School Committee: April 15, 2026

Transcript captured from YouTube auto-captioning. No speaker labels; proper names and dollar figures occasionally misheard. Click any timecode to jump to that moment in the source video.

0:01 She had braids. She had braid and he didn’t have braid. » So she ended up going to Germany. My husband does for whatever reason. And um I’m like why don’t you take a quick trip down? He could never that could never be in his to be like has to have to be months in advance. » Okay. I think we’re all set up here. I’m going to call the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. » Um we’ll start with public comment. I only see Lee online. Lee, if you have a comment, please raise your hand and I’ll unmute you.

0:36 Okie do. Well, we will move on to our agenda items. The first of which is capital requests for the town meeting warrant. Um, I know we had a placeholder. It’s I I think the first two agenda items, the capital requests and the tier a tier three override, the $500,000 school building capital fund are probably mesh into each other a little bit » as as part of this discussion. So, I just wanted to confirm that we are not placing a separate capital request on the on the town meeting of our » We do not have an intention to do that at this time. Okay. » Administration doesn’t » on on the town side or on our article? » On our article.

1:21 » Yeah. So, your recommendation is not to fund » I would Yeah. I mean, I think I would leave it open, but I think it would we would remove it at the last. » So, the way to do that procedurally is we the school committee will need to vote to indefinitely postpone that. Okay. Which would be the recommendation to the to town meeting. Town meeting could choose to fund our capital if they want you want to override. Um, » so we could do that on the we could have that included on the April 30th agenda. » Let’s ask that because I didn’t see the tail end of that meeting which I don’t know. We moved we were supposed to have a meeting the 16th that got moved to the 30th, right? Yes, » that’s okay. So, yeah, I think we’d have to H because that’s our last meeting before um » town meeting. » It’s our last schedule meeting. Yeah, before town meeting. So yes, we would need to um

2:08 um ask this committee to consider voting to recommend indefinite postponement. » Okay. » So the question is do we want to do that as a stand? We might want to ask Al to have that as its own like not under our like update but probably should be on the agenda. » Yeah, I’ll I’ll have him add a Okay. add an agenda item for that. So, um, what’s unclear to me, and I I did look at the, um, select board presentation of the override, but the, um, override capital, was that in year one or was it year two? Like, I don’t know. We should only probably be voting for something that would be for year one. So, the town » is, I believe, proposing a $1 million in

2:54 tier three $1 million » bump to capital » in year one. » I don’t know what year they are. I’ll tell you what I do know. I know that they were planning a $1 million in the and then another 500,000 dedicated to the schools. On the first million, it would be split 6238. That’s everything else that we proposed. And then on the half million that would be dedicated to the school department. Our half million we proposed in year three of tier three. I don’t know when they » but we don’t have any proposal. This is a select board » but right as part of the override our submission to the select board was tier three » 500,000 in year three. I don’t know when the million for the for the » for the towns and schools together what year that is. » So we don’t have any

3:40 » I don’t know what tier it is either. » We don’t have any vote here. You know, that’s not I mean it would just be I guess it would what it would » So we don’t have a vote » other than to indefinitely postpone or put » our own right. » Indefinitely postpone our own or to put it or to put a number on ours. I suppose I mean do we want to talk about if you know if so the school committee voted to support the override correct? » Yes. » Our Yeah. Our portion of the override. Yeah. We entire » that would be the whatever. » Yeah, we voted to to add this the administration proposal to to bring that to the select board to add to their own. » Did you have specific requests of

4:25 capital in that? Probably not. » Not specifically. No. » So I just don’t I just wonder whether it makes sense for us to have some items listed already or not. I mean, » well, we and and we we submitted our override, I mean, our capital request to the town back in » January or so, right? » U we tiered it tier 1 A, tier 1 B, tier 2, tier three, » and then some things that we could actually take care of now that really they were asked as capital, but they really to me didn’t fall into a capital category. They were » they’re not not inexpensive, but they don’t they don’t uh jump to the to the level of requiring a large uh sum of money to do it. So, um, so we we did submit and I, you know, again, I’ve got them off my screen, but, um, you know,

5:11 it really goes into, um, we broke it into safety and security, um, for our staff and students. So, bus camera system, um, the playground at leers that are over there in the playground. Um, you know, we need to do something about those boulders. Um, a clock and bell system for veteran school. Um the PA system, the announcements and whatnot. Um and then the village field which is the what’s the name of that field? » Hopkins Hopkins field uh the fencing around the field is is in need of repair placement. Um that was 1 A. 1B was mostly around the fieldhouse at the high school. Um refresh it with paint, padding, and

5:57 flooring. Um new new padding, new paint, and new flooring. Mhm. » Um and then we got into category two which was um you know things that need to be addressed but did not related to life and safety. » Um some brown playground does not have any um shade shade space at all. » Um veterans has got flooring cracks extension joint cracks that » you know and then refinishing the gym floor outside. I think this is in addition to the every year we do a skim coat on the gym floors. This would be a a bigger um project on the gym floors at the vets, both the large and the small gym. » Um looking at the lighting refreshing the gymnasium at the vets.

