Repairs to roofs, windows, boilers requested at 5 Quincy schools

QUINCY – The city will apply for money from the state School Building Authority’s accelerated repair program to fix windows, roofs and boilers at five Quincy schools in the coming year. 

Councilors this week approved submitting applications for repairs at Broad Meadows and Point Webster middle schools, as well as Wollaston, Montclair and Parker elementary schools. 

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Quincy Public Buildings Commissioner Paul Hines called the projects “relatively simple” and said they  are needed mainly for energy conservation. If the state approves any of the projects, Hines will go  back to the city council and ask for money for the city’s share of the costs. 

Roof repairs are needed at Broad Meadows Middle School, as well as the 110-year-old Wollaston and Montclair elementary schools.

Point Webster’s windows need an upgrade. The middle school was built in 1917 and, though renovated and refurbished in 1998, the windows have never been replaced.

“Given the innovations in window manufacturing technology since the windows were originally installed, the school’s energy efficiency would be substantially improved by the installation of replacement windows,” the city said in its request. “New replacement windows would also increase the amount of natural light entering classrooms, creating a better learning environment.” 

The city will request  a new boiler and a new roof in sections at the 105-year-old Parker School. A new boiler would increase energy efficiency, Hines said, and parts of the school’s roof are “past the expected service life.” 

The Quincy School Committee is expected to vote to move the projects ahead at its Wednesday meeting, and the requests must be submitted to the state by April. 

Councilors at Monday’s meeting also passed a resolve solidifying their support for the new Squantum school to be a net-zero building. The School Building Authority accepted the school into its renovation and replacement program late last year and councilors approved spending $1.5 million on a feasibility study for the project last month. 

“I do support the net-zero emissions for the building. I am looking forward to the future and this is very, very necessary,” Ward 6 City Councilor Bill Harris said.