school monday?

$30,000?? Ouch! Seems rather high.

Try this on for size...12 laborers x $25/hour x 8 hours/day x 3 days = $7,200. Where's the remaining $22,800 going? Taxpayers will want to know.

Jay, thats typical SC figuring on costs. Always allow extra funds and make it sound good of how much they have to spend to corect a problem with the roofs. Its always everything for the children rergardless of how much it costs......

maybe money for equipment? I bet the report is public.....someone check it out and let us know.

Jay- where are you getting your $25 per hour? That rate is grossly underestimated. We got a quote from a local roofing company for our home and it was 150$ per hour per person. Also, Lee "everything for the children no matter what the cost"? Really? A structural engineer inspected the buildings and deemed them unsafe. It's not like that money is going towards a district wide trip to Disneyland. A potential roof collapse and serious injuries if not lives lost is what we are talking about here. Time for a little common sense here.

Alison...I chose the rate based upon what the DETAIL RATE in Hamilton and Wenham is for firefighters. The Detail Rate is the hourly amount paid to firefighters for "extra duty"...such as shovelling snow off the roofs of schools - which, by the way, they are doing even as I write this comment...and not for $150/hour! Although the DETAIL RATES in the two towns differ, I have been told that they are shovelling off the roofs for $30/hour. I used the figure $25/hour because it seemed reasonable that unskilled laborers, particularly in this economy, would be willing to work for less than professional firefighters. When you start talking about $150 per hour...well then I can think of only two possible reasons for such an exhorbitant rate: (1) either we hired ATTORNEYS to shovel the roofs at the Middle/High School, or (2) the contractor is PRICE GOUGING...like the roofing company who quoted you on your house (which I assume you did NOT pay?).

One other thing...Knowing that a storm was headed our way, wouldn't it have made sense to shovel off the roofs on Monday, long before the anticipated storm? Like so many residents and building owners took the time to do? Just a thought.

I don't think Allison's comment "A structural engineer inspected the buildings and deemed them unsafe" is true? The roofs on these building has survived winters much worse than this one. I believe they are just being cautious and rightfully so.

You are right - he did not say the words "deemed unsafe" as far as I know. It was my interpretation of the message I received - "I am calling to inform you that a structural engineer has visited our school buildings and based on his recommendation we are canceling school for tomorrow, Friday, February 4, 2011 to allow for removal of snow from our school roofs. With another storm expected to arrive on Saturday the combination of heavy snow mixed with potential rain requires us to hire a contractor to assist in removal of all snow" They took a proactive measure to ensure the safety of the students and faculty.
Semantics. Assumptions. I am going to venture a guess though that they would not have canceled school if they didn't think the heavy wet snow posed a serious risk. Much like we are hearing all over the news these days.
Funny Jay. I got a laugh out of the "attorneys" shoveling the roofs. In regards to the 30 grand price tag - I am just relaying what the quote was from the private contractor we contacted. Based on the numbers we were given, 30 grand wasn't so far off. Meow.

Alison...LOL. And they say the economy's bad. I'm going to change careers and become a roofer. ;-)

our contractor quoted $68.50 per person per hour.
I think generally when people spend other peoples money (the governments) they spend more freely than if it were their own.
meaning - don't take time to barter, question costs or get more quotes. This is not an accusation towards ANYONE it just seems in my experience this is what happens.

All of the records are public documents. As per MA state law, we contacted 8 contractors, received quotes from 2 of them and went with the lowest bidder. The other 6 contractors were not available. The other quote was $120,000. We have 11 custodians for all 6 buildings and with one storm after another we were just able to deal with clearing entryways and finding someplace to put the snow (in addition to their normal custodian duties). We didn't have much time to barter given the urgency of the situation. I don't freely spend other people's money, in fact, it pained me to spend this much money, thinking of so many other needs we have. However I had no choice and yes it was for the safety of the staff and children.
Yes, some confusion about the calendar. It's been straightened out. Now stands at June 27th.
Any questions??? Call, email or stop in.

Peter Gray - HWRSD Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Mr. Gray Thanks for all your work. Good hear how conscientious you are about money spending. As a mom of elementary school age kids I will let you know the talk of the town is GREATLY hoping for no feb vacation. I hope it is an option on the survey.
Thanks again
Jen Flynn

Peter...Thank you for taking the time to respond with an explanation. Clearly this was an "emergency" measure and so I assume the costs will be paid from the E&D Fund? Correct?

I still hold with the view that the rate set was price gouging...but certainly less "gouging" than the second contractor! Can you imagine having the gall (I was considering another word) to submit such a bid!? I'm going to enjoy learning who that was.

Peter, Thank you for the explanation. We do think you are doing your best under unusul circumstances. It seems that many contractors are taking advantage of the situation. Let's remember them when things return to normal! There is a differance between making a profit and profiteering(gouging).
Makes sense to take this out of the E&D account. That is what it's really for, emergencies like this.