In 2005, an engineer determined that the building was, “deficient with regard to building code requirements for snow load.” The 2005 report further “Recommend[s] that the school district formulate a snow monitoring and removal plan to prevent the overload of the roof structure and possible collapse of the building.” It ends up that the Richard, who has faithfully taken care of the Concord facility, climbs up on the roof, to take a snow sample, and test the density. The engineer report requires that if it exceeds the pounds per square foot, the roof has to be shoveled so it won’t collapse. I am sure you realized, at Convocation, that the gym looks great. This is because the gym floor was replaced in the last ten years and the custodians have gone a great job caring for their facility.

This past week we had a new engineering report, and can take action, however our insurance company is still not sure they are willing to take the risk to have us use the gym until all the snow is gone. We need to replace this gym. So. Drip drip. The students can have. Drip. Their musical. And all school meeting. And after school. And. And. And.

I share this with you, because all of you, at some point, have looked toward the need for an improved facility. The Board was ready to put a bond for a project to do work at Concord and Burke on Town Meeting Day (to replace Burke’s middle school which is a trailer, second hand, and has a rotting floor, and infrastructure work at Concord) . . Because of the Concord gym, this will wait a little longer. We will be putting together a complete needs assessment, so later this spring we can propose to take care of all of our building needs.