May 23, 2024

Dear IAA Families and Staff, 

This morning I spent time connecting with staff at IAA and witnessing the heat and the noise impacting many students and staff as we work to complete a renovation project during a heat wave. I know that many days this week have been very uncomfortable. I am sorry for the frustration and discomfort the current work to conduct geothermal drilling is causing. 

Because this part of the project is not moving as quickly as was planned, on Tuesday, we asked the well drillers to consider a temporary pause or a shift in working schedules. Unfortunately, they let us know that in order to do that, they would have to leave the site and not return until the end of summer, and we would risk missing the federal deadline of spending the $10m in ESSER funds. In a twist of fate though, today we learned that the drill broke and has been taken away for repairs! This means they will not be drilling again until temperatures are much cooler next week!

Still, it is almost summer and because we cannot shift the schedule without major impacts, I want you to know we are making plans to help provide relief from heat and noise if temperatures rise again before the project is completed. Specifically: 

• We have air conditioners and fans placed in areas that can handle the electrical load. 
• I have asked Principal Scheidt to encourage teachers to take students out of classrooms when possible and Champlain has donated a significant amount of camp chairs to help create outdoor classrooms. 
• Art is moving to a model that pushes into classrooms, much like it will be next year, when noise and/or temperatures are impacting learning. 
• We are working with the Boys and Girls Club, who have offered to let us use their space during the day.
• We are working to get students to Roosevelt Park, a three-minute walk from school, for recess and other outdoor learning time.

The good news is that it looks like much cooler temperatures are arriving today and will continue for at least next week and the drilling is almost complete. We have high hopes that they will be finished in the first week of June, though the recent equipment break may push us a little further. Once this project is complete, though, we will never have to worry about whether or not to open windows in the building!

Thank you all for your patience, understanding, and flexibility. 
Tom

St. Marks Floor Plan Updates – While we continue to make tweaks to our design based on feedback and need, the Floor Plans for St. Marks are largely complete. As you can see, we are no longer considering plans which would convert the large cafeteria space into classrooms. We also have gender-neutral bathrooms represented, as well as a plan for the library, nurse’s office, classrooms, etc. Check it out!

Food at St. Marks – With huge thanks to our Director of Food Services Laura La Vacca and her awesome school nutrition team, we have a good plan in place for food next year. We will be using the kitchen at Hunt Middle School to make hot food and then transporting it to St. Mark’s. 

Playground – We have a small budget for playground equipment at St. Mark’s and are working with Playground Bob to create an awesome experience for students. We will also be moving some swings from Champlain Elementary and the old swing set from IAA, and are purchasing a gaga ball pit, soccer goals, and “big blue blocks!” After the project is completed, the old IAA swing set will stay at St. Marks and the newer set from Champlain will travel back to IAA. (Sara Holbrook already has an age-appropriate playground that is large enough for our needs.)

Fencing – We will be installing a fence at St. Mark’s before the start of the new school year to help with safety and security on the campus. Busses will drop students off near the entrance to the fence so that students can be safely gathered before and after school, and during recess. 

IAA Construction Update – Our project manager PCI, has begun issuing bi-weekly reports full of photos and information on the project. Their most recent update has a bunch of pictures and captures the number of wells already drilled (23 as of last week), roof supports and ductwork, and an update on our work to remove the boilers and all accessories out of the boiler room. Removal of the boilers and accessories will happen next week, making way for the new geothermal equipment that will be used to heat and cool the building. Check it out. 

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The Burlington School Board has unanimously approved the calendar for the 2024-2025 school year! For the first time, the CVSA has developed a regional calendar instead of doing it by county. This will help us align our calendars, better coordinate across the region, and meet the State laws for our technical centers that require us to have 175 common school days across the region. As a result, this year, there is very little opportunity for local decisions as we have committed as a region to much of the calendar already. You can access the calendar online or below; the biggest changes that are included in this regional calendar are:

• The first in-service day will be August 20th, with new staff orientation on August 19th.
• To recognize the days when many families are off for cultural and religious holidays, Yom Kippur, Diwali, and Eid are common days off next year. 
• Due to the additional holidays, districts in our region committed to August 26th as the first day for students. 
• Many districts have traditionally been in school on Indigenous Peoples Day, at the request of the Missisquoi people, to recognize and celebrate the day;  we will be part of the regional decision to be in session. 
• There is not a common day off in March after Town Meeting Day, so, in alignment with many of our regional districts we will hold spring conferences on March 4.
• The last day of school will be on or about June 12, 2025, depending on school closures.

