I don't think it will be, but if need be. >> U, >> if this were to uh go well, yeah, are you thinking like a July one? >> So July one would be ideal, but but when we think about administrative contracts, uh, some have anywhere from 60 to 90 days uh, with regard to turnover. Um, and the best case scenario is uh July 1, Paul, but I I would anticipate it's probably closer to August uh based on where we are. Uh, and depending upon the role, right? So, if it's a current sitting um director, they're going to need more 60 to 90 days, right? Versus someone who might be a um a team chair uh whose contract ends at the end of the year typically, right? So, so we'll see um see how that pans out. >> Yeah. I mean, I obviously want some overlap with >> 100% and she and and to be honest, she will overlap uh no matter what.
So uh there was one night at the zoning board hearing where um representatives um from these agencies were invited to attend. Um, I called this one out because it's a bit unusual for them to attend to one of these because we don't have jurisdiction over what the state does. Um, and so the ZBA really can't it can be informed, but it can't tell the state what to do in in many regards. Um, particularly with things that are exclusively within their jurisdiction. Um but they were they were um kind enough to come and join us that night and uh try their best to answer some questions and uh and sit down with us that evening. And so that's that's a bit unusual. Um but they were willing to do that in this case. Um you'll see that there's a number of um notes uh right towards the end of the process that just say EOHLC.
I don't think it will be, but if need be. >> Um >> if this were to uh go well, are you thinking like a July one? So July 1 would be ideal but but when we think about administrative contracts uh some have anywhere from 60 to 90 days uh with regard to turnover. >> Um and the best case scenario is uh July 1, Paul, but I I would anticipate it's probably closer to August uh based on where we are. Uh and depending upon the role, right? So if it's a current sitting um director, they're going to need more 60 to 90 days, right? versus someone who might be a um a team chair uh whose contract ends at the end of the year typically, right? So, so we'll see um see how that pans out. >> Yeah. I mean, I obviously want some overlap with >> 100% with and she and and to be honest, she will overlap uh no matter what.
>> And um >> at Staples >> I guess that's where it was being done. >> Yeah. that wasn't stapled. >> The place that's doing it, you know, whoever's doing it gets $4 per person and it takes about 45 minutes. So Anna did not feel that it was something that was worthwhile or I mean I left her with all the staff that she had because they have so much that actually has gone on there this year including some said great things but they've also had a few you know um incidents. So I've left them with all that they had but she didn't feel that she could dedicate somebody to that. So, I'm going to reach out as well to um Hope McCary um >> to see >> maybe there they've made some reductions in force as well. So, I'm not sure about that, but we do have we frequently have a lineup of people for senior tax work off.
Is that when we concluded? Tuesday the 23rd. All right. Thank you. Um >> and so as you know the BHS boiler is a temporary solution right for the overall uh improvement that we're looking to do which is the uh upgrade the whole HVAC system here at the high school. And so um the whole HVAC upgrade we also had a mandatory walkthrough that took place on May 27th. Uh we had eight vendors who attended the walkthrough. Uh and so we are um also awaiting bids for that. Bids are scheduled to come in on June 18th. So we're looking forward to to seeing what that uh would encompass in the bids that come through for that. I believe Casey, if I'm not mistaken, those bids right now are for um the design >> engineering services. >> The engineering services and design. Yeah. So uh that's what we'd be looking at.
I guess. Okay. But this is this property has seems to have more things allowable than our other two properties that >> that's right. Absolutely. >> Okay. >> For the the option that says live work live work uses is that um similar to what we see where retail on the bottom, apartments on top. >> Yeah, >> that's right. Um the other thing that kind of came to mind for me is what about what is your thoughts around the use case around like co-work space for startups? Yeah, we actually uh we actually have talked to a co-working uh group that uh essentially their their models now are there are these groups that go in similar to like a wei work and they go and uh they don't want to essentially uh they they like to do like a profit sharing model in which they have uh the landlord put up a decent amount of money and they kind of put their branding on it.
You've all accomplished amazing things both independently and collectively that will carry you forward in ways you don't even know yet for the rest of your lives. Uh as far as cross country goes, it's one of those sports where the first time you introduce the idea to a person, they say, "I will never want to do something like that." So our senior team is a collection of people who began first, some as freshmen, uh some didn't discover it until later on. But what I can say for sure, I'll start with the girls, is the girls team managed to surprise people time and time again this year. Uh we're routinely accused of being in a rebuilding year, yet we always find ways to have people uh push the record books and find ways to uh move up in the rankings. So um I'd like to offer a special congratulations to the girls who are graduating this year.
Um she's she's given me that um assurance that if we need to have some overlap, we can um but you know, so the next >> if that and address both of them together. >> Yeah. >> If the interviews are the the interviews are occurring in that week of June 15th, 16th. >> Yep. How do you see the time frame playing out from that? Because those are just we that'll be the first set of interviews, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, how do you see it playing out from there? >> So, how I see it playing out is ident. So, we're going to bring in six folks in in both searches, right? Out of the the resumes, uh, which I am going through. I'm I'm going through all of the resumes um, and identifying making sure one they have certification. Two, that uh, and I'll explain it when we get to to Mike's position, really what we're focused on.
So this began in January of this year. So about six months ago. Um five and a half months ago, let's say. Um and this is where um I was asked to um communicate with the state agencies that >> over can you just explain to those watching what EOHLC is? We may probably all know, but >> Yes. No, absolutely. Good point. Good point. So, Mass Housing and EOHLC, which is the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, I think I got that right, um, is one of the state agencies that, uh, oversees the 40B process. And so, they used to be called Mass, um, excuse me, DHCD, another acronym, um, but they're doing the same function, you know, under a new name. and they're the the state agency that receives these applications along with Mass Housing and makes determinations for the eligibility of the project and they review the financability of the project to determine that someone is actually willing to subsidize this and it's eligible for that subsidy and so on and so forth.