6:47 Um there is uh when you come out of the side of vets and I don’t know all the sides, but the side where magic cab is at inside the D-wing area, » there’s a path that comes down. you know, the kids use it quite frequently, but it’s not a real path. Uh, it’s it’s been self-made all the years of walking down. We’d like to maybe somehow create something that is actually a a walkable path. » That might be hard to do. » Yeah. Very steep » because it’s really steep. I mean, that could be actually crazily. It may require stairs » and a ramp or or something if it’s » I don’t even know if you could ramp it. » Yeah. Yeah. I don’t think that Yeah. » It’ be like » Well, that’s not right. So, it would end up being » So, I mean, that’s that’s a uh you know, it’s a tier two because safety for students, but you know, they have other

7:33 options as to where they can walk. I get that. You know, um » it’s been around since I » I know. Yeah. Since you were there, right? » Um so then, um you know, we did do a lot of work at Performing Arts Center last year. » One thing that we didn’t do is the carpeting and the lighting, right? » Um so, board in the back. » I’m sorry. That was on our our request. I’m sorry. Um and then the village gym also needs a relay. » Yeah. » Reling at the village gym. » Yeah. » Although we were over there last week. We were over there last week and they felt very comfortable with the lighting. » Yeah. There was just that one light. » Unless we can get to more energy efficient lights. Maybe that’s what the » question for you on these items. » What was the genesis of this list? So typically we talk to our principles um directors anybody who you know Kent

8:20 Wheeler for athletics in those types of facilities uh principles directors uh and then the facilities department you know » so I just wonder let’s back up a second here I do think our walkthroughs are going have the first one was great I think will prove to be quite » enlightening » so some of this might perhaps um morph a little bit based done maybe some of those really detailed walkthroughs » whether it’s items come on or off or they shift the tiers. » Yeah. » Um so I don’t think I mean this list is fine. I don’t I mean I don’t think that like there’s nothing to really vote on. There’s nothing like if this passes right and we have the funding it you know and that would be this summer. um then you could you know go back you know

9:05 and also depending on » depends on what what year they’re asking for it right what tier I and again I don’t know specifically what year and tier right Alicia had put capital of the 100 of a million » right » I know when falls is tier three and year three but I don’t know when leashes were falling just so some of this you know depending on what happens with overrides and whatnot some of this could have wait until 2029 20 » 30 » uh some of it could happen sooner be depending on You never know. There may be a decision by a future committee to do a capital debt exclusion override for it. You never just you never know. So I think it’s a good idea to have this list. » Kind of a running list. Yeah. » I think our walkthrough is if we can get those done in the next » I don’t think we’ll have done before town. Well, maybe we will, but it doesn’t matter. You know, sometime before the end of the school year before

9:54 the vote so that this list is, » you know, pretty tight. » Running out of time. » Um I know. Um then if there is miraculously funding, not miraculously, if there is, you know, through the pro process there’s funding, then you’re you’re you know, you’re kind of ready to go July 1. So » yeah, » if if there’s funding July 1. » Yeah. And you know, unfortunately, I mean, when we find out the funding, if truly there were funding, it would we wouldn’t know until June 9th at the earliest or June 10th. » Yeah. » Correct. » Yeah. » Um some of these projects just would not have be able to occur until the fall and summer. Yeah. Or or spring. » Yeah. But you could you could procure it, » right, » and be ready to go because you’d want » do the bids, right? Get the bids out there on the street. So if any of them require um an OPM or a designer, we could get that work done in advance. I

10:39 don’t think any of these really do I mean I think if anything it might, you know, the ones that would rise to my wanting some some input could be the fieldhouse. We might want to help our project manager for the fieldhouse at some point. » Um we’re not designing anything more as much as we are managing the project. um Glover School. It’s not a lot of money with that. So, we really wouldn’t have the funds to hire an OPM, but you know, really » for the exterior. » Yeah, the exterior of the playground, the boulders, you know, » you might want to hire a landscape architect. » And that’s what I’m thinking. Yeah. Something » or the architect um like design build like some some landscape architects also like physically move rocks, you know. » Yeah. because I don’t know I’ll say it in public meeting or not but I don’t know how much of these boulders are just

11:25 the tip of the iceberg and do they » like them out of the ground or where they put there » aesthetically and dropped in there and they can be just as easily removed » my guess is it was probably option one » because if they were that easy to remove they were there » well they are they there for sort of like a rip wrap are they there for like so you you know ours wouldn’t drive through I mean is it like a barrier » no no this is all vented in behind the behind We’ll see. » I think so. One of two things were done. It was done either done cosmetically to make the playground more of like a a outdoorsy jungle » wild area there. Right. Right. » Or or it was done with the intention that there the the ledge and the rock was much to remove » much to remove. But

12:12 » you know I I don’t again a landscape architect would much know much better. » Yeah. you know, and again, it’s it’s what 15 years, 10 years since Clever was done. » Um, it opened in what, 2014? So, » so it’s been 12 years. » You know, maybe there’s some new technologies in the way to remove rock without » causing damage to the building in the in the foundation around it. Maybe there’s » they’re still using good old dynamite for them. » I think there are some things where you can drill holes now and you can pump some bands. We’re looking for anything other than a remove stuff. » Yeah. » So, but um you know the other thing is uh you know the veterans the floor cracks you that may take some type of an

12:58 engineer or somebody to guide us » versus just a bid. » Yeah. Hey just I’m going to fix our cracks. I I want to get to the root problem and see if we can avoid this because yeah we could retile over it right now and and in five years everybody they’re saying you know we have cracks in the floors. We have great and they’re they’re expansion joints. They’re they’re doing what they’re intended to do, but how they were tiled right over the expansion joints are causing uh some some havoc on the on the just it’s it’s really it’s more cosmetic and yeah » aesthetics. Um I don’t I don’t believe there’s anything structural » unless it’s a trip become a tripping hazard. » Right. Right. That that would be the thing. It would be a tripping hazard, but I don’t think there’s any structural concern to the building or the foundation or the subfloor. » No, no, no. I’m sure it’s just cosmetic. » It’s more cosmetic and and tripping

13:43 hazard. So just to clarify too, I want to make sure you have used call these tiers. These tiers are unrelated to the over. These are just how you tiered them in terms of priorities. » The administration um made a recommendation of the school committee and we grouped them into tiers and group them into categories » and those categories were were really, you know, primarily we started with life and safety um and then we went into the ones that we we’ve been putting off for a while. We want to keep our buildings as fresh as possible like the fieldhouse. Great facility. We’re getting a new roof on there. We’re doing all kinds of great work over there. We’d like the inside to match what the outside is. It’s important. » Okay. » Yep. » So, do you think it would be helpful to supply this list to the school committee um at the meeting on the 30th when we do talk about this just to

14:29 » Yeah, I think so. I think » Yeah. And I think let me I have a copy of this. You sent it to me at least. » It’s a Google share doc so I can share it all. Okay. Um

14:42 I share with my people. » So um you you » not share with any I’ll share with both of you. » Okay. So it’s at the top. » I’ll have it added to the to the drive and we can talk about it.

