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Essex Elementary School Project

Community Meeting No. 01

October 8, 2025 @ 6:00 PM

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1. Project Team Introduction
2. MSBA Process and Schedule
3. Existing Conditions
4. Site Analysis
5. Educational Programming
6. Next Steps
7. Q&A

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Agenda

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Organization/ Project Team

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Massachusetts School Building Authority

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Process

Middle

High

School

Memorial

Elementary

School

Essex

Elementary

School

Dore + Whittier Team

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Michael Burton

Partner In Charge

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Christina Dell Angelo

Project Director

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John Albright

Project Manager

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Jacob Greco

Assistant Project Manager

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JCJ Architecture Team

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Jim LaPosta

Principal in Charge

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Fawn Pellegrini

Project Manager

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Jeff Elliott

Project Architect

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Emily Czarnecki

Interior Designer

School Building Committee

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Pam Beaudoin

Superintendent of Schools/SBC

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Michelle Cresta

Director of Finance & Ops/SBC

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Theresa Whitman

SC/SBC Co-Chair

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John Binieris

SC/SBC Co-Chair

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Annie Cameron

Essex Select Board/SBC

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Tyler Virden

Project Executive/SBC

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Gordon Brewster

OPM/SBC

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Charlie Hay

Architect/SBC

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Kim Provost

Essex Elementary School Principal/SBC

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Henry Oettinger

Manchester ConCom/SBC

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Tim McDonald

Architect/SBC

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Andy Oldeman

Manchester Finance Committee/SBC

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Lisa O’Donnell

Essex Planning Board/SBC Advisor

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Ariel Fernando Brain

Architect/SBC

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Jen Hocherman

Architect/SBC

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Michael Gerhardt

Civil Engineer/SBC

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David Pereen

Plumbing/Fire Design/SBC Advisor

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Emily Dwyer

Essex ES Teacher Rep

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Rachelle Russo

Essex ES Teacher Rep/SBC Advisor

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Kim Field

Essex ES Teacher Rep/SBC Advisor

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Steve Hunt

Facilities Director/SBC Advisor

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Project Team

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Who is the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)?

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A quasi-independent government authority created to reform the process of funding capital improvement projects in the Commonwealth’s public schools.

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The MSBA strives to work with local communities to create affordable, sustainable, and energy efficient schools across Massachusetts.

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Collaborating with municipalities to equitably invest in finding the right-sized, most fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solutions to create safe, sound, and sustainable learning environments.

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MSBA Process

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Where do MSBA grant funds come from? How are they issued?

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The MSBA has a dedicated revenue source of 1% from the state’s 6.25% annual sales tax collections.

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Grant funds are issued to the district using a “pay-as-you-go”

reimbursement system for the duration of the project.

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More than $16.6 billion issued to-date to cities, towns, and regional school districts for school construction projects.

MSBA Process

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How does MSBA determine the level of financial support for projects?

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Reimbursement rates are calculated based on a formula that is established in M.G.L ch.70B § 10

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The formula starts all districts at a base rate of 31% (of eligible project costs).

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The base rate may be adjusted based on three socioeconomic factors:

• Community income factor
• Community property wealth factor
• Community poverty factor

*Essex ES Base Rate is 31%*

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6% potentially available from Green School (4%) incentive points and District maintenance policy (2%)

MSBA Process

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What does “eligible project cost” mean?

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The MSBA uses a total project budget template to apply and calculate their funding policies to determine the grant amount

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The MSBA’s reimbursement rate is applied to “eligible project costs” to determine the MSBA’s participation on each budget line-item.

• Construction and Site $605/sf + $73/sf
• Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) $1,995/sf
• Technology Equipment $1,570/sf

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There are funding caps on certain budget items, as well as “categorically ineligible” items that the MSBA will not participate in.

• Pools, Field Houses, Elementary School Auditoriums, Central Offices, Senior Centers, site acquisition, and offsite improvements

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MSBA Process

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These caps and ineligible costs will have an impact to the final (or “effective”) reimbursement.

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Memorial E.S. Example:

- Base Rate of 31%

- CM@ Risk 1% (no longer applicable)

- Maintenance 1.93%

- Energy Efficient School 2% (has increased)

MSBA reimbursement rate 35.93%

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“Effective” reimbursement rate ~23% = $11.5 Million from the State

MSBA Process

MSBA Process

PROCESS & SCHEDULE

Preliminary Design Program (PDP)

• Identify the issues/articulate the educational plan
• List options to be studied in PSR

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Preliminary Schematic Report (PSR)

• Evaluate the site and building options/select a preferred option

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Schematic Design (SD)

• Develop schematic drawings and specifications

to establish the project budget

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Feasibility Phase Process

PROCESS & SCHEDULE

Preliminary Design

Program

Dec ‘25

May ‘26

Oct ‘26

Nov ‘26

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Community input is important throughout the process

