1. The wetlands line shown on the Bowman plan shows the setback, not the actual wetlands.

-        Everything on the site is jurisdictional and will be handled accordingly.

2. At the Bridge School, you are adding 2 classrooms and a music room?

-        We are showing the addition of a 2 gen education classrooms, one of which is a Kindergarten classroom, 1 Special Education classroom and an Art/Music room for a total of 4 spaces.

3. If there is an addition off the end of the building at Bridge, would some trees need to be cut down?

-        This has not yet been evaluated given the early stages of the project, but it is a possibility as the concepts are developed and further investigations are completed.

4. How many bathrooms for each gender will be added?

-        A code analysis is currently in process that may result in the addition of 1-2 bathrooms for boys and 1-2 bathrooms for girls to meet the updated occupancy requirements. This increase would result in 10 bathrooms for boys and 10 for girls.

5. Are there plans to replace the play spaces that may be impacted by construction?

-        We will first address the code requirements and then move on to impacts and plans for the play spaces. The concepts being shown are the only options that work for Bridge and Bowman.

6. Will the additional bathrooms apply to both Bridge and Bowman?

-        Yes, the changes will apply at both schools.

7. It looks as though there is more space being added at Bridge than originally planned.

-        The dollars associated with the Bridge School in the consensus plan include the special education space that will be added at Bridge. There have been slightly more funds available to the Bridge project in order to meet the special education space needs.

8. How many pre-fabricated units will be added to Bowman?

-        The preferred concept shows the addition of 3 prefabricated spaces.

9. Do all of the elementary schools have to be 24 classrooms?

-        The plan includes 24 general education classrooms per elementary school. This does not include special education or programs such as Art and Music. This will provide adequate sized general education classrooms and more Art/Music space in order to minimize overcrowding.

10. Does the concept of adding 24 classrooms come from the expectation of having 4 classes per grade? How does this work out when the third grade has 5 classes?

-        The classroom quantity was arrived at by looking at the median pattern. The District is currently short space for 500 students from PreK through high school.

11. I am concerned that taking the existing modular units out will make the school shy of 2 general education classrooms, especially given the growing ELL program.

The only fact at this time is that classrooms via prefabricated buildings are going to be added. Removing the existing modulars is a goal, but this will not happen if it does not make sense for the school and program. We do not know the answer to that question at this time. There is a meeting in July for which our task is to gather more substantial information and gather public input, as well as gather data and cost information regarding the impacts to the taxpayers. This meeting will determine what projects are going forward and no decisions will be made until that time. The same group that developed the consensus plan will participate in this meeting and develop another consensus plan identifying how we plan to move forward. School Committee will meet prior to Summit.

12. I have heard talk about moving the PreK out of the Harrington School. What are the implications to Bridge and Bowman when going forward with some of these plans if PreK is moved out of Harrington?

-        If the PreK classrooms at Harrington can be moved out to a separate, stand alone location, this would take the pressure off Bridge and Bowman as far as student distribution. For the most part, this would mostly impact Harrington at this time, as it will add capacity to Harrington.

13. At the BOS meeting Monday, there was talk about availability of classrooms at Harrington that might mean expansion to the other schools might not be necessary.

-        We have been asked to look at this concept in response to that question. We are looking at 5 elementary schools and 2 middle schools, all with different challenges and concepts.

14. Based on school master plan completed a few months ago, it is understood that 8 of 9 of our schools are over capacity. We have a PreK, ES and MS problem. Public Facilities, Design Team, SC are currently working on how we can improve this over the next 5 years.

-        The information is very fluid and constantly changing as investigations are ongoing. We still have a very overall vision of what needs to be done and are not into the details yet. Ken: we also do not have detailed surveys on every site completed.

15. Would the play area relocation/improvement at Fiske also be completed for the next school year? How much of the site would be impacted?

-        Play area would need to be completed. We are also recommending other improvements to parking, drop off and bus access which may take place after the units are in place. We not only have to replace the space that the building will be taking over, but also provided improvements.

16. The prefab units at Fiske will stay if a bricks and mortar addition was done in the future?

-        The prefab units that would be added are the same as the ones at the high school, as opposed to the ones at Diamond and Hastings.

