The project manager and architect for a Marblehead High School roof replacement presented several scenarios at a Tuesday meeting that could add up to $8.6 million to the cost of the project beyond the $5.3 million approved by Town Meeting in 2022.
The full School Committee will discuss the roof project at its meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The cheapest option would be to stay within that $5.3 million budget. But that would mean two large parts of the roof, over the gymnasium and library, would go unrepaired. There have already been several leaks in the gym.
The most expensive option, which is recommended by project manager Left Field, would be to replace the entire roof and HVAC units sitting on the roof. That would cost nearly $14 million (including the original $5.3 million).
“All the equipment is 24 years old,” said Left Field’s David Saindon, referring to the HVAC system on the roof. “It’s been subjected to a lot of weather and a lot of salt air. There’s a lot of corrosion, and there’s also a lot of worn-out parts and various problems.”
Saindon said the rooftop equipment is at or nearing the end of its expected useful service life, and he suggested replacing it during the roof project.
“We could ignore the situation,” he said. “We could lift up units and put them back down. But you’d be left with a lot of issues. You might as well do it (replace the HVAC units) now.”
Facilities subcommittee chair Sarah Fox, who led the meeting, said it is now up to the full School Committee to determine next steps.
“These are time-sensitive decisions,” she said. “We have a meeting on Thursday, we will be relaying this,” she said. “(Assistant Superintendent) Mike Pfifferling and (Marblehead Finance Director) Aleesha Benjamin have been working closely together … to talk about the financial implications and what the recommendation is — what are the funding mechanisms, what are the avenues, what is the best choice for balancing the needs of this project and the fiscal realities.”
Fox also addressed the roof project’s timeline so far. Once Town Meeting approved the funding in May 2022, the district applied to the Massachusetts School Building Association for partial reimbursement but was rejected. The MSBA’s decision came in September 2022.
The MHS roof was initially part of a package of roof repairs on several town buildings. Later, the district moved forward without the town because the high school roof renovation was a much bigger job and required a project manager.
The project was finally put out to bid this past April. Construction will begin no sooner than 2026 and not this summer, as initially hoped.
Meanwhile, the town has announced a projected $1.8 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2026. New teacher contracts that will cost the town an additional $3 million over four years will also need to be funded. The town is also in contract talks with the police and municipal employee unions.
