Article 66 Ottoson Study Presentation¶
Warrant Article #66
Ottoson Middle School Feasibility Study
Dr. Elizabeth Homan, Superintendent
Julie Wayman, Deputy Town Manager - Finance
Agenda
Overview of the Mass School Building Authority
(MSBA) Process
Major Building Concerns Highlighted in OMS
Statement of Interest (SOI)
Anticipating Financial Considerations and
Concerns
Projected and Tentative Timeline for OMS
Financing Decisions
EH
MSBA Process Overview
OMS SOI Submitted
in April 2025
MSBA School Survey
Visits in 2024-2025
MSBA Site Visit Fall
2025
Board Invitation to
Eligibility Dec 2025
APS Currently Completing Eligibility
Period Requirements
EH
Massachusetts School Building Authority
Statement of Interest Priorities
EH
Ottoson Middle School priorities named rebuild application:
● (5) Replacement, renovation or modernization of school facility systems,
such as roofs, windows, boilers, heating and ventilation systems, to
increase energy conservation and decrease energy related costs in a
school facility.
● (7) Replacement of or addition to obsolete buildings in order to provide
for a full range of programs consistent with state and approved local
requirements.
Major Building Concerns
Highlighted in SOI
● HVAC
● Roof Leaks and Design
● Exterior Envelope Deterioration
● Poor Design for Accessibility and Inclusion
● Layout, Fixtures, and Academic Programming
Cumbersome and difficult-to-find ramp
to Wood Gym does not include lighting
at the top of the ramp.
Closets as
class
breakout
spaces /
small group
learning
spaces
Poor roof design
and HVAC cause
ongoing water
intrusion in various
locations
Exterior deterioration
and corrosion, 2022
Capital Study
EH
MSBA Assessment of OMS
Building Needs
EH
Capital Needs Assessment determined potential cost and most critical Capital upgrades
required to improve conditions at OMS
● HVAC
● Exterior envelope
● Roofing repairs
● Unaffordable to address in the Capital budget
● Renovation would not resolve water intrusion and HVAC issues due to
building layout and design issues
Capital Study in 2022 and MSBA experts in 2025 determined OMS needs
reconstruction; the current infrastructure is failing and the building’s design does not
facilitate high-quality educational programming.
● During the Feasibility Study, the District works with the MSBA to:
○ Develop the educational program plan for the project.
○ Generate an initial space summary.
○ Document existing conditions.
○ Establish design parameters.
○ Develop and evaluate alternatives.
○ Recommend the most cost effective and educationally appropriate preferred solution to
the MSBA Board of Directors for their consideration.
● This will include assessing:
○ The most cost-effective site for a potential new middle school
○ Which grades to include in a potential new middle school
○ The most cost-effective and strategic siting approach for Town and Schools into the
future (including whether reconfiguration of current boundaries, buildings, and grade-
level bands is advisable or necessary)
MSBA Feasibility Study
JW
Arlington High School Building
Project Timeline
DATE
November 2023, January 2024
February 2017-August 2018
May 25, 2016
May 2014, April 2015
MILESTONE
Phase 2 Wings Open, District
Offices, Menotomy Preschool
Feasibility Phase
MSBA Invites AHS to commence
Eligibility Period
SOI Submission
JW
AHS Borrowing History
Participation with the MSBA allows the Town to significantly offset the cost of a
new building for residential taxpayers.
JW
● If Town Meeting approves this warrant article, then we await the MSBA
formal invitation to feasibility study in Feb 2027 and complete all pre-req
steps.
● The MSBA Eligibility Period is the first formal phase of the Core Program
● Phase includes data collection, planning, and collaboration with the MSBA
TOWN MEETING VOTE
JW