Dear IAA Families and Staff, 

I’m writing today with two important and exciting updates. 

First, I am happy to say that after months of work with our construction manager EEI, we have received the final bids for all of the work at IAA. As you will see below, the board has unanimously approved the use of capital funds to move forward with substantial renovations. 

Second, EEI is almost ready to begin work on the geothermal portion of this project, which means they will soon be on site and taking over part of the schoolyard. 

Both of these updates are laid out in detail below. I encourage you to read through them and reach out if you have questions. Please know we are dedicated to creating a project that creates a long-lasting, positive impact on student learning, and doing that with you as much as possible. As a reminder we have a monthly parent meeting to discuss the plans; the next one is Tuesday, March 19, at 8:15 AM in Principal Scheidt’s office. 

Finally, I know that many of you are waiting on a transportation update, among other updates. Because this update is so large, we’ll work to provide another update with details in early March. 

In partnership,
Tom

Scope of Work and Cost – This renovation will happen in two phases over the next 16 months. The specifics of each phase are laid out below, and site plans have been posted online. When combined and included with soft costs, we are estimating the total project cost to be about $17.5m. 

At last night’s school board meeting, we presented a project update and I recommended the board approve the use of the resources available from our 2017 10-Year Capital Plan funding to complete this project. They unanimously agreed. 

We had originally planned a smaller renovation project, focused primarily on using the $10m in ESSER funds to make HVAC upgrades. However, we know the level of investment needed at IAA is substantial and will only continue to grow if we do not take bold action now. In addition, because we already have alternate locations identified for schooling next year, it makes the most sense, and is most cost-effective, to do as much work as we can next year. This is why we decided to use what is essentially the remainder of our Capital Plan funding for this project. We are comfortable with this because all of our other schools have benefitted from renovations of some kind in the past decade, and IAA has the most need now.

Phase 1 – Phase 1 (P1) is work that can be funded in part by $10m in ESSER Funds. Major components of the project include the installation of a new geothermal mechanical system and a new heating and cooling ventilation system upgrade throughout the entire building. The project also includes new LED lighting, attic insulation, and an expansion of the sprinkler system throughout the remainder of the building. The project cost for this portion of the project is $10,393,352, which is lower than we anticipated just a few months ago. 

Phase 2 – Phase 2 (P2) is additional work not directly related to HVAC that has long been needed. The project construction cost for this portion of the project is $5,281,662 and includes 

• 1965 wing ADA bathroom and classroom doors
• 1965 wing envelope improvements to include new classroom windows and exterior siding
• 1965 wing painting and flooring throughout
• 1904 wing stair railing and stair tower fire separation 
• 1904 wing 2nd floor ADA bathrooms upgrade
• 1904 wing painting and flooring throughout
• Gym ceiling replacement
• Parking lot paving and concrete entrances
• Dumpster pad and screening
• Stormwater Improvements

Important Geothermal Update – An important aspect of this project is the installation of a new geothermal system to support heating and cooling in the building. This will require us to drill several geothermal wells on the site, which will be connected underground both to each other and to our new HVAC system. 

EEI is getting ready to begin that work, which is going to require restricting access to the field next to the playground. Initially, EEI anticipated this work beginning in April, but they can start this work earlier, which gives us a little bit more breathing room to ensure the work can be completed before the deadline to use ESSER funds. 