17. In order to get a hallway through to the prefab units, one of the Kindergarten classes may have to be made smaller. Is this something that would be completed over the summer when kids are not there?

-        Yes. We have several options for how to use the space in order to not diminish existing Kindergarten spaces. Work to be completed on existing structure would be completed during off hours or during the summer. Educational programs will not be displaced.

18. What types of materials can we expect for these units?

-        We do not have any hard facts regarding the exact materials. Exterior building materials could be any number of materials, including brick or metal. The performance of these units will include energy efficiency and the same heating and ventilation system as existing building.

19. We are adding a special education classroom, but is not counted towards a general education. If we have high enrollment, would this space be able to turn into a general education classroom?

-        Concerned that this space would make it tempting to change the use of this space.

20. Would the special education addition at Bowman and the other schools be sufficient to run the current programs or is this more of a band aid?

-        We are looking at all of the programs that need attention, while maintaining the big picture of the project and the district. We have been directed to keep the concepts simple and in line with the consensus plan. The consensus plan includes information related to the enrollment increase over the next 5 years. The current plan includes a flexible plan by adding classroom capacity in the short term with prefabricated space and in the meantime discuss concepts for future additions for growing enrollment. The new Hastings project will also create more space, which will take several years. The studies occurring at this time will give the policy makers the information and options they need to provide children with the proper education without too much of a burden financially.

21. Clarification:

Bricks and Mortar at Fiske is being investigated for the future expansion, not to happen now.

22. Your current schedule shows bricks and mortar additions at Diamond. Is bricks and mortar at Clarke out of the question?

-        MS forum will occur next Wednesday at Diamond. Showing options at both middle schools for consideration. Work at Clarke is not out of the question.

23. How much do the prefabs for Bridge and Bowman cost?

-        We do not have a cost estimate yet. The constructed cost estimate from the SMMA study was roughly $3 million for the three spaces.

24. Would make me feel more comfortable to know that extra space at schools will be filled.

-        School Committee noted they would like to be around 90% capacity at this time in order to allow for flexibility & growth, but could also be in a position to be building too quickly and this impacts taxpayers. Enrollment working group projection at the midpoint would mean 1 extra classroom at each school in 5 years.

1. Has there been a traffic study been done in the neighborhood and if so, has this been made available to the neighbors?

• Design team on this project is going to do their own traffic study, as the previous study was based on current conditions and we need to understand what they are designing for.

2. Can the neighbors have more notice for public meetings?

• Yes. Please send contact information to Kerry Logue at Hill International- kerrylogue@hillintl.com

3. You mentioned you have submitted an Statement of Interest (SOI) with the MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority), but you are still moving forward with Feasibility. What happens if the project is not supported by the MSBA?

• A Statement of Interest (SOI) was submitted in 2014, which was not supported. The SOI is the first step a District takes in seeking MSBA participation in a school building project. The SOI includes a report from the District identifying deficiencies in the building(s) the Town is looking to add to, renovate or replace. The SOI is then reviewed by the MSBA for eligibility. A second SOI was submitted in March 2015. The timetable to receive a response is earliest December. Consensus Plan suggests that conceptual planning moves forward in parallel, but not move so quickly that we get ahead of the MSBA. If MSBA does not support the project, the District can entertain moving forward on its own.

4. Parent of LCP and Hastings: I know there are advantages to keeping LCP as part of an elementary school, as far as sharing core facilities, but I am concerned with the very small lot and the limitations of the lot, including the wetlands. Having LCP could compromise outdoor space on this site.

•  Would prefer Laconia Site or Worthen Road.

5. What does increased size at the elementary schools mean for Middle School enrollment?

• What the design team is looking at and what is requested from the policy makers is to do two studies: Can Diamond support all added capacity for the overall middle school program, which is showing an enrollment increase of 2-2.5 teams. We are showing both options, for all work to occur at Diamond, and additions at both middle schools.

6. Given that Hastings is currently the smallest elementary school in the district at this time but may become one of the larger schools, can you describe philosophical design ideas to maintain the character of the site?

• Simplicity is harder to achieve than complexity. At Estabrook, walked through the program by the Principal identifying what she would like accomplished, get feedback from educational team and design for that. Personality of every community and school is taken into consideration as well. It will emerge, it just hasn’t been found yet. School scheduling will come into play and how the spaces are organized will also impact decisions.

