Litchfield School District Building Proposal New Elementary School

1. Litchfield School District Building Proposal New Elementary School

2. Agenda • Welcome • Litchfield’s educational construction history • Building Committee • Options considered • Proposal explanation • Current usage • Site plan • Floor plans • Financial impact • Status & Schedule • Next steps • Questions

3. Where we are now & how we got here

4. A lot of history • 1930: GMS opens, 4 classrooms • 1955: 4 classrooms added • 1958: 2 classrooms added • 1960: 4 classrooms added • 1972: 9 classrooms, gym, offices • 1978: 5 classrooms, library, cafeteria • 1983: 3 classrooms • 1984: Grades 1-8 = 643 students • 1988: LMS opens - 300 student capacity • 9 regular classrooms • 2 science rooms • 4 rooms (music, art, FACS, tech ed) • 2 sped rooms

5. A little more history • 1988: Enrollment 1-8: 729 students • 1994: Elementary school building committee formed • Enrollment 1-8: 853 students • 1997: LMS addition • “Temporarily” move 5th graders to LMS • Enrollment 1-8: 989 students • 2000: CHS Opens • 2002: Voters reject portables @ LMS • 2003: LMS addition bond fails • Portables arrive for 5th grade classes • Enrollment 1-8: 1130 students

6. Recent history • 2004: School bond fails • GMS repairs • New smaller school • 2005: School bond fails • 1 large school • 2006: School bond fails (smaller than ’05) • 1 large school • 2006: School board re-vamps building committee • No school board voting members • 5 community members volunteer • SAU & school board liaisons • 2008: upcoming bond vote

7. Building Committee Members2006-2007 Voting members (*) reside in Litchfield • Tracy Caprioglio*, Chair • Mike Boschi*, Vice-chair • Karl Franck* • Jack Scheiner* • Shawn Egan* • Cathy Hamblett – SAU Liaison • Steve Martin – SAU Liaison • Cindy Couture – School Board Liaison • Bo Schlichter – GMS Liaison • Dan Cecil – Architect All school board members are Litchfield residents

8. Building Committee Goals Develop a plan to: • Address grade K-8 facility issues • Examine all options and select the best option to serve the entire community • Determine and select a durable, energy efficient solution • Meet educational, health, & safety needs of the town’s children • Meet short-term (now-10 yrs.) & long-term (10+ years) educational needs • Realize the best short-term & long-term investment of our tax dollars

9. What’s the problem? There’s a real need for: newer, modern educational spaces ADA & building code compliance solving the water problem standards compliance kindergarten space energy efficiency storage space

10. What options were considered ? • Renovate GMS with an addition • The roof on GMS could not handle the weight of a second story addition • Restrictions on state building aid • Renovate GMS with a new small school • construction costs alone were higher than a one school option • Restrictions on state building aid • Replace GMS with a new larger school • Least expensive option • No questions on state building aid • One elementary school to maintain • No state building aid for GMS site new construction • Kindergarten space

11. Why not repair or renovate GMS? • The “Team Design 2003 Report” was used by JCN Construction of Manchester, NH and Harriman and Associates as a basis for a comprehensive walkthrough of GMS. • All facets of GMS were scrutinized • Physical systems • Past construction methods and materials • ADA & building code compliance • Safety code compliance • NH educational standards compliance • Energy efficiency • Team Design findings were verified, plus new problems discovered.

12. Why not repair or renovate GMS? • Both JCN Construction and Harriman and Associates estimates for repair were within 2% of each other. • These were detailed estimates, not based solely on an average cost per square foot • Estimates based on items that can be kept, items that can be repaired and items that must be replaced • Kindergarten space?

13. So what’s the repair list and associated costs? • The list is extremely detailed and too large to list here (copies available) • Major items • Stop ALL use of the 1930’s building • New HVAC systems • New electrical and lighting • Central dehumidification (attempt to resolve humidity issue) • New windows and doors • ADA code compliance • New insulation above ceilings • Additional roof support (snow load bearing) • Septic system life unknown • Total: $10.5 million to “revitalize” GMS

14. OK, $10+ million is still less than a new school • Repairs would update the physical systems in the building • Repairs do not address the educational shortcomings of the building (no movement of walls, etc) • Designed for 401 students • Special Ed student spaces not appropriate • 1930’s building usability ( 4 classrooms + storage lost) • Classroom square footage restrictions • Technology un-friendly • Lack of storage

15. Wouldn’t it be $7 million, with state aid? • State Department of Education unconvinced the water problems can be resolved completely • State aid would be provided contingent upon solving the water issues at GMS • Central de-humidification is the only cost effective option • If the water issues are not solved, then state aid would cease • Previously received state aid (30% of each year’s principal) for GMS would have to be repaid to the state • Taxpayers shoulder the entire cost

