CAN THE DISTRICT INCREASE THE PROJECT SCOPE AND BUDGET AFTER OBTAINING MEMBER TOWN APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUILDING PROJECT?

At the end of Schematic Design phase, the selected building project is brought to the member communities for their financial support.  At this point, the project scope and budget has been thoroughly vetted by the District, the project team and the MSBA. As part of the MSBA process, the District must formally agree to the total project cost, schedule, project scope and size, student enrollment, and other factors that could influence the overall project cost, prior to seeking community support.  The MSBA Grant Funding Process is designed to lock in the project cost and scope in order to prevent cost increases in the refinement in the project as it moves toward construction. When the project is under construction, the budget will contain standard and appropriate contingency funds so that the project does not overrun the budget. 

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AS PROJECT COSTS GO UP AND DOWN AFTER THE PROJECT GETS LOCAL APPROVALS, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE MSBA REIMBURSEMENT AS THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD?
In the MSBA Project Funding Agreement, the MSBA states their grant funding limits on the direct building and soft costs. They also limit their participation in any contingency expenditures that are reviewed at different intervals throughout the project for eligibility for reimbursement. The MSBA evaluates submitted costs on a monthly basis and issues their grant reimbursement to the school district. The School District will not know the exact amount of grant funding until the project is complete and closed out.

 

WHAT IS MSBA’S REIMBURSEMENT TO THE TOTAL COST? 
The maximum facilities grant is $82.7million and will be agreed to in the project scope and budget agreement that will be signed by the District after the local authorization has been voted by the sending communities. 

 

IS THE MSBA’S CONTRIBUTION GUARANTEED? 
Once the Project Funding Agreement is in place, the MSBA reimbursement structure is guaranteed.  The amount of reimbursement is based on a 56.6% reimbursement rate for eligible costs to the district, because of significant ineligible cost, the actual reimbursement rate is reduced to less than 29%. This is in line with other MSBA projects. 

 

WHAT IS THE TOTAL PROJECT COST? 
The total project cost is $285,992,692.  
 

HOW MUCH WILL I HAVE TO PAY TOWARD THE PROJECT AS A TAXPAYER? 
For anticipated taxpayer impact by Town please visit our website www.tri-countybuilding.com.
 

WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF THE TOTAL ALLOCATED TO CONSTRUCTION? 
Of the total, $233.2 million was allocated for construction. 
 

IF THE PROJECT IS APPROVED, WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE?
The project moves into the detailed design phases, where the Architect develops the design and construction plans.  Construction would start in summer 2024 with the new school opening in the summer 2027.  The demolition of the existing school will then occur, followed by the construction of the playfields in summer 2028.  
 

DO YOU HAVE TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL OR CAN YOU RENOVATE THE CURRENT SCHOOL? 
During the feasibility study phase (MSBA MODULE 3), the team studied multiple options, including renovation, addition and renovation, and new construction.  Ultimately, new construction was the most economical option voted by the School Building Committee.  The (11) communities were invited to Community Forums to vote in a sticker pole on their preferred design option.  
 

HOW CAN I KEEP INFORMED OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT?
You can visit www.tri-countybuilding.com to find a complete list of Committee members, contact information and all published documentation.

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WHEN WILL THE DEMOLITION COMPANY BE HIRED THAT WILL TAKE DOWN THE EXISTING SCHOOL?

The demolition company will not be selected for another 12 to 18 months, in the late spring to fall 2025.

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WHERE IS THE NEW BUILDING PLACED IN RELATION TO THE EXISTING SCHOOL?

The new building is largely placed in the current solar field behind the existing school, the left side of the building facing the hillside is the performance space and gym, and on the right side facing the condo is adult education and some program shop space.

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WILL THE DEMOLITION INVOLVE BLASTING?

The demolition will not involve blasting, however if ledge is encountered in the ground during construction, and we think it will, the ledge removal will likely involve some level of ledge blasting. In the event blasting is required onsite, a pre-blast survey will be offered to the Owner of buildings/homes within a certain radius of the project site.  That radius has been increased from 250ft. to properties within 600ft to assure neighbors that we are sensitive to their concerns. The notice of pre-blast survey will be sent via certified mail in advance of any planned blasting, likely in July/August, with blasting anticipated mid-Fall 2024. 

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Is there any toxic or other material in the old building which can propose a health risk?

Any substances that either the state or federal government identifies as hazardous materials will be removed in accordance with both state and federal guidelines for the safe removal and disposal of such materials.

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If there is blasting what is the expected impact on my property?

If blasting occurs, there will be a pre-blasting survey offered to all abutting properties in accordance with state, local and insurance regulations. If there is substantiated damage as a result of blasting it is covered by the insurance carrier. We do not anticipate this work will cause damage to the surrounding property as controlled blasting is a common practice.

 

Is the building project going to cause any additional dust?

The project will be including dust mitigation requirements in the specification to require all activities that create any dust follow the mitigation plan while construction activities are underway.

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Will there be any increased vibration that could cause damage as the building is constructed?

We will be monitoring any vibration that could be associated with our work and do not intend or expect that we will impact neighboring properties.

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How close are the fields to the property line?

The multipurpose field is 100% on the school property and at no point will there be work on abutting property. The location of the field is shown on plans that can be found on the Project website. School Building Project | Tri-county Regional Vocational Technical High School (tri-countybuilding.com)

 

Will the field noise and speakers from the multipurpose field change from what is currently in place?

The school exterior sports programs will not substantially change based on the project, therefore, activities and noise shouldn’t be different for current levels. Placement of speakers will be determined at a later date.

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Is the multi purpose field the only field that will have speakers or which other ones will?

This has not yet been fully determined; however, the school will follow the local noise bylaws.

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Will air horns still be used at mark the end of each play period or is there a quieter yet effective buzzer system that can be used in sync with the scoreboard? 

The school exterior sports programs will not substantially change based on the project, therefore, activities and noise shouldn’t be different for current levels. The school will follow the local noise bylaws.

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Is it possible to have professional sound barrier fencing put in at the level of the new fields?

Acoustic barriers are not practical or effective in this type of condition.

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Will there be some sort of retaining wall installed where the new triangle shaped parking area behind the multipurpose field is?

The need for any retaining structure is still in the design process, and at this time no retaining walls are included in the project.

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Will you need to excavate some of the hill?

The Project will be built on Tri-County Property, soil stabilization measures will be built to local and state code.

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Is “Sports Lighting” scheduled to occur at this time?

No sports field lighting is included in the project at this time.

 

Is there a way for any new lighting for the fields, parking or driveway to not be shining directly at abutters?

Local by-law and state building code are clear about light impacts on neighboring properties, we will not have lights illuminating any portion of neighboring properties.

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The second slide shown was a Pre-Blast Planning map. Could you kindly clarify what each of the colors specifically mean (red, pink, bright green & blue? The lines shown are grading lines, building lines, and utility lines from the plan set overlaid on google earth. The only area pertinent to blasting is the white-pink-red area that shows where blasting is predicted to be required.

 

 Will there be blasting in the area designated for the new multipurpose (football) field and/or the new soccer fiend which borders my property line? No

  

What will be the actual distance to my property line for the closest blasting? Approximately 400’. 

 

How deep is the closest blasting expected to be? Approximately 10’

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