Editorial

School roof needs fixing

Last week, the Quabbin Regional School District (QRSD) approved the borrowing of $4 million. Now it is up to the five member towns – Barre, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree and Oakham – to vote to affirm or disaffirm the school committee’s borrowing at a town meeting. Each town’s share of the cost would require a debt exclusion vote.

Four million dollars is a large chunk of money, but the atrium roof situation at the Quabbin Regional Middle High School needs to be addressed.

Blame of the present situation falls on several shoulders. The original panels recommended by the architect were substituted for a different panel through an approved change order. The company that made the panels at the school is no longer in business. The contractor used a smaller beam than listed that caused the panels to sag allowing water to seep into the fiberglass panels. The contractor is no longer in business either. The atrium roof and the metal wall panels that are rusting both should have lasted longer than they have.

Still, repairs and replacement need to be done before it becomes a safety hazard to the students, teachers and staff at the school. Hopefully, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) will approve reimbursement of the project. If the district receives the MSBA grant of 50 percent reimbursement, the project would be cut in half.

The school buildings are the responsibility of the towns and just as a landlord not the tenants would pay to repair or replace a roof on a building the landlord owns, so should the towns.

However, the Quabbin district should make all efforts to recover any costs on this project if possible through legal action. The voters will have their say at town meeting and at an election to vote on a debt exclusion question. Approving the funds is the “right thing to do.” Yes, taxes will increase, but when the bill is paid, the increase ends. Hopefully, the bid for the project will come in under the $4 million authorized by the school committee and the MSBA will approve the 50 percent reimbursement.