Where We Are, And How We Got Here Somersworth School District November 27, 2007

3 Reasons for School Improvement  Increasing Enrollment This is not a problem in Somersworth.  Facilities are old, outdated and do not meet new laws and regulations.  “Program Crowding” – New mandates and programs have been added due to new laws, expectations, or changes in society.

Current Facilities Current Enrollment Current Capacity  Hilltop (1927) addition  Maple Wood (1980) Kindergarten addition  Middle School (1962) additions  High School (1956) additions

Studies  1999-Engineering study by Team Design concluded that Hilltop would need plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems replaced if used longer than 5 years  2000 – Space Needs Analysis of All Buildings- Supt’s Report  2001 –New Hampshire School Administrators’ Association- Assessment of educational facility needs K-8

Studies (cont.)  2001 –First Space Needs Committee formed  2004 – Architect experienced in historic school renovations toured Hilltop with the approval of the Space Needs Task Force. Recommended incremental renovations to Hilltop  Fall 2004 – Second Space Needs Committee recommended incremental improvements to HT and an addition of 4 classrooms to HS for SMS students.  2005 – Water pipes froze and broke at Hilltop and the superintendent withdrew the above proposal which was to be submitted to the School Board and City Council.

Studies (cont.)  February 2005 – Superintendent recommended to the City Council that Hilltop be renovated and a new elementary school be built.  Spring 2005 – Joint Building Committee was formed to explore incremental renovations to Hilltop and construction of a new school. No action taken.

Studies (cont.)  January 2006 –Second Joint Building Committee formed and directed to explore potential land and construction options for a new elementary school, and to form a committee to identify alternative uses for Hilltop.  August 2006 – Second Joint Building Committee Recommended that a new elementary school be built  March 2007 – Needs analysis done on the 2 elementary schools

Hilltop Needs  Substandard classroom spaces-less than 900 sq. ft.  Lack of accessibility-elevator, ramps, door handles, bathrooms wheelchair accessible, bubblers  No ventilation in some areas  Crowded hallways  Old, unvented bathrooms  Limited parking

Hilltop Needs (cont.)  Smaller work/instructional spaces lacking 2 egresses  Replace heating system  Replace electrical system-additional amperage required for elevator  Replace plumbing system  Window replacement  Lack of storage  More library space needed  Computer lab space needed  Lacks space for kindergarten

Hilltop Needs (cont.)  Sprinkler system needed  Fire walls needed  School security system needed  Doors open into corridors  Need to meet BOCA codes  First graders need to be on the first floor

It’s More Than Just Hilltop

Maple Wood Needs  Maple Wood Deficiencies – March 2007  Lobby entrance and many corridors are filled with storage and instructional spaces.  Special ed students with mobility handicaps are all sent to MW due to HT’s lack of accessibility.  No computer lab or computer instructional space available.

Maple Wood Needs (cont.)  What was once a conference room, now contains student files, the computer server and guidance office  The nurse’s office is too small, filled with a cot, clothing, and equipment, no waiting area and very limited privacy  Principal’s office is small and used as the facility’s only conference room

Maple Wood Needs (cont.)  Receptionist/Secretaries’ Area- Contains 3 desks, mail room, student waiting area-very tight  Title I room in open area – shared by 4 tutors – should have dedicated space  OT and PT use space in the corridor and closet for student instruction and storage of equipment

Maple Wood Needs (cont.)  PE office is used for paper storage, no shelving, needs dedicated space  Sprinkler room used for storage – Fire violation  Spec. ed, Speech and Language, and ESOL use little rooms off the library where they deal with up to 6 children at a time – too small to function properly

Maple Wood Needs (cont.)  There are 3 desks for the building aides in the library. There should be dedicated space.  The stage is used for music teaching and storage of music stands and equipment. Acoustics are not good when students are in the cafeteria

Maple Wood Needs (cont.)  Up until this year the art teacher went from classroom to classroom, because there was no dedicated space. No room to put projects that students are working on or that require drying. This was changed because a teacher was cut out of the budget. If that position is restored, the art program is back on a cart.

