MOUNT HOLLY, Vt. – On Monday, Jan. 8, Eric Lafayette, an engineer with Energy Efficient Investments Inc., presented the results of the firm’s yearlong examination of the Ludlow and Mount Holly school buildings and their recommendations at a public forum in Mount Holly. Members of the public offered their opinions and suggestions.
Lafayette emphasized that some components of both schools are old and need replacement. No major upgrades have been done at either school for more than 20 years. The Ludlow roof is leaking and has little insulation, with an R-value of 2.5 compared with code of R-40. The oil boilers are 50 years old, in need of constant repairs, and terribly inefficient. Many aspects of the buildings do not meet current codes. In addition, the Mount Holly School is crowded, with the nurse’s office on the stage separated from the gym only by a curtain; speech, occupational, and physical therapy in the cafeteria; and music instruction in the gym.
The major elements of his proposal include replacing the oil boilers at both schools with efficient wood pellet boilers with liquid propane backup, and ventilation systems with electronic controls; replacing the Ludlow roof and increasing the insulation from R-2.5 to R-40; building a 2,000 square foot addition behind the Mount Holly School with a nurse’s office, space for special education, and a music room; and enhancing security by rebuilding the schools’ entrances and vestibules to make them secure and visible from the office, replacing doors and windows, upgrading fire alarms, and other improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other code issues.
The estimated cost of the proposals is $9,268,045. Of that amount, $3.6 million is for replacing the boilers, ventilation systems, controls, and associated electrical upgrades at the two schools. Replacing Ludlow’s roof will cost $1.1 million. The Mount Holly addition will cost $1.4 million. The remaining $3.1 million will include fire alarms, secured entrances, asbestos abatement, ADA and code work, LED lighting, siding, and windows. The work in Ludlow would cost $5.1 million, while Mount Holly would cost $4.2 million. The work would be paid with a 20-year bond.
Following his report, members of the public offered comments and suggestions. Everyone who spoke supported replacing the old oil boilers, replacing the Ludlow roof, and the actions to enhance security and bring the buildings up to code.
Some questioned the proposal for the 2,000 square foot addition in Mount Holly, asking whether it needs to be that big and whether there are alternative ways to give the nurse a proper office and provide appropriate space for speech, hearing, and occupational and physical therapy instruction. Mount Holly School Principal Craig Hutt Vater pointed out that they had already taken closets and converted them to instruction spaces, and that there was no other space available. Others spoke of the importance of having appropriate space for these activities, saying that 2,000 square feet is not unreasonable for a nurse’s office, a therapy room, three small offices for individual instruction, and a music room.
One sixth grade student made an eloquent appeal for support to give students better spaces for their work. Some residents highlighted that Mount Holly and Ludlow are in competition for young families, and that the quality of our schools is often an important factor in their decisions about where to live. Administrators said that it can be difficult to hire qualified professionals, and that potential employees consider the condition of school facilities in making their decisions about where to work.
On Jan. 17, the Ludlow-Mount Holly Unified Union School District will consider adopting a warrant to ask voters to approve this bond in March. Additional public meetings will be held in the coming months, to offer opportunities for residents to have their questions answered and offer suggestions regarding the work. If the voters approve, then work will begin this summer and expect to be completed in the summer of 2025.
Eric Lafayette’s full report is available at www.trsu.org. Okemo Valley TV filmed the forum, and it can be viewed at www.okemovalley.tv/videos.