Stoneham Considers Trimming High School Project Plans As Costs Mount

STONEHAM, MA — Various cost increases have prompted Stoneham officials to consider cutting back planned elements of the town’s new high school, which is currently under construction, the School Building Committee announced on Thursday.

The committee said it remains too early to know just how much costs could increase. As such, it did not provide specifics on what might get cut.

The committee cited inflation, supply chain issues and workforce challenges as a trio of factors driving current concerns, however.

“To best align with its goal of completing the project in a cost-effective and timely way, the (Stoneham School Building Committee) has worked proactively to identify areas where it can pare back the new building’s elements while continuing to achieve the community’s core goals in building a new high school,” the committee said in its announcement.

The committee said its top priorities include “safeguarding high school and pre-K programming, net zero energy performance and overall quality and durability.”

“Still, the (committee) and its partners anticipate a likely cost overrun brought on by external market pressures,” the committee said.

Consigli Construction is working with Stoneham as part of the team at the high school project. Consigli Vice President of Project Services and Project Executive Todd McCabe called current conditions "unprecedented" this week, saying crews are working to control costs.

“The reality is we’re seeing things cost more and are more difficult to access not only on school projects but across the board - from fuel to labor and supply chain impacts on material and equipment," he said.

"It is not just about spending more money though, flexibility, communication and transparency with all of our project partners will be key as we work through this process together,” he continued.

Officials on Thursday said they would continue to update the community on the high school project’s status.

Though not certain yet, the committee said it may seek additional funding from a special town meeting in January if the project ends up needing more money.

Stoneham voters approved funding for the project at the ballot box last year.

Initially estimated to cost just under $190 million, the project is drawing roughly $140 million from Stoneham itself. The Massachusetts School Building School Building Authority is covering an additional $49 million.

High school plans have called for updated classrooms and technology, a net zero energy system, and a strengthened security systems among other things.

Construction began earlier this year and is ongoing to date. Town officials have estimated that the project will wrap in time for the 2024-2025 school year.