LAKEVILLE — The Select Board received welcome financial news about the Assawompset Elementary School renovations at their Monday, Jan. 9 meeting. 

The total project cost to renovate doors and windows at the school will be nearly $4 million, which is about a quarter of a million dollars less than had been anticipated.

“We were pleasantly surprised by the pricing,” said Freetown-Lakeville School District Director of Finance Kara Lees, who presented the construction plan with Project Manager Joe Spangenberger during the meeting. “We’re just crossing our fingers that the project goes smoothly.”

The total cost of the project is $3,964,960. The cost for construction will be $3,144,000, according to the project-winning bid submitted by NENA Construction. The remaining costs pertain to certifications and other non-construction expenses. 

The Select Board unanimously approved the bid from NENA Construction.

Since the project is eligible for 53.53% reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the town is slated to pay $1,842,517 for the renovations.

With non-construction costs included, the revised total project budget is a $257,334 decrease from the August 2022 estimate. The extra money will move into a contingency fund which already contains around $168,000, according to Spangenberger.

The contingency fund is for any additional, unexpected expenses that may arise during the construction process.

The renovation work is being pursued to update aging infrastructure and to improve insulation for potential energy savings.

The new windows will save the school district between $7,000 and $10,000 in annual energy costs, according to Spangenberger.

The school’s most recent renovation took place in 1987. Fogging on the inside and outside of school windows showed deterioration on the windows’ trim and sealant, project architect Greg Hill of architecture firm SLAM said when presenting the project to the Select Board in August 2022.

The contingency fund is for any additional, unexpected expenses that may arise during the construction process.

Spangenberger said the town is on pace to receive the new windows on July 21. The planned project timeline predicts construction will finish by Oct. 30.

Select Board Member Richard LaCamera asked how the project would be completed with students in the classrooms. Spangenberger said construction will take place during the “second shift,” after the students leave for the day and so would not impact the children’s school schedule.