The relocation of School Department administrative offices is scheduled for next month.
Bernie Lusa, head carpenter for the Westfield School Department, is seen at work Wednesday inside the new administrative offices at 1029 North Road in Westfield. WESTFIELD – School Department craftsmen are busy creating office space in a former medical facility that will house the school administrative offices for the next three years.
“There is a lot of overhaul,” said head carpenter Bernard J. Lusa this week as he worked on framing new offices at 1029 North Rd.
The former Riverbend Medical Center at Hampton Ponds Plaza has been leased by the School Department for the next three years with two additional one-year extensions options.
The relocation, from the former Ashley Street School, is being made to clear the way for construction of a new $36 million elementary school at Ashley and Cross streets. Construction is scheduled to begin next spring.
“We are framing new walls, installing some new electrical service, some floor tiles and replacing counter tops,” Lusa said. Some plumbing upgrades and changes to the main entrance of the building will also be made.
The lease at Hampton Ponds Plaza will cost the department $2,750 per month and the School Committee last week approved $25,000 to cover moving expenses and the cost of renovation work. The plaza owner, Gem Trust of Wayland, is paying for materials for that renovation, officials said.
The relocation of school offices and the demolition of Ashley Street School will save the city an estimated $4.5 million in necessary repairs and energy improvements to the former school.
Lusa said craftsmen began renovations last week and work will continue for an estimated three more weeks.
School Director of Operations Frank B. Maher Jr. said work is not expected to be completed until at least three more weeks and that schedule will allow offices to move during Christmas school vacation.
Not all administrative offices will move to the plaza. School lunch, payroll and volunteers in Public Schools will relocate to City Hall.