15:04 » Um I do think it um well I don’t We probably this subcommittee might would be appropriate for us to recommend to the school committee to recommend a definite postponement for our capital warren article. I think so » given what is in the so » yeah and that’s the administration’s recommendation as well. So » so um do you want me to make a motion that we that we vote that? So, I’ll make a motion that the society subcommittee recommend to the school committee to indefinitely to recommend indefinite postponement for our warrant article for capital expenditures. » I’ll second let me just jot this down.

16:08 » So, we’ll take a vote. Um, Jen » in favor. » Henry in favor. So, the motion passes two to zero. » So, yes. So, we’ll you will you let El know that or Yeah, I will. » That should be its own um like agenda item. Yeah, I think later on we can also give them an update. I think we’ve gone through this list in a school committee meeting before. Um, » we could just reference it. » Now’s the time to » Yeah. Yeah. Give it to them again. » Yeah, exactly. Um, and I think for the next agenda item regarding the school building capital fund in the override tier three, I just wanted to get a sense of what that money would be used for.

16:53 And it sounds like the list already exists. So if people are saying people are asking, well, what what do you need this money for? » Yeah. I mean I mean and it’s it’s and it’s one of those things that, you know, every year that list um grows, changes, you know, morphs, right? So yeah, um I think that’s where the the idea speaking with Alicia, the idea is to permanently get some money into capital so we’re not relying on other funding sources or taking away from other revenues to fund capital or ignoring capital because we don’t have the » just again I’m going to caution folks that this does not require there’s no requirement once this override passes right it’s just » a general fund and so there’s nothing

17:39 that compels tells any committee, select board, finance committee or school committee in the future to fund capital. It’s just doesn’t. So that’s the intention and I I would fully expect you know um that it would but 10 years from now you know » well I mean it just also you know it just people » people have yeah different views. Yeah. » Yeah. So just that I think I just make that caution because um we’ll be back every year. We the committee will be back every year with a capital you know with a together with the town with a capital request. Right. » Um and that will be subject to town meeting and also ultimately subject to town meeting appropriation. » Yeah. I think but I do think that this this capital fund is a good idea. I mean

18:27 we we need to be able to plan these projects for at least a year, right? I mean for some of these » that’s what this is, right? And typically all this is is a funding source. Yeah. Is the over. So typically there is a capital request every year and every year it it does get funded. This year I don’t believe it’s going to be the request. » It’ll be funded this year but for ex existing leases. So most mostly rolling stock or any any » leases technology maybe that that are hanging out there. I don’t know what all those are. I know what ours are. » I don’t know what the town has on there. So » right, but nothing nothing new. No nothing for any of these. And that’s typically what it’s been in the past. » I don’t believe there’ll be any new added to this. Um » No, it doesn’t sound like it » from what I’ve heard. » So if the override passes, then that’s where this the funding source will be

19:13 » depending on what level the override is. » Correct. Yeah. » All right. Good. Thank you. Um, an update on the facilities director position. I believe it’s been posted. » It has. It’s been posted for about a week now. Um, not quite. It was It went up last week. I don’t know the exact day last week. Uh, it is on um, it is posted to Schoolring, which is our for education. That’s our primary job posting board. Um, but through school spring, we are able to link it to a lead. So, good. That was important. just because of the nature of this position. Most people unless you’re in education, you don’t know to look at School Spring. So, um if you’re looking if you’re, you know, out there or get the postings, um

20:01 » Indeed is probably more of a um would be more geared toward the candidate that we’re looking for for the position. So, it was posted uh to, you know, a little bit of activity right now. We’re reviewing it. Um we are hoping to get more activity and um you know we we took the job posting and um made a couple of minor tweaks to it. Um » is it a director level? » It is a direct it’s director of facilities. That’s how it’s posted. Uh it is posted for 110 to 122,000 per year which aligns with the budget and previous funding. Um and um yeah, » one of the things that we, you know, we tweaked to ours, we looked at a couple other districts that have posted similar positions. Um and John wanted to have at

20:48 least, you know, the um bachelor’s degree preferred, you know, something to have something with some type of u degree attached to it that’s got some mechanical and um MEP background, mechanical, electrical, plumbing. Um, you know, and then obviously roofs are big for us. So, » but hopefully not once we get our » a lot of OSHA aera. So, OSHA with safety, AHA with asbestous, which most of our buildings um are already at this point. » Yeah. I mean, maybe the only really out there is vets and Eve, » right? » I believe. » Yeah, Eve for sure. » Yeah. from bats are only two that that don’t have an asbestous problem but would be subject to a hair certification every three to five years I can’t I

21:34 think it’s five years they to be reertified every five years but we do have that coming up that’s next year I think yeah » okay um is there any similar type of um system to school spring that they do on the municipal side is there any kind of like municipal listener or I’m not sure if MMA has any type of a um boosting board. » Okay. » I’m just curious because that’s also where you might find, you know, like more municipal type facilities folks that wouldn’t know about School Spring. » Yeah, we have uh like MASS is a mass association of school superintendent, MAS, uh MASBO, which is my association. Uh, I actually should probably get it to them because they do post all of the business offices and facilities often

22:21 falls within the business and operation side of things. But » I’ll get it over to them for them to post up on theirs. » They have a limited audience, you know. It is. I mean, if you want to get your job out there, it’s Monster, it’s Indeed. It’s some of the, you know, » do you have enough? » Yeah. » Did you say that? Um, was Mark Leman going to help with that or was that » uh, we have enough? Yeah, we’ll we’ll have we’ll have some community members on the screening committee. Um, again, we we want to try and » get some applicants in, you know, get a better group, not better, a larger group of athletes. Not saying the group that’s in there right now is not qualified. Yeah. » Or a good group. I mean, we may already have our diamond in the rough and not even know. » How long do you think you’ll wait? Maybe » I would say we’ll probably um after