7. When discussing the idea of improving the layout for queuing of cars, we also want to be sure that the safety of students walking is taken into consideration.

• The team will be putting together a comprehensive map to see how people move in each area of Town, identifying how hiking/bike & walking trails come into play. Improving the layout will provide a more organized circulation, as well as provide safety for students that are walking or biking to school.

8. Recommendation: In discussing the idea of replicating Estabrook, there is the idea of the Architect’s perception of how the space works versus the user’s perception of how the space is used. Would like to have a user space study on flow regarding what is working in a new school such as Estabrook, and what is not working to factor into this project. Students have to be main consideration.

• We are not looking to replicate Estabrook, but there will be similarities.

9. Because of the larger sized school being designed, I’m seeing a lot of paving. Are there thoughts to include green roofs or other green components?

• Similar to the new Estabrook School, ideas such as a green roof, will be considered along with other sustainable components as the we move into the design phase.

10. Is there anything we could do to discourage having so much pavement in lieu of green areas? Want to discourage driving to school versus walking or biking.

• The exterior areas have not yet been developed. There are several play areas for the children that you are seeing. Public Safety access is an important consideration to have access around the entire building. Parking for about 90 cars is about what is being shown. New school buildings are designed for having events at the school, not just for day to day use. There are 80 staff members currently in this building and there is limited parking as is.

11. Are noise levels for the outdoor space, for example the proximity to the expressway, being taken into consideration as far as mitigating the noise?

• An Acoustical Engineer will determine baseline noise levels on site and required protocol will be followed to mitigate noise from the site as much as possible.

12. Observation: Many people are asking about green space/parking/play space. It would be useful if comparison charts were provided to show the number of parking spaces that exist on each school site throughout the district, and what the thought process is when determining the target amount of parking space for each scenario. We would also with play space and SF per student/individual using the space.

• All of these concerns will be taken into consideration.

13. Where is the Worthen Road site located?

• This site is located adjacent to the high school and is current being studied for feasibility purposes to see if it could be used for expansion.

14. Important going forward to understand the costs associated with various options, even though we do not have this information right now. We would like to have a breakdown of what factors are going into the estimated costs.

• This will be included in the cost detail.

15. Location for preschool is mentioned at 4 locations. Is the Harrington site still being considered for this space?

• Yes

16. Are we considering geothermal heating/AC systems? Solar panels?

• At the appropriate time, those elements will be factored into the projects. This will happen during the next phase.

17. I am concerned about the amount of playground space.

• It will be a requirement to have an appropriately sized playground.

18. Lighting is a concern if this were to be a 3-story building, as lights could be shining down on neighbors.

• The design team will study this as concept and design moves forward, and will work to make sure we do not do anything harmful to the surrounding properties.

19. When power goes out at school, neighbors can hear emergency generator. Also can hear trash compactor. Will this be taken into consideration?

• Even if not required from an acoustical analysis, the plan is to build a brick wall to surround generator to mitigate noise. The team will also plan so that the generator & compactor are as far away from neighbors as the site allows.

20. I heard project is going to take 4-5 years. If this is going to take that long, my child will graduate by the time the school is finished. Is there a way to accelerate the pace?

• First step is to get through this initial study and decide on what building will be designed/built. We need to allow for the time to let the MSBA go through its cycle. The 4-5 year period would be the worst case scenario. There would be cost impacts to accelerate.

21. Will a study be completed for the green space in comparison to paved space?

• All of these factors will be considered during future studies.

22. I am concerned about this building lasting for the next 4-5 years. I am told there is mold in the building that hasn’t been tested, which is a concern. We would like to see testing done and be assured the building and modulars will survive the next 4-5 years.

• We work with the health department on all health issues. Determinations on health are not made by public facilities. We are active in addressing any moisture inside the building and have an on call service that comes in to test moisture within walls and remove any material in question. We have received advice from the health department and Mass Department of Health on how to proceed. Previous tests have not shown areas of concern that would require action at this time. We continue to be vigilant. Yes mods were built 20 years ago and want to replace them, but we will actively address anything that comes to our attention in the meantime.

