Plans to renovate Assawompset Elementary School, which would represent the first major change to the building in 35 years, were presented to the select board Monday, Aug. 29. 

The $4.2 million renovation, which is scheduled to be voted on at the Nov. 14 Special Town Meeting, will replace the school’s windows and doors. Construction will likely be completed in 2023, according to the project schedule.

Fogging inside and outside the school’s windows shows deterioration on the trim and the sealant of the windows, said Greg Hill of SLAM, the architect on the project. He said the oldest windows in the building are 57 years old.

The school was initially built as a two-story school in 1949 before one section was added in 1954 and another in 1965. The most recent renovation took place in 1987 when the building expanded once again.

Hill said that the windows will resemble those in the 1949 part of the building, will blend into the current design and will meet specifications.

Lakeville residents will pay $1.96 million of the $4.22 million cost, and the Massachusetts School Building Authority will reimburse the remaining $2.26 million, or 53.53 percent of the total expense.

The sum includes money paid to consulting firm Watermark and architectural firm SLAM before the November vote on the project’s approval, according to Town Administrator Ari Sky. That money will be reimbursed as part of the overall project. 

Watermark is working as the project manager for this project.

The project takes advantage of the building authority’s Accelerated Repair Program, an annual program that provides money to schools for energy-efficient upgrades. 

The program grants money for repairs to doors, windows, roofs, and boilers. Any portion of the work that touches windows and doors is also eligible for this funding, Watermark’s Joe Spangenberger said. 

Because the project managers cannot select a window manufacturer _ the contractor selects that _ they did not present a rendering of how the new windows will look at Assawompset. 

Concerns were raised about having to vote on the project without the work being seen. Select board member Evagelia Fabian asked if the window designs would be ready for presentation at the Special Town Meeting. 

Spangenberger responded that the community would not see the finalized design until the public bid to select the contractor. The presentation slides stated the public bid will take place in December.

Select board Chair Richard LaCamera asked if the school’s staff were happy with the designs. He urged school officials to consider their opinions. 

Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District Director of Finance Kara Lees responded that she did not know what the teachers thought, but she said the school’s principal and director of facilities were aware of the designs. Lees said the design phase happened at the end of the school year, which prevented teachers from seeing the design.

“We can certainly put it out to them,” said School Superintendent Alan Strauss of showing teachers the designs.