23:07 school vacation week. Yeah. So the end of you know around set to 28 27th or so » last week starting » maybe before that we’ll plan a committee subcommittee or screening committee subcommittee screening committee. Yeah » to look at that. » I don’t think that wouldn’t be something we would be I often think » and maybe it’s a two level maybe we do a first screen and then we’ll have another group of rain or you know interviews you know. » Yeah I don’t know that school committee would normally be part wouldn’t typically » um post anything. So who does f I mean you’re the you’re the hiring manager, right? » Yeah, I think John and I will also John and I will be the you know this is not a school committee appointed position. So you’re right that from that standpoint. So it would be a superintendent appointed position will be on the

23:54 recommendation my recommendation to John or John’s John’s I don’t want to call it his re John’s recommendation to John. » Yeah. » Good. All right. Well looking forward to getting that filled. » Yeah. Hopefully that’ll get filled soon. Um, and then I’ve got the village school courtyard. So, in our walkth through, we saw the courtyard and I knew just from bumping into someone who I bump into on my walk to school in the morning um that they were working on a proposal to the friends of Marblehead Public Schools » um to get the to sort of turn that courtyard into a outdoor learning space.

24:39 um the the proposal that they made was wasn’t accepted and so I thought it seemed like Scott Williams was interested in doing something there. Um I you just in my discussions um I heard that the two biggest challenges are obviously the asphalt and removing it because the courtyard is enclosed. So, you either have to cart it out in wheelbarrows or crane it out. Um, and then there is some furniture out there that they can’t get rid of because the district bought it. So, if it’s something we can » we can it can be disposed and declare. » Yeah. So, I thought like if we could declare it surplus just like we did with

25:26 that other stuff, then that would be » that’s the problem. » Yeah. I you know I I would love making more of a community project and you know maybe a Saturday day we can I think we could clear that entire you know chip up that asphalt get that all cleared out if we had some real community you know input and volunteerism and and I know that this community is so giving and you know especially their time. So, you know, maybe there’s something that later in the spring or at some point after April vacation, we can maybe plan a » I think that I mean, there might be a little bit of before the I mean, other words, do we want to be » ripping it up? » Without a plan. » Yeah. So, that’s » I do think that this to me in my past life, this would be right up the alley of the PTO. So, I don’t I mean, it’s a big project, but in the past, our PTO’s have taken on big projects. So, you

26:13 know, typical playground type project. The response that I heard and I again I didn’t hear this directly was that it was a facilities um issue and » that was from the friends. » Yes. » Yeah. But for the PTO » PTO Okay. » Um I think that would be um my recommendation it would be to have Scott or we could go to a PTO meeting and maybe meet with the leadership. » Yeah. » Um of the PTO and have » to know what the vision is. What is the vision? not just rip up the hot top and » right » and not do anything else with it. » Yeah. » Yes. I mean, I think it the because the question would be is is this something the PTO would be willing to consider and to take on and then they you know they probably want to be I’m presume part of the you know part of the

26:58 the vision because ultimately you need a you know you’ll come to a budget um and it could be you know it could be a significant budget and then it would likely be a fundraising » you know project for the PTO and it you know it could take a year or whatever to do it but PTO’s have done it. um they’ve done playgrounds in the past. They’ve raised, you know, they’ve raised lots of money for stuff. So, and if not, maybe they’re not. But it » I I just know from from my opinion of from a funding standpoint, I don’t think the child or the schools specifically are in a position to fund a project at this time. » Yeah. » Based on our rather competing priorities, right, that are that have farreaching far more reaching impacts on education. » Yeah. Yeah, not saying that an outdoor space is not for education just not

27:44 there. I think there are other impunity and » there might be other and also my experience again the PTO’s may have changed but my experience in the past is that they might be willing to take you know say we’ll commit to funding half of it or whatever and that we would want to work maybe with them or others in maybe there was grant funding out there you never know like in other words if a portion of it is for an educational outdoor education center there may be things that you could get a friend’s grant for or you know smaller you know portions of it that you you so you kind of piece meal get together for the funding. » Yeah, I do have sort of I I have a copy of the grant application that was made to the friends. » Okay. » And » was that which is which is » PTO or is it by Scott? » This isn’t a facilities issue,

28:30 » but um I think one of the things Well, I think one of the things is I think applications go to friends without going through the administration. » They’re not supposed to. The rules are that they’re not supposed to. So, you know, because somebody may a teacher, an educator, a » just a community member may apply for a grant that doesn’t » necessarily not align with the educational priorities of the district. » My understanding is, and I could be maybe it’s not being enforced, but » for all the years that I’ve been involved with the friends, one of the requirements on the application is that it was approved by the superintendent. » And maybe it maybe it was. I I again, I don’t I don’t know. It didn’t come through the business software, which is fine. Not has to. » Yeah, » but who submitted it? Do Do you see that, Henry?

29:16 » I mean, I I know the person who submitted it. » So, who were they submitting? Was it just a community member or was it representing? » He is. I believe she’s on the PTO there. » Okay. So, maybe the PTO submitted the grant request to the friends. » Yeah. Um and and there’s there’s a couple phases to this, you know, and phase one is sort of clean up and design. » Mh. And I think the design phase apparently has a price tag attached to it. I think the cleanup we could do, » right, » with some dads, you know, and moms. Yeah, I’d be happy to help. And I know, you know, Marissa is always » Yeah. I mean, it’s probably only a 3 in concrete uh asphalt. It’s It’s probably break up with um you know, » Jack.