23. Does it make sense to have our school be the largest school in the district if the site does not look that big?

• We have and are reviewing what size school the site can handle. Based on comparison, we are looking at a 3-story that could provide 30 general classrooms, but not take up as large of a footprint on site.

24. Could we go to a 4-story building and put an underground garage?

• The norm these days is 3-story buildings for many reasons versus 1 and 2-story buildings. Every site except Hastings has contiguous land owned by other entities. We are looking at boundary lines from a bird’s eye view. Thinking creatively as well as getting the most value for the money spent.

25. I understand why we need to have a bigger Hastings, but after looking at plans, I am against having LCP here. I feel there is a lack of fields on the plans being shown.

• All parties involved in the project, and the decision makers, are looking at this process from every angle in order to ensure the best options are being considered. We are at the very beginning stages and the concepts discussed will be further reviewed to include these concerns at a later phase.

26. Suggestions: Think about kids walking and area for parents to pick up kids safely. One special thing about Hastings is that we have an all school meeting and we are fortunate to have a gym large enough. Would like this in a new building.

• Could be some temporary displacement during the construction phase, but the end result would be to maintain the educational program and use of Hastings. This is a neighborhood school and parking and traffic will be included in overall plan/design.

27. Mentioned that most of the elementary schools are at capacity and these kids will eventually end up at the High School. Is there something being done to plan for this?

• There is space to maintain the current educational program at Lexington High School. The higher priority is at the LCP, elementary and middle schools. The high school will be deferred while capacity is being added at these schools, then it is expected that the high school will be evaluated.

28. How will the School Committee make decisions on June 16 if all information will not be available until the end of June?

• Our goal is to have the information available for the June 16 meeting to enable School Committee to further evaluate the Consensus Plan to make recommendations on which projects should proceed and which projects need further study.

1. Why would pre-fabricated buildings be the solution at Fiske, rather than bricks & mortar?

• Pre-fabricated buildings, with a life of 20-25 years provide a good value for construction and can be available for August 2016.

2. Why would pre-fabricated buildings be the solution at Fiske, rather than bricks & mortar?

• Pre-fabricated buildings, with a life of 20-25 years provide a good value for construction and can be available for August 2016.

3. If you start with pre-fabricated buildings at Fiske, does that eliminate the ability for bricks & mortar later?

• No. The pre-fabricated buildings will not be located in the same location as the location for future bricks & mortar additions.

4. Is there an immediate plan for the existing modular buildings?

• The modular at Hastings and Diamond will be replaced. The modular at Bowman will not need to be removed during any pre-fabricated addition.

5. Would there be an additional cost to purchase the Laconia site if this was the desired location for the Pre-K?

• Yes. The section of land being considered is privately owned. The other land on the site includes ConComm land, trails.

6. Would the Laconia site accommodate projection enrollment growth if chosen for the Pre-K?

• Yes, the study includes enrollment projections.

7. How many classrooms would the new Pre-K house?

• 7-10

8. None of the streets around Laconia have sidewalks. Will this be addressed?

• Accessibility and traffic studies will be included in the plan.

9. When considering Worthen Street as a potential location for the Pre-K, are the long term needs of the high school being considered?

• This site is being looked at as requested, but yes, this is being considered.

10. What is the latest date to decide on pre-fabricated buildings for September 2016?

• The release of funds following the July Summit will allow the team to proceed. Mid-July is the target date for the Design Development phase. Construction funds would need to be appropriated in the Fall of 2015.

11. Are there preliminary ideas regarding improvements of core spaces at Harrington?

• Yes, the core spaces will be reviewed.

12. Has this design team built a school that has more than 30 general classrooms?

• Educational decisions are being made by the Town. The design team noted that 600 is roughly the amount of students at which the core spaces might need to be added to. This project is not investigating the idea of a building larger than 30 general classrooms.

13. Are there additional layers to the idea of moving the Pre-K at Harrington?

• No, only looking at how to utilize the open spaces with the existing population.

14. Will parking and traffic be addressed at Harrington?

• Yes, this will be studied at all sites.

15. Is the goal to have 24 classrooms at all of the elementary schools?

• At the four being discussed tonight: Bridge, Bowman, Harrington & Fiske, after Hastings is completed.

