In late 2024, the Historical Commission submitted a request to the Community Preservation Committee to utilize CPC funds to restore the entire exterior of the Winslow School in order to preserve the exterior envelope. This came on the heels of the $1.5M project approved by voters in May 2023 to demolish the additions to the Winslow School and restore the exterior of the original school house. That plan also called for the original schoolhouse to be moved up on the site closer to the road. In July 2024, the Town was provided cost estimates to complete that work that showed that the total expected costs would exceed $2.4M. Due to the lack of available appropriation, that project was put on hold. 

The Historical Commission submitted a request to the CPC to use the unexpended funds from that original project to restore the entire exterior until a future plan for the inside could be determined. In reviewing the request, the Community Preservation Committee decided that it needed a full architectural review of the exterior of the building to better determine its condition and the cost to perform the work requested by the Historical Commission. As such, they authorized $22,300 from their administrative expenses budget to hire an architectural firm to complete the work.

In June 2025, the Town awarded a contract to Gale Associates for this work. Their scope of work included a full exterior assessment, the delivery of a conditions report to the Town, and a cost estimate to restore the entire exterior of the building. 

In August, Gale Associates presented the conditions report to the Town. The report can be viewed here. 

In the coming weeks, Gale will use this report to provide a cost-estimate which will be used by the CPC to determine next steps, if any. The final cost estimate will be presented to the Community Preservation Committee during a public meeting this fall. 

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