As we enter this phase, I know you have questions. We’ve tried our best to ask and get answers for every question we think you might have. You can find those below. I also want to acknowledge that the closure of the field comes as a surprise and I hope you will accept my apologies for this. There was a miscommunication between EEI and our staff, and we did not fully understand the impact of beginning this work before the end of the school year. I have asked our team to make sure we are better prepared and have more proactive communication moving forward. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out to: superintendent@bsdvt.org. 

When will this start and when can we access the fields? EEI is hoping to start on Monday, March 11 or Monday, March 18, depending on when final permits are issued. They will move all of their trucks onto the property over a weekend and then begin fencing off the area on the following Monday morning. No drilling will occur until the site is properly secured. Once that begins, the field will be off-limits for the remainder of the school year. This photo shows the areas that will be fenced off. EEI will wait to drill the wells under the swingset last, keeping those available for students until May or June. 

Will we see or hear construction work activity during the school day? Yes, construction on site will be seen and heard at varying levels of activities. The contractor does not anticipate a significant level of highly impactful construction noise inside the school building, although activities will be heard and seen. Outdoors they anticipate louder conditions during equipment use for drilling of the well field.  Occasionally some may “feel” the work progressing and we will be closely monitoring this work as it begins. Currently, outdoor recess will remain in designated safe areas separated by work areas with proper fencing in place. However, if noise and other factors make it too difficult to use the playground,  we will offer alternative recess plans (such as taking groups of students to Roosevelt Park); these are already being developed as a precaution. 

What about VTCAP testing? Standardized testing requires an environment that is quiet and free from distractions, more than the traditional school day. We are prepared to move forward with testing as planned. If we feel that the construction is creating an atmosphere that makes it unable to have this testing, EEI is open to pausing work for that week. We will make this decision well in advance of the testing date and will communicate with families. 

What safety precautions will be taken? This will be an active construction site. The site will be secure and will only be able to be accessed by those working on the site. Crews park inside the site and will not arrive to or leave the construction site during standard drop-off or dismissal times. Access to the site will be locked after construction hours, on weekends and all periods while not attended by the district’s contractor.

Again, I hope this answers any questions you may have. Please feel free to reach out to: superintendent@bsdvt.org. 

January 26, 2024

Dear IAA Community, 

I hope this message finds you excited about the new year (if not the rain!). Part of our commitment in this project is to communicate with you as a community regularly so you are informed about major updates and this update is one key way to achieve that goal. We also want this to be a collaborative process where you know that the IAA community’s needs have been understood. As part of that, we are planning to start a monthly IAA Renovation Parent Group to provide a venue for open dialog with you around this project. We know things are moving quickly and hope this new outlet will provide space and allow for more collaboration and communication. Below please find a few updates on the IAA renovation project. As always, please feel free to reach out with questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Tom

IAA Renovation Parent Group – Principal Mattie Scheidt and our Coordinator of the Office of Engagement Victor Prussack are looking for a few parents to meet monthly regarding the project. The meeting will happen on the last Tuesday of each month from 8:15-9:15 am. If you are interested in participating, please email Victor directly at vprussac@bsdvt.org. The first meeting is scheduled for this Tuesday, January 30th at IAA. 

Transportation and Afterschool – We are in the process of finalizing a contract with Affordable Transportation to provide busing to and from Sara Holbrook and St. Marks. In the morning, buses will pick up at the Boys and Girls Club and take students to their destination. 

• In the afternoon, buses will take kindergarten students in the afterschool program to St. Marks, where Boys and Girls Club will run programs for K-3. 
• 4th and 5th graders will be transported back to the Boys and Girls Club for afterschool, along with any students who do not participate in afterschool but who need to get back to the neighborhood. 
• We’ll also provide a late bus from St. Marks to the Boys and Girls Club to return K-3 students to the neighborhood (exact time TBD). 

In addition, our awesome partners at Boys and Girls Club have agreed to allow us to use the Club and Roosevelt Park Playground (“Little Rosie”) as the base for where IAA students will gather to wait for the bus. For inclement weather, we will be able to access the classroom that is in the center of Roosevelt Park.

