.
Time capsule, bricks discussed
Stephen Hemman of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools (MARS) brought the matters of a time capsule and commemorative bricks to the board’s attention. Hemman will be purchasing a box to be located behind a plaque. He asked board members for suggestions of items that should be placed in the time capsule, noting that things like flash drives might be obsolete by the time it is opened in 50 or 60 years.
The time capsule is a popular component of a ribbon cutting ceremony, he said.
Whitsett said the architects/contractors could put together a book showing the design and construction process.
Monette asked whether there is a time capsule at the current school, perhaps behind granite on the “A” building cornerstone that has a date on it.
He asked if they should leave it alone or open it, a decision that would be put to the School Committee. The school was built in 1966.
Whitsett said he never saw anything about a time capsule in all the building documents. Member Mary Braney said she would ask historian Mary Baker Woods if she had any information.
Hemman also talked about the possibility of saving 500 to 1,000 bricks from the original school and making them available to alumni or graduates who want a keepsake.
One option would be to have an alumni wall with names and graduation dates on the bricks.
However, Pimentel noted most of the bricks are “spoken for,” as they are needed for punch list work on the project.
He suggested asking American Environmental (demo contractor) to set aside a few buckets full but did not know how many would be available.
Pimentel also said the bricks would not be clean, but instead “clumped together with mortar.”
It was ultimately decided that if bricks are available, a few committee members will clean them on a weekend with Monette having a place to store them.
The project could be used as a fundraiser for a student group, suggested member Heather Messier.
Whitsett said they could consider replacing some of the planned wooden benches with a wall listing friends or alumni.
The next meeting is on July 17 via Zoom.
