With CMS students relocated to Bedford Middle School for a second year this year, construction teams have worked quickly to get the school back online in time for the 2020-21 school year.
Work to be done by the end of the summer includes an entire roof replacement, new HVAC system, with HVAC extended to the gym and locker rooms, replacement of all windows and interior ceilings, and the regrading of the surrounding grounds to assuage water seepage and improve drainage.
“Things can happen,” O’Day said. “We can have terrible weather. We can have material problems,” but barring extreme issues, he said, things should proceed on schedule.
“Winter conditions are built into the various trade work being done,” said Susan Chipouras, project manager. “If we get a blizzard, that’s going to affect people working outside the building.”
While he originally had hoped to see exterior cladding—the last piece of the project—affixed to the outside of the building by mid-September, O’Day said this work will likely continue through October, possibly into November.
“All things that can be done to minimize noise and disruption will be done,” he said, with materials safely stored on site and noisy work—like drilling into the sides of the building—done when students are not present.
“It’s not going to be nearly as disruptive as some people think it will be,” O’Day said.
“The intent is to try and get the noisy work done ahead of time before school starts,” Chipouras said.
“It’s really exciting to be able to visualize more, and also the timing as well,” said BOE member Elaine Whitney, who asked O’Day if he would make monthly reports to them through the winter.
The BOE will decide officially on April 15 whether displaced students return to CMS next year.
O’Day said there would likely be no surprises up until that date and he would report to the board as often as they wanted.
“Essentially you have to have a contingency,” he said, in case of emergency, but he very much doubts it will be necessary to employ it.
Superintendent of Schools David Abbey said his office is working on creating “scenario plans” and is confident they’ll be ready to deal with whichever way matters might progress.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of industrial hygienist work in testing … I don’t think there’s too much to be worried about,” O’Day said in answer to a question about air quality.
Asked about security on the site once students return, Chipouras said the matter was being addressed.
“All the people working there have to have background checks,” she said, per their contracts.
“Once the children are back in school, the contractor will have to get some kind of badge so you won’t just have random people walking around,” she said.
O’Day noted that though work will continue outside, the playing fields should be available as soon as the school reopens.
With CMS students relocated to Bedford Middle School for a second year this year, construction teams have worked quickly to get the school back online in time for the 2020-21 school year.
Work to be done by the end of the summer includes an entire roof replacement, new HVAC system, with HVAC extended to the gym and locker rooms, replacement of all windows and interior ceilings, and the regrading of the surrounding grounds to assuage water seepage and improve drainage.
“Things can happen,” O’Day said. “We can have terrible weather. We can have material problems,” but barring extreme issues, he said, things should proceed on schedule.
“Winter conditions are built into the various trade work being done,” said Susan Chipouras, project manager. “If we get a blizzard, that’s going to affect people working outside the building.”
While he originally had hoped to see exterior cladding—the last piece of the project—affixed to the outside of the building by mid-September, O’Day said this work will likely continue through October, possibly into November.
“All things that can be done to minimize noise and disruption will be done,” he said, with materials safely stored on site and noisy work—like drilling into the sides of the building—done when students are not present.
“It’s not going to be nearly as disruptive as some people think it will be,” O’Day said.
“The intent is to try and get the noisy work done ahead of time before school starts,” Chipouras said.
“It’s really exciting to be able to visualize more, and also the timing as well,” said BOE member Elaine Whitney, who asked O’Day if he would make monthly reports to them through the winter.
The BOE will decide officially on April 15 whether displaced students return to CMS next year.
O’Day said there would likely be no surprises up until that date and he would report to the board as often as they wanted.
“Essentially you have to have a contingency,” he said, in case of emergency, but he very much doubts it will be necessary to employ it.
Superintendent of Schools David Abbey said his office is working on creating “scenario plans” and is confident they’ll be ready to deal with whichever way matters might progress.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of industrial hygienist work in testing … I don’t think there’s too much to be worried about,” O’Day said in answer to a question about air quality.
Asked about security on the site once students return, Chipouras said the matter was being addressed.
“All the people working there have to have background checks,” she said, per their contracts.
“Once the children are back in school, the contractor will have to get some kind of badge so you won’t just have random people walking around,” she said.
O’Day noted that though work will continue outside, the playing fields should be available as soon as the school reopens.