30:03 » Yeah. But not even like Hilties. » They got out of Hilties. » Oh, yeah. Yeah. step up. » Yeah, » it’s always fun. » I think » Yeah, five gallon buckets and drag it out of there with wheelbarls. » I mean, summer hauling those, so they’ll be in. Um, » so the other question is I’m assuming Scott is on board with this. » Yes, Scott is Scott was on » with this proposal. I think I think if if we’re going to be involved, I want to be sure that, you know, this turns out the way that Scott’s envisioning, right? like so if if he if he sees it differently and he was just happy to accept you know someone else’s plan because it would get it done like let’s work with him to to really make it what it needs

30:48 to be the vision and again I think including students » the vision you know you know what what would they like their courtyard to be like you know » and I believe part of part of this was to write a staff questionnaire and distribute it to get some feedback on what they would like to do and incorporate that into that design. So, I believe that, » you know, the the surveys and sort of figuring out what it should look like and and having the schools involved was always part of this plan. » And I think from a curriculum standpoint, I think, you know, they’re leaving Brown and Glover. What curriculum are they from a outdoor space that they can grow upon as the kids get older? And so is if there’s something going on at Brown and Glover, how do we incorporate that into maybe, you know, obviously

31:34 » maturing as we go up and then into the vets and then into the high school? » Yeah. I mean, they have the garden already, which is in a separate moving. » When we get to the high school, we now get the greenhouse, right? Greenhouse there. There was a nice boy scout. » That’s probably doesn’t have anything. » I don’t think we’re using it. Yeah. » No, the vets doesn’t have anything. » Oh, I know. Yeah, but maybe but the vets has a courtyard. That is the vision is that we we got it at Brown and Glover and as the kids get older they progressed to village to a curriculum or some type of an outdoor, you know, educational experience that then grows and our next project may be vets. » Yeah, because vets has also has an interior courtyard that’s not used. » That’s interesting. Well, as you know, I Marissa does the garden at Brown. She does the garden at Village. So, » um I could get some feedback from her.

32:20 Yeah. And and see if there’s someone at Clever who could do that. Maybe we get ask them to put a group together. » Yeah. I mean, I don’t I don’t know if it’s, you know, you throw wild flowers down in elementary school because they don’t take a whole lot of care and love. And then when you get to the the next level of elementary, is it, you know, something that requires weeding and watering and whatnot? When you get when you get to the middle school, now you’re talking about cultivating and, you know, um, crossbreeding or whatever it is, you cross pollination. » Then we get livestock at the high school. » Livestock. Not building a cow with a pig pen. » Okay, great. » So, I don’t think we have any » any particular action on this, but I » think it’s good for discussion. » Yeah.

33:06 » Do you want to solicit Scott either for our next meeting or ask him? » Yeah, I mean, I’d be happy to. Also, you know, if I can ask Cara to if she wants to come and give a presentation and Scott wants like she’s the one who put this together. I think she’s still trans. Yes. » Um » yeah, maybe have her at our meeting with Scott or a meeting with Scott. Doesn’t have to be on our schedule. » Yeah. » Maybe we do it after, you know, after school or something. » Um and and have them and just kind of, you know, because we we aren’t going to fund it probably, but we can help facilitate it. » Yeah. And I believe they they had a designer who they were going to work with from I’m sorry, I have the name here. » Can you forward that to me when you get a chance? Yeah, I’d be happy to. So, um,

33:53 Lauren Lner at at Four Seasons, » okay, » was going to provide sort of the design and some labor as well. » Is she like a landscape if it’s like » Yeah, it’s a landscape company. » Green. It’s going to be a green space. » It’s Yeah, I mean, I think you know, phase one was Let’s see. I mean I see secure phase one was securing partners gathering quotes plans designs getting feedback and bidding bidding out the work. So they actually I’ll just read this description village multifunctional space um and I believe it was meant to be an an outdoor classroom subtle spatial

34:40 boundaries designed to allow for recreational activities. durable seating um to provide structures breaks from the school day. » Oh, all right. So, it wasn’t necessarily a planting learning maybe. » I mean, I think that they have the organic garden there and and this was really meant to be more Yeah. just an um an simple outdoor classroom for teaching presentations and meetings, recreational space for play and social connections, and safe and interactive access to nature for recharging throughout the school day is what there so » um and I’m assuming there’s no water out there so that we don’t although we don’t necessarily know that would be good to know if there’s a water source. » Well, they had that fountain, right? So I mean » yeah who knows whether it’s all been

35:26 deteriorated or not obviously that would be worth » um the other question along with this always is maintenance » you know so we build this and then who’s going to maintain it so if there’s if there’s green space out there is it going to be cut » um » and I think we struggle with that right now we think you know to get a » to get equipment into the courtyard there’s not um the size of the courtyard » for the size of the courtyard hard. You can’t get a tractor in there to cut it. So, I believe that like the the head custodian was bringing in his own personal mower. » I think we have invested since then, but at one point he was bringing in his own mower to keep it, you know, at least » of course. » Um, you know, » whatever we do, we need to make sure

36:13 that we’ve got funding secured for maintaining it, right? » Yeah. Or the design is is built around » when we Right. But when we build a new school, typically they they invest in part of the building project is, you know, some type of a a tractor system, mowers and tractors and string trimmers and » Well, we don’t have any. » I was going to say leaf blowers, but I know they’re not allowed here in town. » They are just not between Memorial Day. » We got electric ones. » Um but we don’t have any because we don’t do that, right? So » we do I mean we do have some um snow removal equipment that doubles as, you know, » grass. We can cut we can cut some grass. We’re not we’re not equipped to cut the fields and we’re not equipped to cut large areas, but we are equipped to get smaller spaces like in the courtyards and um » Okay.

