Paisley Building Committee approves preferred schematic report after cuts reduce building by about 5,100 sq ft

The Paisley Building Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve and submit a preferred schematic report for the town’s school project to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, after the project team reported a roughly 5,100-square-foot reduction and updated cost estimates.

"We were able to reduce the square footage by about about 5,100 square feet," said Karina, the owners’ project manager, who reviewed revised construction-only estimates for several B-option layouts and noted that the figures do not include modular units (which the team said would have added about $4 million). The committee’s vote covered the B1 option, a roughly 71,000-square-foot layout that the project team presented as the preferred solution for MSBA submission.

Ian, a project staff member, said the total project budget for the B1 option is $95,773,631 and characterized B1 as the least expensive of the B-series options once MSBA incentives and reconciliations were applied. Designers and district representatives said the reductions came from resizing several program spaces — including converting a full English language development room to a smaller space, removing a duplicated self-contained special-education room because a therapeutic program exists elsewhere, eliminating a separate staffed STEM room in favor of outfitting general classrooms and 'learning neighborhoods,' and shrinking pre-K food-service space from about 1,200 sq ft to 500 sq ft.

Jennifer, the designer, summarized the preferred schematic report’s contents for the committee: an updated educational plan, nine options (per MSBA request) with space summaries and site implications, phasing diagrams to show student impacts and construction access, outlines of major structural and MEP systems, sustainability materials (LEED/energy narratives), permitting and approvals to be sought after design approval, and the project budget and schedule.

Chair Erica Hall opened the motion to submit the PSR to the MSBA; Kelly moved, Rob seconded, and the committee approved the submission by roll-call vote (Jake, Sean, Rob, Kevin, Lauren, Kelly and Erica voting yes). The chair thanked Flansburgh and PMA for their work on the materials.

Votes at a glance

• Approve and submit Preferred Schematic Report to MSBA — Moved: Kelly; Second: Rob; Vote: unanimous (7–0); outcome: approved.

• Approve invoices as submitted — Moved and seconded (mover not specified on the record); Vote: unanimous (7–0); outcome: approved.

• Appoint finance and sustainability subcommittee — Moved: Kelly; Second: Lauren; Vote: unanimous (7–0); outcome: approved. The committee said potential members include Mike, Rob, Tristan and Shawn; the subcommittee will elect its own chair and vice chair at its first meeting.

What happens next

Project staff said the MSBA review is expected within about 21 days and that the MSBA board vote is scheduled for Aug. 26. Staff also said the project team will continue line-item budget checks and finalization of the preliminary design pricing table before filing the full submission.

Context

Committee members and presenters emphasized that the recent exercise was part of a cost-sharpening effort; presenters repeatedly described the changes as targeted reductions to program areas rather than wholesale design changes. The team stressed that some program choices reflect MSBA reimbursement rules and existing district programs (for example, a therapeutic program already located at Lincoln Street that informed the special-education space count).