amber@northstarreporter.com
The Budget/Capital Planning Subcommittee convened on Nov. 25, to discuss the proposed FY26 Capital Improvement Plan and strategies for the operating budget.
School Superintendent John Antonucci highlighted the importance of collaboration and transparency, especially as the district contends with a $100,000 deficit carried into the current fiscal year.
“The more we can have a transparent dialogue about the budget, the better,” he said.
The draft plan outlines over 21 proposed projects to address critical repairs and improvements across district facilities. While not all requests will be funded, the prioritization process sparked discussion on balancing immediate needs with long-term planning. No votes were taken that evening.
Facilities Director Timothy Chouinard led the subcommittee through a draft of the prioritized list at the meeting, allowing for discussion on several key projects:
- Woodcock Administration Building Elevator Repair—The first priority is repairing the Woodcock Building’s building elevator. According to the request form, “After attempted repairs to the existing pistons, it has been discovered they are deformed past the point of repair.” The funding request is $100,000, with work anticipated to begin in summer 2025.
- Fire alarm panel at Amvet School—The second priority addresses safety concerns, with a request for $250,000 to replace the aging fire alarm panel and devices. Director of Buildings and Grounds Ernie Sandland explained that malfunctions frequently disrupt operations, calling it his “#1 call in the night.”
- Community School cafeteria ceiling—Third on the list is the removal and replacement of hazardous materials, including asbestos, from the cafeteria ceiling, with a funding request of $100,000.
- Martin playground renovation—Priority number five includes the renovation of Martin Playground equipment to include ADA accessible play structures. Estimated at $150,000, this project will receive $50,000 of its funding from the state.
School Committee Chair Tasha Buzzell questioned how priorities were determined, pointing to specific projects like ADA compliance improvements at the Falls Building, which ranked lower on the list than the replacement of worn-out flooring finishes throughout the middle school.
Chouinard explained that some projects, such as ADA upgrades, require feasibility studies and additional planning before they can move forward.
“We are making a conscious effort to vet these projects…to capture a really solid scope on each project,” he said.
Sandland added, “we pick priorities from our experience,” noting that anything with safety concerns gets placed as a higher priority, as well as projects that receive reimbursement.