36:59 » and whatnot at the buildings that have village not so much, » right? » Okay. » So, this is Cara Wheelen. » Okay. » So, she may be a PTO or just a parent, not just a parent looking to » Yeah. » this which is great. Well, and um you know, I’ve got a kid going to village next year, so be happy to help. » So, maybe we have her see if she and Scott want to all together. Um » yeah, let me see when I believe we scheduled facility meeting. » Yeah. So, May 12th, » I don’t know whether Scott can, you know, obviously he might do it, but um

37:44 want to put that as a tenative agenda item. » Yeah. Um we’ll see. » You might want to either you or I, I don’t care, want to reach out to her, you know, kind of have a conversation. » Yes, she’s again, she’s someone I bump into on my walk to school. So, yeah, » that’s great. That’s very nice of her. Does she have a background in that? She a like a » I don’t No, I don’t think so. I think she’s just, you know, interested in I think she like like a lot of people who walk through the school see that space and think what could we do here. Yeah. » Okay, » great. » Um, good. Well, that is the end of our agenda items, but I think we should probably schedule the rest of our walkthroughs

38:29 walkthroughs walkthroughs » and up on that high school room. » You want » before Yeah, that’s cool. » before I before my tenure is over. My goal. » You want to go right now? I could go right now. » It’s a nice day out. » You’re not dressed for it. » It’s It’s not Yeah, it’s not. You want to go all the way up? » Yeah. » Like up on the gym? » I do. I » That’s a little bit of It’s not Yeah, you have to take » I’m used to being high up. I’m » You go on the roof. » And then there are some ladders like metal ladders that are like permanent like not » I don’t like going up. » Usually when we’re over there, I’m like, “Oh, you guys go look at what you need to on the gym roof.” And I am good right here. You want a ladder? » It could be a game day decision. » Yeah. » When you get there, you might say,

39:14 “Yeah, because that’s what I did, too. I’m like, yeah, I’ll go up there. No problem.” And I got to the ladder, went up the three steps, and the ladies » I don’t like heights. » The ladder starts moving a little bit cuz it’s not It’s not It’s for maintenance only. It’s not for, you know, » All right. Well, then maybe we But we can get up on No, you can definitely get up on the main part of the roof. It’s getting up on the higher sections that get a little » And that’s where the pool is. » It is. Okay. It’s the pool level. » Yeah. Pool level. » Um, » the problem. So, next week is vacation week. » Yeah, that’s the next that’s a it’s a really tough week. Um » well, I’m not in town anyway. » I was gonna say we do a vacation week. » There is there is stuff actually going on in the roof next week. I would not recommend that we tour while there’s um live activity with » So, I think we’re looking at the week of the 27th. » You don’t want to do anything this week? » I mean, I’d be happy to do stuff this

40:00 week. I’m around if if » school committee meeting that out of the book. » I am prettyth open this week. Just let me know what days I can wear. » Oh, great. Take off my » I mean, so we have Well, we have Brown Glover, which we were planning on doing in one day. » Anything on that and the high school district? I don’t think so. I mean, just » not until » some minimal stuff yet. » Well, maybe we want to do the high school first just because of the I know they’re at least I think they’re moving some stuff in. I’m happy to do high school first and then we’ve got Brown Glover and » Vets. Several weeks that » Oh, remotes. Yes. Do you want to do the high school on Thursday if possible?

40:47 » I can do that on 3 until 3:00. » We could do the morning. » Yeah. Um 9 to How much do we need? » 11:30. You’re You’re » you’re create are you creating invites? NHS. » I don’t know that Michelle will be able to spend two and a half hours with us, but » yeah, » we can at least » maybe a little bit of her time » and Ramon. » He days. He’s on days. » Yeah. Of right now. Yeah. » Who’s next? » No. Rick. So, I put it on for Thursday, April

41:34 16th, 9:00 am to 11:30 and invited Michelle, Henry, Jen, Ramon, and John. » John just it’s on his calendar. I don’t like Yeah, I’d like to make sure he’s aware of everything that’s going on. Um,

41:53 should I have any of the should I have or James? » One of them. I would ask them if they could come. I mean, I know it’s a long time, but especially the high school, their oldest book. No, it’s not. » So, let them know that I invited them both, but they don’t need to be either. » Oh, we can have them both there. » Well, we have a lot of stuff to do. » No, I know. I’m trying. » Just uh Okay. So, that’s not on the base calendar for Thursday. Uh do we want to look at anything for after vacation to get some stuff on there? Yeah, I would say Monday the 27th might be pushing it a bit because it’s coming back. I mean, we could, but I don’t I mean, » that’s going to be tight. » People coming back from break. We could do the 28th, 29th. » Uh 28th I could

42:39 um so I have got a meeting with with um athletics and uh other group at at 10:30 just to talk about um our systems with collecting fees and and medical forms and stuff like that through family ID. So, I’ve got that call at 10:30. So, it’s kind of smacked out in the middle of the morning, but I’m free at noon time and on. I don’t know if that works. » Want to do noon at um vets. » Yep. » And then we are going to do um we I thought we said we were going to do the other two. » Two in one day. Yeah. » Do that on the 28th. » Oh, this is the 28th. » I’m sorry. 29th. » 29th. We’ve got a roof roof meeting 10 to 11 or 10. Yeah, probably 10 to 11. We have 10 to 11:30. Um,

43:25 » but I mean again I could go after that if we want to do one before and one after. » We could do that. That’s a long day though. That’s a lot of school stuff. » How long do we need for bets? 12 to what? » Uh, I would say 12 to maybe 2. 2:30. 2:30. » It’s not that big of a » No, I’d say two. » Even 1:30, but probably 2. » Well, I’ll block it out till 2. It’s not that big a school. Is she the facility? » No, she was » she’s still took that offline. Um, where was where were we going after that? Brown and Glover or is that what’s left? » Brown and Glover. And the only other

44:10 would be Ever. Um, » uh, » uh, » he was saying maybe one of them in the morning or the 29th and then the afternoon the whole day. » I mean, either way, » I’ve got a roof meeting at 10 on the 29th. » Yeah. » For in the afternoon, though. So, I mean, I could do 8 to 8 to 9:30 at one of them, but that’s arrival time. » Yeah, that might be a little tough. I would say maybe why don’t we do one of them in the a after your meeting and then what maybe one of them on the » Yeah, we can go as early as 11:30, right? » Um well, is your meeting an hour and a half? » That’s what it’s scheduled for. » It’s scheduled for an hour and a half, but » you got to get over lasting that long. There’s not I don’t think, you know, » I think we could just announce that we

44:56 have one hour for this meeting. There’s we we got a lot done in the last all the backlog of questions, although you never know. Yeah, » two weeks from now » or more. » Um, that is sort of I think the biggest agenda item on there is talking about the repairs that happen, assuming they happen over the » break. » Yeah, that’ll be a recap of what what we got accomplished over April. » Well, why don’t we say 11:30? And if you’re late, you’re late. It’s just me, you know, me. And » do you want to go brown or GL? » Let’s do um brown.

