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Date: 12/8/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – When it comes to addressing the aging and inadequate East Longmeadow High School (ELHS) building, Superintendent Gordon Smith wants to thank the town for their support – and their patience.
The district has been working toward a solution to the high school, which no longer meets the needs of its students in academic resources or in terms of the physical condition of the building. As many people in the ELHS community are aware, the building is more than 60 years old. Rainwater that “ponds” on the flat roof leads to leaks. “There’s a lot of buckets in our hallways,” Smith said.
The electrical system was not designed to support the technology needed for today’s education. Smith said that when the dishwasher in food services kicks on it causes electrical issues elsewhere in the building. Smith said, “Our transformer is running at higher temperatures than it should.”
The size of the classrooms, and especially the labs, isn’t adequate. Smith said the students need more space to have the learning experience they should. The adjustments that have been made over the years are “Band-Aid solutions,” Smith said.
To address the underlying issues, the district has submitted their needs to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), a quasi-independent government authority that works with districts to help pay for building upgrades or, in some cases, entire new school buildings.
Last year was spent in the eligibility phase of the MSBA’s process. During this first phase, the district is required to send the agency “deliverables,” which include information on enrollment and the condition of the buildings, among other criteria. The town was also required to commit to funding a feasibility study before the district could progress in the MSBA process. That commitment was made in the spring and in late June and the district has now entered the feasibility phase.
While the town has committed to funding the entire $1.26 million feasibility study, the MSBA will pay up to 56 percent of eligible costs. Smith cautioned that the agency determines what is eligible, and therefore a firm reimbursement amount is not yet known.
The ELHS Building Committee, made up of school personnel, officials and community members with construction experience, is selecting an owner’s project manager – a firm that will guide the district from the feasibility study through the final product. A total of 34 interested firms was whittled down to three finalists and the subcommittee recommended Skanska USA Building Inc. to the MSBA on Dec. 6. “All the firms were fantastic. They all had a ton of experience,” Smith said. He noted Skanska USA Building Inc. has a Springfield office and Western Massachusetts-focused team. Next, a design firm will be chosen.
The feasibility study will determine whether the best course of action is a new building, an addition or a comprehensive renovation of the existing building. The feasibility phase will take 12 to 18 months, after which the Building Committee and the MSBA will decide which path to follow. Taxpayers will then vote on the price tag for the project.
Taxpayers have already put money into parts of the existing school infrastructure, such as the athletic fields and the recently-funded refinishing of the track. Smith said that money will not have been wasted. “We will talk to the design company about that. We’ve invested in our athletic compound, if you will. We will discuss where we can build on this property without touching the things we want to keep,” he said, adding that both Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham and Longmeadow High School were redesigned and built without damaging their athletic facilities.
“We’re always thankful for the incredible support from the community,” Smith said. “We understand it’s a long process, so we’re thankful for their patience as well.” He estimated that the new version of ELHS will be ready to open for the 2027-2028 school year, at the latest.