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Date: 9/15/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – East Longmeadow Public Schools (ELPS) Superintendent Gordon Smith updated the School Committee on the high school feasibility study done in conjunction with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) at its Sept. 7 meeting.
“A complex project can be taken on by the town of East Longmeadow and we’re in a good position to do so,” Smith said.
The School Building Committee has submitted four possible projects to the MSBA. The first option is a project to bring East Longmeadow High School, built in 1960, up to code. Smith explained that this option would not address the condition of the building or the inadequate size of its classrooms and laboratories.
The second option, which the MSBA requires for consideration, is an addition and renovation of the current building. The interior walls would be moved, and the layout adjusted to fulfill the needs of a 21st-century school.
The third and fourth options are for completely new construction. One would have a building centrally located on the high school’s campus. The building would contain the central office, East Longmeadow Information Technology (IT) Department, East Longmeadow Cable Access Television (ELCAT) and an indoor pool, similar to the existing structure. The other new construction option would have a “community building” located on the campus with the central office, IT Department, ELCAT and a pool apart from the school.
Smith reminded the committee that the MSBA would likely not reimburse the town for the construction of a pool, and this would require the town to take this up as a community project. If this configuration is chosen by the School Building Committee, two funding votes – one for the school and one for the community building – would be conducted by the town.
There was some disagreement as to whether the code upgrade was eligible for reimbursement by the MSBA. After some back and forth between School Committee member Elizabeth Marsian-Boucher and Chair Gregory Thompson, Smith said the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) Skanska USA Building is unsure whether it would be reimbursable. Thompson said that was “unacceptable” and the OPM was paid to know what was possible and at what price.
The School Building Committee will examine each option more closely and nail down details by February 2023. In the meantime, a community forum will be hosted at the Pleasant View Senior Center on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. to discuss the process and answer questions. In addition to this, School Committee member Sarah Truoiolo suggested bringing this information to parent-teacher organizations to “meet people where they are.”
Fuel-efficient vehicle policy
Community Development and Planning Director Bailey Mitchell brought a fuel-efficient vehicle policy to the School Committee for approval. The policy, which is required for the town to achieve Green Community status, was also submitted to the Town Council for approval. It stipulates that when new vehicles are purchased, they adhere to fuel-efficiency standards outlined by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Vehicles over 8,000 pounds are exempt from the policy and only one school department vehicle would be affected.
The fuel-efficient vehicle policy is the fourth of five criteria required to obtain the Green Community designation, which makes the town eligible for state grants. Mitchell explained that the designation alone provides municipalities with between $100,000 and $200,000 annually. There are also competitive grants that can be sought by Green Communities.
Marsian-Boucher asked if East Longmeadow would be able to walk away from the program if they found the state’s mandates are too onerous. Mitchell said he could not speak to the legalities involved, but said he knew of no community that was unhappy with the program and said, “I don’t think there’s any undue burden put on the town.”
The committee approved the policy.
Other topics
Thompson and Smith have spoken with Police Chief Mark Williams about traffic concerns in the neighborhood behind the high school.
One of the options that the three talked about was a lighted speed limit sign, although Smith and Thompson acknowledged it was a costly solution. Changing the intersection of Marshall and Norden Streets from a two-way stop to a four-way stop was also considered.
The East Longmeadow Educational Endowment Fund, otherwise known as ELEEF, will host the Spartan Sprint 5K and Kids Fun Run on Sept. 25, beginning at 9 a.m., with registration for one hour beforehand. All proceeds support ELPS. More information about this event can be found at https://eleef.org/events/spartan-sprint-5k.
Smith shared photos featuring the 2022 Convocation, professional development and students returning to the district “in a more traditional way” for the 2022-2023 school year. Although he acknowledged that the coronavirus pandemic is not yet over, he said, “After two years of [COVID-19], I think we’re back and we’re better. The challenges have made us better.”