Committee authorizes superintendent to negotiate accepting Townsend’s fitness court equipment; estimated district add-on cost ~$138,000

Dr. Reese updated the committee on a potential collaboration with the Town of Townsend to place Townsend-owned fitness-court equipment on school grounds and add a "fitness studio" component for instructional use. He said the town purchased fitness-court equipment via a national fitness-campaign grant about two years ago and that, if the district accepted the town’s equipment as a gift, the district would need to draft language to assure community access outside school hours.

Dr. Reese provided itemized estimates for the district’s additional costs if it were to add the fitness-studio side: roughly $48,000 for adhesive and replacement materials, about $45,000 for a custom concrete slab (he used a $50,000 planning figure to include handicapped-accessible walkways), and roughly $40,000 for assembly — a total around $138,000. He also said the town has an earmarked $30,000 from Senator Scarsdale for the slab and is pursuing a $150,000 earmark from Senator Cronin; if both funds are secured, the project could be zero cost to the district. The committee voted to authorize the superintendent to continue negotiations and have legal counsel draft an agreement to bring back to the school committee and Townsend Select Board for approval.