Arlington School Board members have affirmed their desire to see the cost of a new 725-seat elementary school in Westover come down, but have left it in the hands of a planning group to proffer cost-cutting suggestions.
Board members on Aug. 2 approved the schematic design for the new elementary school, to be built adjacent to Westover Library, while providing “strong direction” that the building-level planning committee find ways to trim costs.
The school initially was budgeted at around $49 million, but currently is estimated to cost $55 million – without yet accounting for the possibility of construction materials costing more due to international trade disputes.
The vote on the schematic design was 3-0; School Board members Nancy Van Doren and Barbara Kanninen were absent.