LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Time to Fix Nixon School Roof

In 2010, Sudbury’s Permanent Building Committee (PBC) commissioned a study of all Town and Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) buildings. The findings of this study led to the much-needed replacement of Noyes Elementary School’s roof, windows, and boilers in the summer of 2011. This project was partially funded by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) through its Green Repair Program, and as a result, the Town of Sudbury received more than $730,000 (approximately 32% of the total project costs) in reimbursement from the MSBA.

Results of the 2010 roof study also indicated that the older section of Nixon Elementary School’s roof, covering some of the classrooms and the administration area, is in poor condition. It was recommended that this section be replaced during the 2011-2012 school year. Despite close monitoring and patching as necessary, the roof continues to leak.    

In January 2012, the Sudbury School Committee and the PBC worked closely together to submit a Statement of Interest to the MSBA for the partial replacement/repair of Nixon’s roof. Both the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee voted unanimously in support of this project, and in June, the MSBA invited Sudbury into its Accelerated Repair Program. The MSBA offers this program to “materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise is capable of supporting the required educational program.”  Final approval from the MSBA is expected at its November Board Meeting. 

The estimated cost of the Nixon roof project is $750,000 plus the cost of debt issuance. Sudbury is eligible to receive 36.89% of approved costs in reimbursement from the MSBA. In order to participate in this cost-sharing, the Town of Sudbury must vote at the Sept. 24 Special Town Meeting to appropriate the total cost of the project, with the understanding that the Town will bond only Sudbury’s portion of this project (total cost less MSBA reimbursement). If Town Meeting approves this appropriation, a Special Election will be held on Dec. 4 to approve a debt exclusion to fund the project.

This is a rare opportunity to maintain one of Sudbury’s assets while saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Please attend the Special Town Meeting on Sept. 24, 7:30pm at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and vote in support of the Nixon Roof Project.

The Sudbury School Committee extends its gratitude to the members of the PBC and to Jim Kelly, Facilities Director for the Town of Sudbury and Sudbury Public Schools, for their leadership in navigating the MSBA and funding approval processes and their management of this project, and to Joe Kupczewski, SPS Supervisor of Facilities, for his commitment to sustaining a safe and comfortable learning environment for the SPS children. 

Respectfully,

Lisa Gutch

Vice Chair, Sudbury School Committee

Liaison to the Permanent Building Committee