Preferred Schematic Report

Schematic

Design

Local

Approval

Feasibility Phase Schedule

PROCESS & SCHEDULE

Local Approvals

• Receive local funding approval in Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea
• Approval November 2026
• Depending upon preferred option

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If Project is Approved

Proceed to detailed design and construction

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Feasibility Phase Process

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Feasibility Phase Requirements

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Essex & Manchester Town Meeting Full Project Vote & Debt Exclusion Vote

Feasibility Phase Requirements

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The Essex Elementary School building

1. Total building is approximately 52,900 SF
2. Originally built in 1957 (68 Years)
3. Addition provided in 1975 (50 Years) (media center and gymnasium)
4. The design team's existing investigations began and are ongoing.
5. Mechanical, electrical & plumbing systems has exceeded life expectancy
6. Roofing, windows and building materials are deteriorating

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Building History

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The roofing system is at life expectancy. There are several repairs, underlayment appears compromised, and water is ponding, so moisture is not shedding quickly. 

Existing Conditions

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Shedding water away from the school building through roofing and site drainage is important.  

Moisture accelerates:

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• Spalling at the existing roof eave
• Lichen on the masonry
• Compromises at the concrete foundation
• Plant growth occurring in unplanned or undesirable areas 
• Deterioration of the original wood windows

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Existing Conditions

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Accessibility is being reviewed to enable students, staff and visitors of various abilities to enter the school together (not separate due to physical need, or otherwise).  Some of the items included in this review of the site conditions and the school interior include:

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• Exterior grade changes
• Interior level changes
• Pitch of sloped walkways and ramps
• Handrail design
• Push/pull clearances at doorways
• Circulation space & turn around space
• Mounting heights of accessories, plumbing, and equipment 
• Furniture
• Signage

Existing Conditions

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• Mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems are beyond or at life expectancy.
• Exhaust fans, unit ventilators and boiler are worn. 
• Portable fans are seen throughout the school to supplement air circulation 
• Interior finishes are buckling.
• Wood windows are deteriorating.
• The water heating system is at the end of its useful life. The mixing value is leaking.

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• Considerations include:
• Efficiency of operation (operational costs for the District)
• Efficiency to heat, cool, dehumidify and provide fresh air circulation
• Availability of parts quickly for future repairs

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Existing Conditions

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Existing Conditions

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Entry and exit sequence for students, staff, and visitors is being reviewed with the District to support the operational needs. 

Existing Conditions

Identified Sites

Statement of interest includes:

• Current Essex Elementary School
• Current Manchester Memorial Elementary School

Search of other potential sites in Essex:

• Town of Essex owned parcels 112
• Minimum 9.75 acres 16
• Street access & utilities 7
• Not used by other town function 1

Town Hall, Spring Street Cemetery, Essex ES, Centennial Grove, DPW Transfer Station, Public Water Supply

30 Apple St

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ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MANCHESTER ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Identified Sites

A

B

C

Current Essex Elementary School

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12 Story Street, Essex MA

Current Manchester Memorial  Elementary School

43 Lincoln Street, Manchester MA

Apple Street Site

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30 Apple Street, Essex MA

Identified Sites

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ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MANCHESTER ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Current Essex Elementary School

Opportunities

• Established identity in the community
• Developed site utilities
• Multiple options for site access

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Constraints

• Construction activities on occupied school site

Wetlands & pond

• Some topography on north side of site

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Unknowns

• Soil conditions proximate to wetlands

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A

Story St

Western Ave

Wetlands

Pond

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ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MANCHESTER ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Current Manchester Memorial ES

B

Opportunities

• Developed site utilities

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Constraints

• Construction activities on occupied school site
• Dense site with limited expansion options
• Wetlands and flood zone
• Transportation from Essex to Manchester
• Regional Agreement

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Unknowns

• MSBA funding considerations

Summer St

Causeway Brook

Lincoln St

Brook St

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ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MANCHESTER ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Apple Street Site

C

Apple Street

Opportunities

• No disruption to existing schools
• Construction phasing

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Constraints

• Undeveloped site
• Restricted site access
• Impacts to adjacent residences

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Unknowns

• Environmental risks

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DPW 

Bridge

Alewife Brook

Landing Rd

Lowland Farm Rd

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ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MANCHESTER ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Site Evaluation Criteria

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ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MANCHESTER ESSEX REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Educational Programming

During the Feasibility phase, the District and its team collaborate to document their Educational Program.

• The Educational Program enables an evaluation and creation of an initial space summary. 
• Then the team evaluates the site and grade configuration alternatives to recommend the most cost effective and educationally appropriate preferred solution.

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The Educational Program is developed through programming workshops to:

• Build a shared understanding
• Envision through an educational and scenario-based lens
• Align renovated or new spaces with the educational program

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Educational &

Community Priorities

Manchester Essex’s Educational Program

Developmental Impacts &

Enrollment Scenarios

Physical &

Social-Emotional Needs

Program

Adjacencies

High-Quality

Instructional Practices

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Upcoming Meetings/Next Steps

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Project Website

Thank You!

Thank you!