Submitted by the High School Building Committee:

The High School Building Committee (HSBC) met on Sept. 17 to review the Project Scope and Budget Conference held at the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and to recommend the project budget to the Wayland School Committee.  The MSBA Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on Wayland’s project scope and budget on Sept. 30.

HSBC Chairwoman Lea Anderson reported that the MSBA recently reviewed project costs of high schools in the funding pipeline and is seeing a significant reduction in construction cost per square foot due to current market conditions. Wayland was encouraged to look again at project costs and to bring them down from the cost estimate that was presented to MSBA on Sept. 8.  Wayland and the MSBA came to agreement that the total Eligible Facilities Expenses would not exceed $62.5 million, resulting in a grant of $25.0 million or 40 percent reimbursement. The HSBC voted unanimously to accept the grant and to recommend a total project budget of $70.8 million to the Wayland School Committee.

The $8.3 million of expenses not eligible for reimbursement includes the wastewater treatment plant, site improvements over allowance due to proximity to wells and wetlands, additional contingency for future price uncertainty, asbestos abatement, moving expenses, utility charges, legal services, fees and permit costs.

The High School Building Committee is planning project forums (Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 20 at 9:30 a.m.) and preparing materials to communicate the details of the High School project to the Wayland community. More information will be posted soon to the HSBC’s web site .

The next meeting of the HSBC is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the School Committee conference room on the second floor of the Wayland Town Building. The community is invited to all HSBC meetings.  More information is available at the HSBC website and at the Wayland Library.