Framingham Selectmen Reject School Administration Lease of Perini Building

Framingham Selectmen rejected a 5-year, $328,000 a year lease for the Framingham Public Schools administration to move from its current Water Street location to space in the Perini Building.

Framingham Selectmen voted 4-1 against the lease, with Selectman Laurie Lee the only one supporting the lease.

Last week, Framingham School Committee voted 4-0 in favor of the lease. 

Earlier this month, Framingham Selectmen had tabled the lease request citing a deed restriction on the property dating back to 2007, that suggested children should not be in the building long term, due to contamination on the site. Both the EPA and MassDEP had investigated contamination issues with property between 2000 and 2007.

After the July 8 Selectmen's meeting, a Framingham health board consultant reviewed the property and presented a report to the Framingham School Committee. The report said the property was safe for children and school staff, despite the deed restriction.

Selectmen Tuesday night still were not convinced.

The Framingham Public Schools administration said it needed to move to a new location, as their current location the King Building will become the town's ninth elementary school in August.

Starting Aug. 28, kindergarten students will attend the school.

During the 2015-16 school year, there will be both kindergarten and first grade classes, with the plan by school leaders to add another grade each year until the school is another K-5 elementary school.

At last week's School Committee meeting, the school system said worst case scenario administration could still fit in the building with the kindergarten classes but it was not the ideal situation.

However, administration could not fit in the building when there were both kindergarten and first grade classes.

The Framingham School Department put out a bid for leased space earlier this year and received a couple of bidders; but the leased space needed to be re-bid and the Perini site was the only second bidder.

Selectmen criticized school leaders for not having a better backup plan if the Perini lease was not approved, and for have bid specification that limited options for leased space.

As part of the Framingham Selectmen's vote to reject the lease, Selectmen made a motion for two Selectmen to be part of a subcommittee with School Committee members and administration to work on a new bid for leased space.

Selectman Michael Bower and Jason Smith will represent Selectmen, Bower told Framingham Patch.

Bower, before elected to the Framingham Selectmen, served on the Framingham School Committee, including a stint as chair.

Smith is the only Selectman with children in the Framingham Public Schools.

Framingham Schools Director of Building and Grounds Matt Torti and the School Department's Director of Business Administration Ed Gotgart made a presentation to Framingham Selectmen Tuesday night.

In the presentation Tuesday night, they told Selectmen several options for other space were considered including a possible move back to Fuller Middle School for administration and the possibility of moving into the former Farley School, also on Flagg Drive.

MassBay Community College currently leases the former Farley School for its Framingham campus.