NORTHFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Regional School District’s building and grounds subcommittee is feeling a case of déjà vu after reverting to its original plan of moving the district’s central office to Pioneer’s 200 wing.
During a February meeting, the subcommittee recommended that the School Committee move the office — currently in a leased space at 168 Main St. — to rooms 206, 207 and 208, thinking it would be least disruptive to students there. However, some School Committee members and administrators had second thoughts upon hearing the $37,000 price tag.
But after pursuing ideas of moving to Pioneer’s second floor or the guidance office, and being unable to find a solution suitable to the majority of the School Committee, administrators believe the move to the 200 wing could be done for just $16,000.
Also the classrooms in the 200 wing are close to the school’s main office, but removed from more heavily trafficked hallways. They’re also next to an outside door.
“I don’t like the idea of having people go through the middle of the school, security-wise,” said Sharon Fontaine, a member of the building and grounds subcommittee.
Still, the subcommittee’s recommendation must pass before the full School Committee on Thursday, June 22, which hasn’t been successful in the past four months.
The $37,000 figure represented the cost to outfit the three rooms with air conditioning, install a doorbell, door release and camera at the nearest side door, install a plug for the photocopier, move the photocopier, construct a sidewalk and stairway to the side door, and purchase dividers to create cubicles within the rooms, as was explained previously by Assistant Superintendent Gail Healy. However, Facilities Director Tim Brandl said, after receiving a lower quote on air conditioning, simply focusing on air conditioning would cost about $16,000.
“That’s to me the biggest issue,” Brandl said of the lack of air conditioning. “Being a custodian, cleaning those rooms (in the summer) was awful.”
The figure would cover the cost of three mini-split units, one per room, and the electrical work necessary to use them and the photocopier, Brandl said.
However, the building and grounds subcommittee’s 4-to-1 decision to recommend the 200 wing still ran into some hurdles. Before the vote, Superintendent Ruth Miller said she met with the junior class a few weeks ago, next year’s seniors, and asked where they’d like to see the central office.
“They said in a nanosecond ‘Upstairs,’” Miller said. “If the voice of the senior class means anything, they are adamant.”
That option would involve using five 400-level rooms, Healy said previously, excluding the science lab and JoAnn MacPherson’s classroom. Those rooms are already air conditioned.
Miller said the students didn’t want social studies teacher Aimee Brown to have to move from Room 206. Due to staff reductions, the teachers in 207 and 208 won’t be at Pioneer next year.
“I think that was pretty much, overall, the whole junior class’ suggestion,” Pioneer junior Alex Wahlstrom said. “I think that it’s a pretty good choice … Then the school doesn’t have to pay to install (air conditioning), it’s already up there.”
Brandl agreed that “as far as saving money,” moving upstairs is the best option. No matter what location the School Committee chooses, Healy said it’ll cost $500 to move the photocopier.
It’s difficult, Brandl continued, during a year that’s facing the loss of 18 staff members and reducing others to half-time, to approve spending on air conditioning. Miller said she’s put $5,000 aside for the move, which has a deadline of mid-July, but it’s unclear where the additional $11,000 will come from.