16. Can’t we renovate GMS? • Renovation has to meet State Department of Education specifications • Square footage per student • Reduces the capacity of GMS even further • State Department of Education won’t provide building aid for ANY NEW construction on the GMS site • Still have the water issue to solve for state aid availability • Where to put the students while work progresses? • Can’t do the work in phases • Costs could approach new construction costs • Still requires additional new construction

17. Proposal Overview • Use district owned land next to LMS • Dry, excellent soils for construction • No land acquisition costs • Classroom capacity for 705 students at opening • 625 students in grades 1-5 • 80 ½ day kindergarten students • Cafeteria and Library designs easily expanded to accommodate any future growth • Initial size reduced by educational spaces • State Building Aid • 30% reimbursement for grade 1-5 areas • 75% reimbursement for kindergarten areas • Durable, modern and energy efficient • Cost effective for long & short term • Provides “breathing room” given the current 10 year enrollment projections

18. Why a full size Gym? Community use!

19. More than educational use at GMS & LMS • GMS building use • Girl Scouts and Brownies • 7 troops – 18 meetings per month • Cub Scouts • 1 troop – 4 meetings a month • Grade 3-4 Chorus • 4 times per month • CYO Basketball • 2 times per month • Recreation Basketball • 5 nights per week • Adult Learning Center • Before & after school care, 5 days a week • S.E.R.V.E. New England • Once per month, year round • Litchfield Women’s Club • Fire Department ham & bean supper • Lions Club yard sale

20. Usage is high at GMS & LMS • LMS building use • Girl Scouts • 4 meetings per month • Boy Scouts • 4 meetings a month • Men’s Basketball • 4 times per month • Recreation Basketball • 6 nights per week • All day Saturday • Community Groups • Cafeteria & Classroom use weekly • School Teams & Cheerleaders • Gym, Cafeteria & Classrooms • Drama Club • Cafeteria/Stage

21. Grounds usage • GMS grounds use • LMS sports teams • Litchfield youth baseball • Litchfield youth soccer • Babe Ruth baseball • Scarecrow Jamboree

22. How does it all fit at the LMS Site?

23. How many classrooms, and what layout?

24. How many classrooms, and what layout?

25. Classroom Projections – used for sizing

26. Classroom Projections + 10%

27. Project Financials

28. Project Financials

29. Kindergarten Impact Construction : $1,141,800 Administrative: $ 252,990 Fees/Services: $ 116,000 Sub-total: $1,510,790 75% state aid: $1,133,093 District cost: $ 377,697 Impact Fees: $ 377,697 Net cost $ 0

30. Kindergarten Update Voting history Legislative review Litchfield’s plans Surrounding towns plans Options?

31. What about my taxes over 15 years? 15 year bond @ 5% $300,000 home: Year 1 = $132 Year 2 = $429 Year 2 is the highest tax impact Total taxes over 15 years: $6345 $400,000 home: Year 1 = $176 Year 2 = $572 Year 2 is the highest tax impact Total taxes over 15 years: $8460

32. What about my taxes over 20 years? 20 year bond @ 5% $300,000 home: Year 1 = $138 Year 2 = $366 Year 2 is the highest tax impact Total taxes over 20 years: $7068 $400,000 home: Year 1 = $184 Year 2 = $488 Year 2 is the highest tax impact Total taxes over 20 years: $9424

33. Dollars and Sense

34. Putting it into perspective.. $1.57/day $1.80/day For coffee $1.70/day For cable TV $2.15/day Movies -1/month

35. Status and Schedule • Building Committee approval – Sept 07 • School Board approval - December 19th • Budget Committee approval - Jan 3rd • Bond hearing - January 11th • Informational session - Jan 16th • Informational sessions - TBD • School Deliberative session Feb 9th @ 2PM • Information Session - TBD • Voting – March 11th 7A-7P @ CHS

36. Next Steps • Get community members involved! • Public forums • GMS “Behind the Scenes” Tours • Host a neighborhood/group meeting • Send postcards • Adopt a sign • Flyer distribution • Voting day support • Letters to the editor • HLN • Nashua Telegraph • Manchester Union Leader • Provide your email address • Forward communications to friends • Upcoming events

37. Unanswered questions • What will happen to GMS ? • Need community input • Public forums • Questionnaires • Surveys • Stay sensitive to town master plan and zoning • Obtain an updated appraisal • “Best use” might be residential housing • Sports fields? • Remain in use during construction • School board is sensitive to usage • We have 2 years to determine the best solution

38. Current Litchfield Class Sizes

39. Current Litchfield Class Sizes

40. Pre-registration & Actual Enrollments January pre-registrations (to date): 89 2008 Enrollment Projection: 95 2008 Enrollment Projection + 10%: 105