West Bridgewater School Building Committee Advances to Preferred Schematic Report Phase

WEST BRIDGEWATER — January 28, 2025 — West Bridgewater School Building Committee enters preferred schematic report phase with site constraints mounting. The committee voted unanimously at its January 28 meeting to approve three outstanding invoices — two from architect HMFH totaling $132,000 and one from project manager PMA for $9,908 — against a $1.2 million feasibility budget of which roughly $327,000 has now been spent. Architects James and Stephanie from HMFH reported that a wetland scientist has identified previously unmapped wetland areas on the Rozzelle school site, compressing the buildable footprint and complicating plans for an on-site wastewater treatment plant required for the 1,075-student pre-K-through-6 design enrollment. The lead architect told the committee, "it's not a done deal for us when either septic or wastewater at Rozzelle, and it may force us to go back to look at an option at the Howard school." Three-story building configurations are now the only options being carried forward; a second community forum is targeted for April 1, with a committee vote on which single design option advances to schematic design scheduled for April 8.