Six schools, five schools, or four schools—as Madison’s Board of Education (BOE) weighs the options on school restructuring or consolidation, the numbers are pointing toward the sidelining of Madison’s current three elementary schools for a new, central school.

Madison’s discussion about a long-term plan for its public school facilities began a few years ago due to growing concerns over declining enrollment, the age of the district’s buildings, and the need to ensure the buildings could support the structural vision of the district. While a decision on the schools’ futures was postponed this May due to state budget concerns, the BOE resumed the discussion on Sept. 6.

The board had been considering three options: maintaining a six-school model, a five-school model in which one elementary school would be closed, and a four-school model in which all three current elementary schools would be closed and a new, pre-K to 2 school would be built.

At the Sept. 6 meeting, BOE Chair Jean Fitzgerald indicated the board has already eliminated one option.

“We are really down to the decision of whether we are looking at, philosophically, a five-school model or a four-school model,” she said.

To look at the financial impact of both options, the board compiled comparative numbers based on industry standards and square footage. If the board voted to move forward with the five-school model, the gross cost is estimated at $51 million. After state reimbursement, which is currently estimated at 28.5 percent for projects deemed “renovate as new,” the net cost of the project is estimated at $45 million. However, Fitzgerald said the 28.5 percent reimbursement rate might not apply to the whole project.

“Some of the renovations are not as new,” she said. “There are parts of the project that are not renovate as new and they would then be at a different [lower] reimbursement rate.”

If the board voted to move forward with the four-school model, the gross cost of the project is estimated at $46 million. After state reimbursement, which is estimated at 18.5 percent for new construction, the net cost of the project would come in at approximately $40 million. Fitzgerald said the cost estimate for the four-school model does not include changes that would have to be made to Walter C. Polson Middle School and Robert H. Brown Middle School under the new grade configuration.

“...We know we have to modify Brown in order to make it a [grades] 3 to 5 school and by modifications I mean we are looking at classrooms, furniture, fixtures, and finishes,” she said. “We are also looking at Polson for the HVAC [heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system]. Another thing that is not included in this number is the cost of moving the softball field and the tennis courts.”

While estimated costs are likely to shift once the board gets into more detail with one option, the board also reviewed estimated cost saving based on operational costs. Superintendent of Schools Tom Scarice said the board is more confident in the operational cost savings numbers.

“A lot of work has been done since the end of May on these numbers,” he said. “We feel very confident with these numbers, but a programmatic change can shift these numbers one way or another...These are crystal ball numbers based on staffing, based on averages on energy cost—we are looking at five-year averages.”

Operating costs include figures for staffing requirements and maintenance costs. Currently, to run three elementary schools and the Town Campus Learning Center (TCLC) preschool, the annual operating cost is $10,295,495. If the board was to move to a five-school model, the estimated operating cost savings comes to $974,218. If the board votes for a four-school model, the operating cost would be reduced by $1,625,889.

Finance Director Stacy Nobitz said between the two options the board is currently considering, factoring in the debt service for a 20-year bond, the four-school option would provide greater savings to the town.

“The average annual savings if we took the debt into account would be $951,671 between option one and option two,” she said.

Additionally, Nobitz calculated the impact of both projects on the mill rate. Under the five-school model, the mill rate would increase .67 mills and under the four-school model, the mill rate would increase .24 mills.

While current numbers are being used to compare options, Fitzgerald said it is important to move forward so that the board can begin to get hard figures.

“In order to get those numbers, we need to get to the point where we hire a construction manager and form a building committee to look at what the actual costs are,” she said. “Even if we were to decide we want to go to a five-school model and we get the info and we decide at that point that based on the comparative costs that we feel that it is too much, we can always stop there and go back to the four-school model. It is not preventing us from doing something else, but we need to start somewhere.”

Discussions over the financial and logistical components of both options are expected to continue over the coming weeks. The BOE will hold a joint meeting with the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen later this month and Fitzgerald said the board is expected to make a decision this fall.

“It is my hope that at the first board meeting in October, the board will be able to vote on what model we want for the district,” she said.

The joint board meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Campus.