Potter School's roof, added security among summer projects at Dartmouth's schools

Jun 9, 2015

There will be a different type of “schoolwork” going on at Dartmouth’s schools this summer.

According to Dartmouth School Business Manager James Kiely, several projects will take place over the summer, including the replacement of the roof at George H. Potter School.

“We’re excited to get that going,” said Kiely at Monday's School Committee meeting.

Kiely called the project “weather dependent,” though he expects it to be near complete by August. He said the work could stretch into the school year, but nothing that would be disruptive to the learning process.

“The goal is to get the major roofing part of the process done prior to school,” said Kiely.

In 2014, the Massachusetts School Building Authority approved $968,060 to assist in the replacement of the now 28-year-old roof, and town meeting last year approved $1.35 million for the project.

The other larger-scale project Kiely noted as scheduled for the summer was improved security, including more electronic doors and swipe card access at some of the district’s schools.

“We’re going to continue to expand upon what we’ve completed so far,” he said.

Kiely said there were problems with last year's paint job on the Dartmouth High School gymnasium floor, and it would be redone.

“We were very disappointed to see that,” he said of visible roller marks and other imperfections. “(The company that did the work) agreed to come back this summer and readdress it.”

Other improvements include:

  • A continuation of LED lighting replacements for older lights at the schools.
  • The addition of water-saving fixtures in accordance of state regulations.
  • Painting at several buildings.

He said he’d hoped to have the replacement of the seats at Dartmouth Middle School’s auditorium take place over the summer, but that new seating wasn't expected to arrive on time for that to happen. He said that work would take place in the fall.