BOURNE – Design work continues for the new Peebles Elementary School in Bourne.
Superintendent Steven LaMarche says the Bourne School Building Committee is making some decisions to ensure that costs remain on budget on the $39.9 million facility, which will cost taxpayers $24 million.
“Our goal is still steadfast that we will be under budget,” LaMarche said. “And we are going to guarantee that through our design details.”
The town has submitted its last design detail report to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for review. The MSBA will reimburse $15 million of the cost of the new building.
LaMarche said the design process is going smoothly.
“It looks like we have all our ducks in a row and we are moving forward with it,” he said.
The next step in the process will be a field trip by the building committee to visit some building designed by the architect.
The schools have also started an internal committee to be chaired by Jane Norton, the principal of Peebles. The committee will be a combination of community members and school staff.
“We’re not just opening up a new school to replace a new school, we are actually working on a grade span shift within our district,” LaMarche said. “So we are opening up a new school but also creating a new climate and culture around education, teaching and learning within the Bourne public schools with this new facility.”
The new school would house all Bourne students from grades 3 through 5 with pre-K through 2nd grade students attending Bournedale Elementary School.
LaMarche said construction is expected to begin this fall with a scheduled opening in the fall of 2019.
The new facility will replace the current school that was built in 1953 and is showing signs of disrepair.
Residents approved the school at Town Meeting in October with a vote of 595-13 and at Town Election 67 percent to 32 percent, or 2387-1161.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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