Maple Wood Needs (cont.)  Boiler and electric rooms are used for storage  Kitchen has very limited space for storage.  Security System

Middle School Needs  4 programs are held at the high school due to lack of space  Nurse’s office is too small  Bathrooms need renovating  No conference area for meetings  Very small spaces for specialists where they meet with up to 6 students

Middle School Needs (cont.)  Tutoring is done in the hallways  HVAC units on the roof need to be replaced  No common areas for large groups to meet  The library/media center is undersized and under equipped  Security System

Cost Estimates  Team Design 1999 Engineering Study  Assessment of Educational Facility Needs K  First Space Needs Committee  Second Space Needs Committee  Second Joint Building Committee

Cost Estimates  Team Design 1999 Study Hilltop Elementary School Addition $834,000 (elevators, toilet, stairs) Renovate Existing $1,677,600 Kindergarten Addition $272,400 TOTAL $3,084,000

NHSAA Assessment of Educational Facility Needs K Alternative 1 Renovate Hilltop School $3,000,000 Build new 4/5 school $6,512,000 (14 core classrooms) TOTAL$9,512,385

NHSAA Assessment of Educational Facility Needs K  Alternative 2 Build a new elementary school Discontinue use of Hilltop TOTAL $8,089,260

NHSAA Assessment of Educational Facility Needs K  Alternative 3 Renovate Hilltop Add portables to Hilltop, Maple Wood and Somersworth Middle School Only emergency or temporary, not deemed appropriate at time of Assessment

First Space Needs Committee May 2001 Three Scenarios  Scenario A Renovate Hilltop- add (2) classrooms ($3,546,600) Build new K-5 School ($8,510,400) Total Building Costs:$12,057,000

First Space Needs Committee May 2001 Three Scenarios  Scenario A (cont.)  Total Cost $18,065,483 includes principal, interest, less building aid (2001)

First Space Needs Committee May 2001 Three Scenarios  Scenario B Close Hilltop Maple Wood grades k-2 New 3-5 facility Somersworth Middle School 6-8 $11,433,252 construction costs $17,162,209 total project costs

First Space Needs Committee May 2001 Three Scenarios  Scenario C Renovate Hilltop ($3,546,600) Build new 4-6 School ($11,433,252) $14,979,852 construction costs $22,581,854 total project costs

First Space Needs Committee 2001 Final Recommendation  Scenario A Renovate Hilltop- add (2) classrooms ($3,546,600) Build new K-5 School ($8,510,400) Total Building Costs:$12,057,000

First Space Needs Committee 2001 Final Recommendation  Scenario A (cont.)  Total Cost $18,065,483 includes principal, interest, less building aid (2001)

Second Space Needs Committee 2004 Report to Somersworth School Board October 2004 Critical Capital Improvements to schools $394,850 Incremental Improvements Hilltop (first yr.)$203,410

Report to Somersworth School Board October 2004 Add four additional classrooms to Somersworth High School for middle school programs $532,410 (deducted 58% building aid from 4 classrooms, other costs $26,624) Total$828,824

Revised Second Space Needs Committee Report February 2005 Initial Report withdrawn new recommendation: Adopt Scenario A from 2001 Space Needs Committee Renovate Hilltop Build new elementary School Total$18,065,483

Joint Building Committee Final Report August 2006 Build a new K-5 elementary school no costs given

Somersworth School Board Recommendation November 14,2006 School Board voted to build an elementary school with a core capacity of 425 students Est. costs based on 2008 Dept of Education maximum allowable costs (not including land) Total $9,971,000 *Eligible for 55%building aid

Hilltop Costs 1999 Building Facility Analysis Team Design Addition with elevator Renovate existing Restructure site Kindergarten addition Total$3,084, Updated Projected costs Total$6,118,385

Building Aid Renovations Formula  To qualify at least 25% of cost to replace building  If cost of renovation exceeds 60% of cost of replacing building district must meet all codes and explain why renovation is superior to new construction

Land Acquisition

Department of Education Building Aid Information  Minimum Standards for School Sites 5 acres of contiguous buildable land, plus an additional acre for each one hundred students or fraction thereof. Maximum Standards for School Sites 20 Acres plus one acre per 100 Pupils elementary

Site Location Stackpole Road Size 22 acres ($1,295,000)

Initial Land Studies  Site Inspection  Geotechnical/Environmental site inspection  Archeological Reconnaissance  Land Survey  Boundary Survey

Thank You