PEABODY — Unexpected issues at the Center Elementary School, including leakage problems with the roof and the need for a more powerful electrical system than thought, have brought the reopening date of the school into question.
Superintendent Dr. Josh Vadala presented the update at Tuesday’s school committee meeting, where he also reported on the progress being made at the school and his intention to schedule a public meeting on the project for sometime next month.
“My feeling has always been that I don’t want to continue down this course where we’re planning on opening in September, and then come June, July, we’re in big trouble,” Mayor Ted Bettencourt said at the meeting. “I don’t think that’s fair to the families, I don’t think that’s fair to the students, the teachers, and I want to make a decision where we know and can let people know where we stand.”
Dr. Vadala’s presentation showed off some of the refurbished rooms at the Center School with freshly abated tile floors, newly painted walls with either a blue or orange finish, installed electrical support, and revamped cabinets.
Concerns with timing arose as melting snow revealed leaks that need to be addressed, as well as a move from a 600 amp electrical system to an 800 amp one that is impacting how the project is operating.
“The upgrade of the service, with some of the lead time that we need, that is a concern. That impacts our ability to upgrade the kitchen units,” Vadala said. “The electrical service is impacting some of the kitchen equipment, and some of the roof activity has been brought to us as a concern.”
Bettencourt relayed the message from the Facilities Manager James Politano, who stressed at a recent Building and Ground Subcommittee Meeting that focusing on a September opening date would be a mistake.
School Committee Member Jarrod Hochman echoed this sentiment that while it is certain the Center School will reopen as an elementary school, the “when” is now more unclear.
He explained that the annex of the school, where an early childhood program is currently operated, has had its roofing compromised by the weather, thus widening the renovation’s scope to that building’s roofing.
According to Dr. Vadala, no change to those pre-school classes is expected from these recent complications.
“I do understand that things happen… I will say, for the most part, in Peabody, we haven’t experienced that. We’ve heard a lot of on-time and under-budget, and we’ve had a lot of construction problems,” School Committee Member Brandi Carpenter said. “This is very disappointing, to say the least.”
School Committee Chair Beverley Griffin Dunne stressed the importance of getting the project finished in time because of the impact on the other elementary schools, which have larger class sizes as they accommodate the Center School students.
A date for a public meeting is aimed at March 19, where residents can get their questions about the Center School project answered by everyone involved, including Dr. Vadala, Bettencourt, Hochman, and Politano.
