2003-03-27 School Committee Minutes

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READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session March 27. 2003 CALL TO ORDER Chair Griset called the regular session to order at 6:10 in the Superintendent's Conference Room. Present were Mrs. Cavicchi, Mr. Dahl, Mr. Griset, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Russo and Mr. Twomey. Also present were Superintendent Harutunian and Associate Superintendent Dennis Richards. The purpose of the meeting is to interview three architectural firms a second time for the high school project. Mr. Griset welcomed Mr. Bowen from Flansburgh Associates. Mr. Bowen stated in order to better answer the questions; he put together a presentation. Mr. Pierce spoke about the team concept at Flansburgh. They each had at least fifteen years experience. - The high school would be ready to open at the start of school in 2006. Mr. Bowen stated there would be many skylights. Students do better with natural sun light. The gallery will organize the school. We would have a first class auditorium. The media center would be alive with technology. The high school is driven from the elementary schools up not from the high school down as it once was. The firm would employ strategies to control mold and moisture. Mr. Tomlinson spoke about the phasing collaboration process. Mr. Griset thanked them for their presentation and asked if there were any questions from the committee. Mr. Griset stated that the evaluation sheets need to be completed. Mr. McFadden asked how many high schools have they done. Mr. Bowen stated 52 high schools. Mr. McFadden asked if their estimators were internal or external.. Mr. Bowen said they used Atkins and Hanscom. They do the same estimating as a contractor would. It is an independent opinion. They have estimated 39 schools in the past years and were very accurate. Mr. McFadden asked how many projects of this size have you worked on together. Mr. Bowen stated they worked on the Triton project together. Mr. McFadden suggested that Mr. Bowen should be an architect registered in the state of Massachusetts. Mr. Bowen stated that he has a master's degree in architecture from MIT, and all the plans were drawn by registered architects. Mr. McFadden asked if computers were covered under the SBA reimbursement. Mr. Bowen stated that they could be included were but suggested that we would be better off to invest in the infrastructure instead of something that has only a two -year life span. Mrs. Cavicchi asked how long we would be without the auditorium. Mr. Tomilson stated that we would not be without the auditorium at all.