We are ready for school!! Tomorrow will be the first day for students and parents to get used to the new parent drop off area the bus loop and the new short term parking.  Please be patient as we all get use to new routines and also construction will continue until next summer!

Here is the diagram for the new dropping off loop, there is orange fencing separating the parent drop off and the bus drop off lanes.  In the center of the two lanes is a paved path and a crosswalk.  Students should exit their cars and cross on the crosswalk.  Please don't park on this loop during drop off  and pick up times.  Marion and Alicia will be out helping direct traffic for the first few days.  

Their is a short-term parking area, the former drop off area, for parents that want to accompany their children into the school or pick them up inside after the end of the day.  The idea of this little parking area is to make it easier for mothers with infants, pregnant mothers,  grandma's and grandpa's or families with multiple age kids to park closer to the school.  The handicap parking area is also in the short term parking.  You can always park in the big parking lot too if you don't find a space in the short term parking.

We will post the construction schedule for the week a little later today.

WELCOME BACK!!

We are busy at School getting ready for School to start on August 27th!!!   The first few days kids are back at school we will be installing the flooring on the gym and getting it ready for kids to use it.  
Please read the letter from Marion with details about the bag lunch menu for the first few days of school.  Here is a paragraph from her letter:   

"During the first week of school, the gym floor will be installed. Given this, we will be serving lunch/breakfast from the staff room and will provide a menu that can accommodate the facility. On Tuesday through Friday, bag lunches will be served; the menu is included in the first day packets. In advance, Tuesday’s bag lunch is a ham and cheese sandwich, fruit, veggie sticks and a choice of milk. Wednesday’s bag lunch is a turkey-cheese wrap, veggie sticks, fruit and choice of milk." 

Strummer and his team  from Wright and Morrissey are working hard to move fences and get the construction site ready and safe for kids to be at School.  Please remember that the date of completion for this project is August 2014 so we have 12 months left of construction.  We appreciate your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience.

August 19,2013 to August 25,2013 Construction Activities for East Montpelier Elementary School

Gym Interior work

Finish Paint

Gym Floor Prep

Install Gym Equipment

East Elevation

Finish Gravel

Pave short term parking

South Elevation

Box cut Bus loop

Install gravel

Pave Parent drop off and Bus loop

Place concrete entrance

Form and place concrete for new South addition.

Build a new lay down area.

Update August 2, 2013

Construction is in fool swing at the School, the first phase for asbestos abetment has been completed.  Mold abetment in the 1989 wing is done and mercury abetment has been completed too.

We have a project sign now and so many things are happening at the same time it is a very exciting time at School!  The weather has collaborated with us and excavation and foundation work is happening now.  

The storm drainage pipe through the recreational field is done and a little more work is needed still, to make sure grass grows properly.  The Oversight Committee has been coordinating with the Recreational field Board on different scenarios for the upcoming fall season.

Inside the School they are working on the Gym to have the first phase done as soon as possible; ceiling in hallways have been taken out to allow for easy access for rewiring, adding ducts, etc. Our staff at East Montpelier is working on getting school ready for kids, from summer cleaning to coordinating with our Clerk of the works all of the little details, plus making sure all the educational needs are taken care of too.  

A lot of questions have been asked about the tax Information here the note that was posted from the School Board on the blog on July 28th: 

"Due to favorable financial market conditions, the East Montpelier School Board secured permanent financing for the school construction and renovation project that was approved by the voters in November 2012.  We were able to lock in a rate lower than the rates projected at the time of the bond vote. This will save taxpayers over $300,000 over the life of the loan. 2013-2014 property tax bills include the East Montpelier Elementary School Bond payment. The tax rate includes a 16.4-cent increase for residential properties. Nonresidential properties are not impacted by the cost of the project and do not have a tax increase for this construction project.

Residential property owners whose combined household income is less than $99,000 (or $106,000 if working) may be eligible for a property tax adjustment. Vermont State Tax Forms H144 and H122 can still be filed until October 15, 2013."

We are working in getting a table on the estimated anual tax increase associated with the project and some examples out as soon as possible.  

Thank you for your patience during the renovation,

Oversight Committee