Kindergarten Planning at Sara Holbrook – Kindergarten and Unified Arts teachers from IAA visited Sara Holbrook and are excited to work with Kindergarten and PreK students in that space. (Kindergarten registration is open!) The PreK and K teams are really excited to be working together in the building which was built less than five years ago and has a dedicated gym, great age-appropriate playground, off-street drop-off and pick-up, and enough parking for our staff. We are also actively developing a plan for administrative support for the programming and classes at Sara Holbrook. Stacie Curtis, our Early Education Director, will have her office located at Sara Holbrook as one form of support, although she will not be the principal there, and we know we will need to hire an additional person who can support the operations onsite. There will also be a receptionist at the front door to welcome visitors. 

Testing for Hazardous Materials – As part of the State’s PCB School Testing Program, IAA was initially scheduled to be tested further down the road. We requested to be moved up the queue because of our planned renovation project. We expect to receive the official results soon. In addition, we have completed our asbestos survey; those results can be found here and will be added to our asbestos management plan. Finally, I want to clarify that we will not be doing additional testing for lead, as we previously participated in that program through the State. (Lead water results are available for all schools on the ANR website.)

St. Marks Campus Updates (Safety, IT, Dining) – Teachers, including special educators, have started to tour St. Marks to ensure that the new space will meet the needs of all of our students. We also completed a walkthrough with the BSD safety team to review safety protocols and identify any areas/spaces that will need safety updates, and held our first meeting with IT to identify technology needs in the new space. We are confident that wired and wireless technology will be in place and we will be able to run our needed technology. Members of our design team also met to sketch out the area at St. Marks where we will create a fenced-in space for drop off and pick up as well as for recesses and PE. We will have refurbished playground equipment and a nice open space for recess and PE. During inclement weather, PE will take place in the Cafeteria/Multipurpose room. As a reminder, Saint Marks has separate kitchen and dining spaces for our students. These spaces have been used recently and will require very little investment/attention to serve our students well. 

Dental Clinic – We have agreed to continue to host the District’s Dental Clinic for the Community Health Centers of Burlington at IAA. Similar mechanical system ventilation upgrades will be made in the Dental Clinic as the rest of the building and additional work will include the replacement of the windows.

Bids and Scope of Work – We are excited to announce that we expect the bids for work to come back next week. Following that, our design team will dig into the bids to provide a recommendation to me on the best path forward regarding the scope of the work and what we can afford to accomplish and whether that work should be completed all at once or phased in over time. (We would only displace students once, but we may need to create a plan to tackle some of the other smaller portions of the work over time. 

Timeline – 

Renovation Design of Alternative Learning Spaces at St. Marks – March/April 2024

Non-displacing Work at IAA Begins – April 2024

Renovations of Alternative Learning Spaces – June 2024

Phase One and Two Completion – Spring 2025 (had anticipated December 31, 2024 for Phase 1 and March 2025 for Phase 2)–

November 27, 2023

Dear IAA Community, 

Our goal is to provide a monthly update on this exciting project to seriously upgrade the learning environment at IAA. Our goal will be to give you the most up-to-date information so you can understand the plans and how they are evolving. We hope this helps answer questions, alleviate stress around the project, and create space for you to ask questions and give feedback along the way. The challenge with this strategy is that information may change as we learn more about the project. We have decided, based on your feedback that it is better to provide these regular updates, knowing changes may happen, so you are getting information in real time.

Below you will find a number of updates regarding the cost of the project, potential locations of classes, and more. The biggest update is that based on what we have learned in our planning with the design and construction team, we will likely need to begin and end the year with students at St. Marks and Sara Holbrook (pending final lease agreements). We realize this is a big change that will cause concern because we originally thought we would be able to complete the construction in phases and bring some students back into the building during the year. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the fastest and best way to get this project done is to leave the building empty for the year. 

As you read the updates, keep in mind that things may still change, but I believe we are getting close to finalizing many of these pieces. As always, please feel free to reach out for clarification or with questions or comments. 

