Interim Assistant Superintendent of Schools Tim Piwowar walked into Billerica Memorial High School in September 1997 as a young math teacher and instantly became one of the most popular members of the faculty.
Known for his sense of humor, he captivated his students with his ability to do complicated math problems in his head. Endlessly congenial, he advised the class of 2005 through graduation and organized fundraisers to help reduce the cost of class activities such as the senior prom.
When Piwowar took the podium at Town Meeting to plead for funding for building maintenance, it seemed as he were back in front of a rowdy classroom again, but with his trademark wit and organization he answered every question about school maintenance plans that dominated the first session of Town Meeting.
In the Fall of 2010, members approved a $775,00 project to replace windows at the high school. The total cost of the project came in $250,000 under budget and school department officials wanted authority to move that money to fund repairs at the elementary schools including the fire alarms at the Dutile School.
Rep. Dan Burns said that he was disappointed that the school department couldn’t have provided a more accurate bid for the cost of the windows
“How do we get a real dollar value,” he asked. “At my job, I don’t go out and buy things without quote.”
Piwowar responded that the window replacement at BMHS has not been completed and that the school department determined that there were more pressing needs at some schools including falling lights at BMHS and replacing water fixtures around all school department buildings to help diminish water consumption.
But members bemoaned that they were being nickel-an-dimed to death and that these projects should have been apart of the normal spring budget process.
Rep. Dan Cugno, a member of the School Committee, jumped to Piwowar’s defense: “For the longest time this body has been asking for maintenance in the schools and we’re embracing that,” he said.
Rep. Bernie Duggan, who is employed by the school department as Piwowar’s assistant, said that at the time the original article was presented to Town Meeting members in the Fall of 2010, the school department was running up against a deadline that would make the project eligible for state reimbursement.
Finally, members approved the funding of a study that would evaluate the cost effectiveness of continued renovations at the high school.
The most stunning admission of the night came when school officials admitted that part of the study’s purpose was to begin to look at the feasibility of building a new high school or completely renovating the current building: and even Duggan threw cold water on the idea of renovating.
“Take a walk through the high school, any part of it,” he said, “if you think we can renovate something like that for any kind of decent money you really are not very far-sighted.”