45:37 What? An hour and a half for those. » Wait, you say an hour and a half? » So about 11:30 to 1. » Yeah, I think that’s Mary. » Cuz it’s not going to be Peter. Peter. » Is he the head? Oh, Peter. Yay. » Put down James on one of those. » Um, Gilberto. We could split it between Gilberto and James each of them so that they we don’t overwhelm them. » Yeah. Like Brown Gberto probably ideal because he was second. Yeah. And you know James are really good at at village because he really that’s where his office is. So he sees a lot of that. » Yeah. Oh yeah. He knew James at the high school too. Okay. Yeah. That makes sense. and vets doesn’t matter. » Vets um would be James and Glover would probably pay more than both

46:32 » which leaves Glover wondering » to do that the morning of the 30th. » I’ve got a round table meeting out of district till 11. Could we do it on Are people available this Friday 17th? » Yes. » Because I mean if it’s before noon I could do it. » Yeah. » And 30 30 9:00 » um just settled in. So » 9 to 10:30.

47:14 I’m excited. I like these. » I I actually enjoyed our walk around Village. I was I was, » you know, and I do it a couple times a year, but every time you see something that you like I did not know about the the basement area for the village. » Okay. » That um Brown, that’s Frank. Um and Gingeri. for the Friday. I think he might be I’ll put Shane on » and James Douglas. » Hopefully it’s not a lot but Oh, this is Glover. Yeah, Glover could have lost Glover. Glover’s busy place.

48:02 » It’s um » is the window fixed at Brown? We’ll find out when we go. But one in the library, it was cracked. Yeah. » Yes, that was fixed along with a couple others. » Two years. » No, it been » No, it didn’t take you two years. It had been like that. » Yeah. But I think it was been there for about a year now, I think. Yeah. » But you got it done. » Uh there is one window that’s now broken at Brown and we’ve been in touch with the with the glass company. They just want they want to make sure that they get the right glass. Even I guess you put a different type of glass and you can actually tell the difference from outside the way where the light hits it and things like that. So they wanted to » it wouldn’t be under warranty. » Last year it run under warranty. So this year certainly isn’t under warranty. » Nothing’s under warranty. » I’m sure it’s frustrating on certain levels.

48:48 levels. levels. » Do we want to look at Eve? » I could do that. Um, » well, we’ve got So, we asked John to come back at our next facilities meeting on the 12th with some information about what he might want to do with that school. So, » it might make sense to do that walk through after we hear that proposal. » Unless we do it there, but no, we can’t do a meeting. Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Although I don’t or we’re or before, so we know what he’s talking about. Well, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just maybe I can go over at some point. Who’s sort of in charge of Eve? » Um the school department.

49:33 » No, I know that. But like who goes over? Is it James? Like who goes over and just » I think all the guys, you know, depending on what’s going on. I don’t think anybody one specific person overseas other than, you know, Todd was really keeping a good eye on that. So that was » one of those things. So James and um have been » picking up They’re we’ve tested them with a lot. » Yes, I know. I know. They’ve really stepped up. Oh, that’s all right. We’ll just wait to hear from John, I guess, then on the 12 and

50:13 Yes. Unless we meet on the 9th, but we won’t be meeting on the 9th. All right. Anything else? I » think that’s it. I’ve got two agenda items for next time.

50:31 » I think we probably should plan for this is looking out a bit, but I won’t be here, but you know, one of the last school committee meetings in June probably would be good to have an agenda item kind of just highlighting what the summer’s going to look like for the roof. Yeah, I wonder if we want to talk about that next or or not the roof project. We can talk about that, but I wonder if at our next facilities meeting, we want to look at what’s going to happen over the summer. » Yeah. Yeah, maybe that makes sense. We do that in May and then it would have a subsequent meeting either in May or June for the school committee just to give the committee and the public and at that point you probably would have a better clear understand of what your timeline is for the summer. Are they on schedule? Do they expect to be on schedule? What does that mean? Will it be done by the time school

51:17 opens or not? » Yeah. I mean, I think um you know, a big part of our cleaning gets done in the summertime and stripping and waxing floors. And I I gotta say our custo actually. actually. » Yeah, both. But I was just saying I think for the committee and the community to understand going into the summer before school is recessed that um here’s, you know, here here we are. this, you know, with the roof project, this is what’s the timeline is for the summer and » yeah, expectations for those outdated. » Yeah. I’ll I’ll have that included on I guess it would be » Well, it’s going to be » Do you expect I know it’s still only April, but I mean, do they do the contractors expect to » They’re actually trying to get in. So, originally it was proposed that they were going to do two small sections of

52:03 roof over April break. It’s right now being proposed to do three sections of roof over April break. Um, they’ve asked us, they have a list of inoperable equipment on the rooftop and they don’t know if it’s inoperable because it’s turned off or if it’s inoperable because it’s broken and it’s all funded to be replaced. They’ve asked us that they can start replacing some of that equipment that’s inoperable now. » Um, you know, » do they replace it before they replace the roof? » Yeah. So, I think what they do is they’ll they’ll cut it out, they’ll put it in, they’ll patch it, and then when they come over, they’ll just remove this patch and go. » Is that how it works normally? Yeah. » Yeah. I I not talking in terms. Yeah. » Um but yeah, I mean I think it would save them from otherwise they have to go in there and » basically » stage it stage it or or not replace the equipment and try and time it so that

