A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to addressing the recent discovery of contaminated soil at the Parker Middle School site. Two specific locations, identified as B6 and B9, showed signs of acetone contamination. Subsequent testing revealed that the contamination was confined to approximately 7.5 cubic yards, with no further detection of acetone in the groundwater. This allowed the town to proceed with a limited removal action, which involves replacing up to 20 cubic yards of contaminated soil by May 6 without the need to report to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP). The removal is scheduled for the April school vacation to meet the deadline. If the removal extends beyond May 6, notification to Mass DEP will be necessary. Geo-environmental specialists are coordinating the removal plan and will report their findings to the Department of Public Works (DPW) upon completion.

The committee approved a contract amendment to AI3 for additional services required due to the soil contamination, estimated at $25,883, covering the consultant’s fee and a markup. These costs will be drawn from the project’s owner’s contingency, which stands at approximately $107,000. A budget revision request was also approved to transfer funds from the owner’s contingency into design services to address the contamination.

The meeting also focused on developing design options for the Parker Middle School site. The committee decided to concentrate efforts on the Parker site, halting designs for the Granitefield Ballfield and McCarthy Middle School sites. The design team presented a map highlighting non-buildable zones due to streams, wetlands, and existing school structures, which allowed the eastern section of the site to be considered for development. Three potential development areas were identified, with the third area deemed most suitable given its site constraints, access, and solar orientation.

The design team presented two primary building configuration options: a four to six grade configuration and a five to eight grade configuration. The five to eight option would position fifth grade on the lowest floor, providing a vertical progression of grades through the building, allowing for a lower and upper school setup or a dedicated fifth-grade academy. The design aims to maintain a three-story structure, with all seventh and eighth grades on the top floor, avoiding the expansion to a four-story building. This configuration preserves a compact building footprint while maximizing space utilization.

Discussions included the potential impacts of construction on school operations, particularly concerning playgrounds and traffic patterns. Temporary roadways and parking areas are planned to minimize disruptions during the building phase, as the construction will require significant modifications to the site, particularly on the east side. Despite these challenges, the long-term benefits of the new facility are expected to outweigh temporary inconveniences.

The meeting concluded with plans for an upcoming public meeting at the Elks Lodge, emphasizing the importance of consistent meeting locations. The next meeting is scheduled for March 19, where the committee will update the community on design options and project progression. While no decisions are anticipated at that time, the focus will be on sharing updates and discussing the grade reconfiguration.