Tom

Locations – After visiting St. Mark’s with the hopes of keeping our entire community intact, we’ve run into a hiccup. We have measured out all of the spaces and determined that we do not have enough room for all of our classes in this one location (see below). With that in mind, we have decided to plan to have grades 1-5 together at St. Marks and will offer kindergarten and PreK at another location (Sara Holbrook). Here is our proposal, please keep in mind that we are still working to finalize the details. 

• Lease St. Mark’s to accommodate grades 1-5 (10 homerooms), including using the cafeteria as classroom space. Lease additional space at Sara Holbrook for all of PreK and K (this would be 3-4 classrooms). Students would remain in these buildings as a community for the entire school year. 
• Set up a tent for lunch and some outdoor classroom space during non-winter months.
• Acquire and set up playground equipment. 
• Create a temporary office for our Director of PreK at Sara Holbrook. 
• Ask the Boys and Girls Club to run afterschool for Grades 1-3 at St. Marks (4-5 is at the Club).
• Transport students to and from IAA each day.
• Move our STEP program for first-year New Americans to Flynn.

Length of Project – Our initial plan was to work to get Grades 3-5 back into the school as soon as possible. However, as we dig deeper into the work that will be needed to really put forth a great renovation effort, we believe it will be best to keep all students off of the site until both phases are complete. Keeping students in their alternate school location will ensure our community stays together, allow us to offer better continuity of unified arts and administrative services, and minimize the disruptions (such as noise, parking, and space for contractors) that may otherwise occur on an active construction site. We know this is a change from previous thinking and I want to acknowledge that it is not the ideal scenario we had all hoped for. 

Transportation Survey – As part of the move we are working on having school buses or similar transportation from IAA in the morning and back to IAA in the afternoon of each school day. This transportation will be optional and only for students who live in the 05401 zip code, south of the old Burlington High School on Institute Rd. If you will need transportation, please let us know by completing this form to help with our planning.

Scope of Work and Cost – We have received the first anticipated cost of Phase 1 of this project, which is only the cost of the HVAC upgrades. It is anticipated that this cost will be about $11.6M, despite only initially setting aside about $11.7m as our overall project budget. To address this, our team has been pushing back on initial estimates to see where there may be opportunities to reduce the costs of Phase 1. At the same time, we are working to find ways to commit additional resources to the project and also looking at ways to spread Phase 2 over multiple years to be able to afford the overall project. As you can see from our updated timeline below, we now are projecting to have an updated scope of work ready to discuss in early February. 

Tentative Timeline (subject to change) – 

• Bids Returned – ESSER-related project bids have been returned and we are going through a costing exercise; we have received some of the bids for the non-ESSER-funded portion but EEI is now saying they will need until the end of January to complete this portion of the work. 
• Scope Finalized – While we had anticipated completing this work in mid-November, the latest news that we will not have bids until the end of January leads us to believe we will not be able to finalize the scope portion until early/mid-February.
• Alternate Location for Learning Finalized – Mid-November (tentative plan provided above)
• Transportation Questionnaire Out – Mid-November (provided above)
• Renovation Design of Alternative Learning Spaces at St. Marks – March/April 2024
• Non-displacing Work at IAA Begins – April 2024
• Renovations of Alternative Learning Spaces – June 2024
• Phase One and Two Completion – Spring 2025 (had anticipated December 31, 2024 for Phase 1 and March 2025 for Phase 2)

Explanation of Space Constraints at St. Marks – St. Mark’s has eight classrooms with the ability to increase to 12 classrooms, each at 600 sqft. However, kindergarten students require more square feet per student, which means if were to try to put all the students in one location, we would really only be able to accommodate 24 K students (it also means there is no room for PreK). This would impact families from enrolling in Kindergarten at IAA and presents problems with enrollment for the SY25 and beyond, as it is unlikely that we will add many more over the subsequent five years; the impact of this would likely be one that would see us having to reduce and/or change classroom teachers every year for the next five years. For these reasons, we believe having PreK and K at Sara Holbrook instead of St. Mark’s next year will be the best long-term solution.