Burlington School Committee Returns Unused Funds to Town
– The School Committee in Burlington has returned money that was not fully utilized for capital warrant articles approved by Town Meeting since 2018. The only project where the funds were not returned was the HVAC upgrades at Pine Glen Elementary School, as the cost increased due to construction and material costs inflating during COVID. The school administration is considering phasing the project and may request additional funding in the future.
– The Burlington High School parking proposal along the main entrance ended up costing more than double the allocated amount, resulting in $60,000 being returned to the town. Additionally, $100,000 meant for a design plan for the Burlington High School feasibility study was also returned, as the scope of work was found to be more extensive than anticipated. The focus will now solely be on conducting the feasibility study to determine the future of Burlington High School.
Continuation…
The HVAC upgrades at Pine Glen Elementary School were initially approved with a budget of $500,000 by Town Meeting. However, when the project went out to bid, the cost inflated to $890,000 due to construction and material costs rising during the pandemic. Despite the increased cost, the school administration has not recommended returning this money yet. They are considering phasing the project and seeking additional funding from Town Meeting in the near future. One possibility is starting the project on the second floor where it is hottest, but a decision will be made after consulting with town counsel.
The Burlington High School parking proposal at the horseshoe along the main entrance turned out to be more expensive than expected. As a result, the School Committee voted to return $60,000 back to the town. Furthermore, $100,000 originally allocated for a design plan for the Burlington High School feasibility study was also given back. The decision was made after realizing that the scope of work involved potential triggers that could amplify the project’s cost. The focus will now solely be on conducting the feasibility study to determine the future of Burlington High School.
In addition, the district-wide visitor control access system has moved forward but did not require the full $25,000 allocated for its implementation. The school district only needed to purchase 12 pieces of equipment and already had existing equipment that could be used for the project. As a result, the remaining $9,655 was returned to the town. The visitor control access system will include a picture of each visitor that can be used as a pass, allowing school officials to easily identify individuals and determine if they are allowed in the building.
Source: homenewshere.com