16. Will the modular spaces be used as overflow as discussed in the SMMA study?

• The goal is to eventually get Bridge and Bowman back down to the target population.

17. How close are we to the 24 classroom goal at Fiske without the pre-fabricated buildings?

• There are currently 22 classrooms and the pre-fabricated buildings would add 2 to meet the 24 classroom goal at Fiske.

18. At what point do we address the High School if the Elementary and Middle Schools enrollments are continuing to grow?

• The high school is o.k. for now, and will be reviewed during future phases.

1. Would the proposed addition at Clarke allow for the option to add a third floor in the future?

• Code regulations would not allow for the addition of a third floor now or in the future.

2. Could a 3-story addition occur above the gymnasium? (Clarke)

• The current gym structure will not support a third floor.

3. Has the idea of a multi-building campus been entertained for the Middle Schools?

• While it would be beneficial for getting the students outdoors, separate buildings could pose an issue for security and lockdown situations.

4. Could you please provide a description of the bus circulation and the proposed improvements? (Clarke)

• This is still in development, but we intend to maximize the bus loop for buses, while the other buses would cue on Stedman Road, which would need to be widened to accommodate this concept. The options for circulation improvement would also include additional parking, potentially adjacent to the existing tennis courts. The design team is also looking into options for permeable pavement in locations closer to the wetlands.

5. If the plan is possible to use pre-fabricated buildings temporarily, why not use modular buildings?

• The consensus plan includes pre-fabricated buildings, with a life of 20-25 years and the options will start with this plan and then work from there for other options.

6. Is there a point at which the smaller additions could impose limitations to the existing core spaces?

• Yes, and the impact on the overall program is being evaluated.

7. Can the wetlands be moved?

• Replication could occur up to 5,000 square feet, but wetlands are a major factor in what happens on these school sites.

8. Could Diamond have a 3-story addition?

• Yes, but structural adjustments would need to be made in order to provide additional roof support for snow loads from the adjacent two story buildings.

9. Could seating in the cafeteria be added at another floor level? (Diamond)

• This could be looked into, but it would likely cause the space to be demolished and rebuilt.

10. Could the courtyard be enclosed to create an interior space? (Diamond)

• Yes, but it would also require access into the courtyard for service.

11. Does room sharing impact education?

• The schools try to keep shared spaces within the same subject, but it is not always possible. Shared spaces do require some compromises. Shared teacher planning spaces, rather than using general education classrooms can also be beneficial.

12. It has been mentioned that Clarke is being considered for temporary buildings, but Diamond is being considered for more permanent additions. Does this interrupt the elementary school flow?

• The School Committee has started the process on how to distribute the students throughout the system. The School Committee is also working with administration to understand what the options are and the associated cost impacts.

13. How many floors would the pre-fabricated buildings be?

• The pre-fabricated buildings would be 1-story, whereas bricks and mortar additions would be two stories.

14. What are the parameters for achieving parity between the schools?

• The middle schools currently offer similar programming and the intent of this planning effort to provide comparable programs.

15. What is the lifespan of the existing buildings?

• The two middle schools are active for the foreseeable future. The overall educational program will dictate the lifespan.

16. What is the lifespan of the 6 existing pre-fabricated buildings at Diamond?

• The units are at the end of their useful life and will be replaced.

17. Will additions at Diamond be pushed out if it is a bricks and mortar addition?

• The configuration is not yet decided. Pre-fabricated buildings would be installed for September of 2016, and bricks and mortar additions would be built for September 2017.

18. Is there a large enrollment increase at Clarke?

• For next year, Clarke enrollment is increasing an extra ½ team.

19. How will the flow in the hallway at Clarke be impacted with the higher enrollment?

• Dedicated stairwells have been utilized in the past during years of higher enrollments.

20. How does moving forward with the project work if money has not yet been appropriated?

• Funding has been approved at the March Town Meeting that will enable the design team to work efficiently through a Fall Special Town Meeting.

21. Is it more expensive for a bricks & mortar addition or the pre-fabricated buildings?

• Though slightly less expensive, the advantage of pre-fabricated buildings is a shorter construction period.

22. How long does it take to install the pre-fabricated buildings?

• The installation can take 6-8 weeks, after 6-8 weeks of site work.