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.