52:49 the guys are coming right behind the the other crew right behind them with the roofing materials. Uh this way they can get it in there set and it won’t stop. It’ll actually speed up the pro progress. Um » so do they think they’ll have it done before school? I don’t think we’ll be done done before school starts up. I think that they’ll the I believe the roof will be done. Uh the classroom so on on the upper level uh there’ll be a lot of drop ceilings that are going to have to be dropped and taken out so they can get to the mechanicals and and ducts worked and and dampers and everything else that’s up in the ceilings. And that all needs to go back up before school starts. So that is that is a priority is to get the roof lining at the inside worry button back up » with ceiling tiles and grids. Um

53:37 and then you know there may be some some fine tuning of the HVAC equipment um connecting controllers things like that but but the school will be buttoned back up and ready to go before school start opens up and with with you know possibility for really great weather and um you know works out perfectly. It’s you know there’s always a possibility that and I don’t I don’t think it’s going to happen but things get done before August 30. So, what would be left that wouldn’t might not be done? » Uh, maybe some like curbing. Uh, is and and I’m not an expert, but my guess would be curbing, you know, like got um trim work, gutters, you know, not but curving and um » yeah, we had a we » there’s a time » Lena had a like checklist going. Wonder if I can pull it up quickly. I think the um

54:27 there’s so many updates from her now, you know. Yeah. » Yeah. » I’m one of them attachments. There was one I just saw. » Attachments. » Project milestones. What’s this?

54:46 » Down budget. I assume » uh right now I think we’re trending under budget. um I’m sorry under under budget » because the bids came in low but we’ve known that but again we don’t know what change orders will come where their faces or whatnot » well also I mean are these hard because you know the oil prices have gone up so you don’t know I » mean so the cost stuff like that » these milestones are » I’ll be with me a bit so it’s got June 30th is when it starts June 26th so

55:24 It must mean July 26 because we’re not going back in time here, but uh roofing operations completed and demobilized » in two weeks. » I mean, well, June 30th and June 26th. So, there’s a typo in here, so I don’t know what the date is. I’m assuming July 26th, but um July 31st, completion of above ceiling scope, and August 2nd, completion of all air air handling equipment. What was the date on that? » August 2nd. And then ceiling reinstallation August 16th, completion. August 21st, completion of all hydronic systems and total facility testing and balancing. And then I think there’s sort of the inspections and sign off that

56:11 they need to do for an October 12th final completion. That’s just to have the project all wrapped up. Yeah.

56:20 Um, I know that people are very interested in being sure that there’s no mold up there. » So, we actually we have a mold test coming in for next Monday, » April 20th. They’ll be in at 9:00 a.m. » Just we um » you test the whole school, » certain areas, not the entire school, but certain areas that have been um » Please test Joe King. Um there are certain areas that have um » he’s just been clear, you know, that he’s been concerned. » Yes, certain areas that are concerns and there same so these areas typically have seen moisture when it’s rain. » Um not saying that it’s not addressed immediately, but it causes concern with staff and students and administration.

57:06 So we are uh we are doing some some testing, some air quality testing on Monday. » Okay. So if that depending on how that comes back could affect the scope although that would probably be outside the scope of this. So what would be fall under a you know uh but if there is anything in the ceilings that would be remediated. So yeah, so the so all the ceiling tile is coming down on anything that’s not I shouldn’t say everything the a vast majority of the upper level now. So it might be the first floor in some cases that might be the third floor in some cases might be the second floor » but all ceilings tiles with access to the roof or with direct correlation to the roof. Yeah. Will come down. Um, you know, there was talk

57:52 there’s been talk about um whether we take down the tiles, we save it, and put it back up. » Um, they did provide me with some estimates. It’s relatively close to take down and replace all new, which would probably speed up the process. » Is that in this budget? » It is in the budget. Both both processes came in under BD’s budget under there’s a $300,000 budget for ceilings. Um both ways whether we take it down and reinstall it or we take it down and new install uh both came in at $300,000 as a projected » I mean the only thing is from a sustained » hasn’t got out but hasn’t gone out to bid yet. Um » you know you hate to just dump them all away. » Well no I think I and I said that I say great if we could save the tiles that are not damaged or ruined » and use them in some of our other schools. Yeah,

58:37 schools. Yeah, schools. Yeah, » but fortunately I mean great thing is that we don’t have a whole lot of ceiling leaks in in most of our buildings. So it’s not like we’re going through tiles constantly. Maybe » some of our majority of our buildings have relatively newer roofs. Like Brown doesn’t have any issues. » Glover doesn’t seem to have any rooftop issues. » Village doesn’t. » Village, right? Village would probably be my next concern, but right now didn’t come up. It didn’t come up at all. » We asked, remember we asked. » Yep. Um so really that just leaves vets and vets is, you know, being addressed in some areas. Um but it’d be nice to have a little overstock. I’m not saying we should keep every tile that we take down, but as I said, you know, if you look at our tiles right here, out of the tiles, you got that inusable, inusable, unusable, inusable, you know, so maybe

59:25 they can get% 60% could be reused because they don’t have a sprinkler head coming through them or a wireless access point » or a stain and no, if we could save 60%, maybe we can save a thousand tiles, which at do three four dollars a pop, you know, if if I can save them and use them in other places want to do that » and it may be one of those things that we have our crew goes through first and remove the tiles we want and then say to the contractor to demo the rest

59:55 » very exciting be nice to get that rear mirror for sure thank you for doing that » excellent well anything else okay I’ll make I will make a motion to adjurnn » move or second it » all All right. Um, Jen » in favor » and Henry in favor. The motion passes 2 to zero and we’re adjourned at 11:03 a.m. » Wow. 1 hour exactly. » Exactly. Very equipped. Thank you. Thanks, Lee. She still there. Let me check. Nope. She