Um she's she's given me that um assurance that if we need to have some overlap, we can. Um but you know so the next >> if I can that and address both of them together. >> Yeah. >> If the interviews are the the interviews are occurring in that week of June 15th 16th. >> Yep. >> How do you see the time frame playing out from that because those are just week that'll be the first set of interviews. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. So how do you see it playing out from there? >> So how I see it playing out is ident. So, we're going to bring in six folks in in both searches, right, out of the the resumes, uh, which I am going through. I'm I'm going through all of the résumés, um, and identifying, making sure one, they have certification, two that, uh, and I'll explain it when we get to to Mike's position, really what we're focused on.
So that was a >> well I just look at you know you're paying somebody to do fingerprinting what $4 a person and we're paying $3,000 for somebody to a month for somebody to do social media. I'm just >> maybe he could do social media and fingerprinting. >> I'm just >> I feel like maybe they have a calling in fingerprinting that they don't know about. >> Who knows? >> I know. I mean, it seems to be um quite a spread there. >> Yeah. >> Um Okay. $4 a person. >> But I I just want to go back to that because >> I um think as a parent that's a really tough issue here. We have a load of folks who are economically challenged that can't be driving to Westfield. And when we talk about community engagement, to me that seems like something that it would be very important for for us to solve.
Just a quick question. What does the quote include? Is it a replacement? Is it is each vendor presenting a different potential option? Okay. Yes. >> Okay. Yes. To a new, a refurb, a fix potentially. >> Yeah. And so we made it very clear that our intention is, you know, twofold, right? We have to these projects. immediate need to um that we have reliable heating, you know, going into next system, heating season. And so, uh that was that's the priority, but we don't necessarily need to replace it with a boiler that's going to last 30 years because we will be, you know, have we have the secondary project going on. So, they were they there was a lot of very very good questions that were asked. Um, you know, we were in in the boiler room for quite some time. Um, and Uh, so I think we'll get some, um, wide, you know, ranges of options.
Um, but again, we looked at the economics of that at a very high level and it just didn't seem to the rents that they would achieve there would not equate to a good financial deal for the district. Essentially, the amount of money that the district would have to put in or anyone would have to put in to change it to, let's say, class A very fancy offices that people want to come in and do co-working. Uh, there's other office buildings that are, let's say, a B-class or C-class buildings that are already office buildings. they can kind of throw a little bit of money at it and those would be more, you know, the math will work out a lot better there than taking maybe a less conducive office building and trying to create a an office building that would you know kind of warrant the co-working type space and attract um you know the new fancy you know office building for folks to come in.
Hillary Batista, Rosanna Bogette, Nicole Florian, Ruth Lara Zerara, Ribbon Da, and of course, Alexis Smith. Um, all of you have impacted this program in tremendous ways, and it's not going to be the same without you. But please take the lessons that you got from running, from persevering, from lifting each other up with you as you go. Uh our MVP for the girls team is someone who is involved not just with cross country but more ways than you could imagine both academically extracurricularly. Um and she's been an absolute tamp uh phenom for our team. Somebody who lifts each other up and uh finds a way to motivate and also inspire through her constant efforts and good work. So congratulations to our girls team MVP, Lexi Smith. And as far as boys cross country, although the record book might not show all of the proof of the efforts that went in to each and every race, each and every practice from July through November, um there's no doubt that this is a group that lifts each other up that found ways to motivate each other uh through the year.
Um but experience um I've had numerous folks uh of the superintendent call me with regard to references already uh on people that that they're like, "Hey, this is a high quality candidate. You should probably interview them." Um so then if we can get it whittle it down um from those six to two or three where then I'll have them meet with the administrative team. Uh, and if I feel comfortable only moving one person on, I'm hoping by June 24th, which is our last meeting, >> uh, in the last day of school, uh, that I can bring them forth to the school committee for an interview. Uh, if it's two folks or more, we may have to schedule another meeting. Um, just because it's two two concurrent searches. Um, but we'll wait and see. I I I don't want to put a deadline on it. I want to do it right.
Um, and so they do all of their work before we get the application to make to determine whether or not the project is eligible in the first place, but then they get it again at the end of the process because once it leaves town hall, they have to review it to see what happened at town hall and determine whether that's consistent with the eligibility that they issued and determined. And then ultimately what comes out of that is a final plan set, a final determination and that's what allows the project to proceed. So when we're done with it, they actually get it back. And so those are two uh state agencies that are involved um but um are separate. Um so >> and did I hear you say correctly that you represented Ashland at some of those meetings with EOHLC or were on phone calls with them?
Um but experience um I've had numerous folks uh of the superintendents call me with regard to references already uh on people that that they're like, "Hey, this is a high quality candidate. You should probably interview them." Um so then if we can get it whittle it down um from those six to two or three where then I'll have them meet with the administrative team. Uh, and if I feel comfortable only moving one person on, I'm hoping by June 24th, which is our last meeting, uh, in the last day of school, uh, that I can bring them forth to the school committee for an interview. Uh, if it's two folks or more, we may have to schedule another meeting. Um, just because it's two two concurrent searches. Um, but we'll wait and see. I I I don't want to put a deadline on it. I want to do it right.
So >> So how hard is it to be trained to do it? >> Well, I don't know. I don't know. And um you know, Erin just briefly talked with uh Anna about it. I did not. And I heard it was just not like all that economically feasible. But I thought we have to figure this out >> because we've got 17,000 people that live here and if you want to volunteer in a school, that's what I did when my kids were little many, many, many moons ago. >> Um, you know, then you're a part of that school and that's making it too hard for people to have to go all the way to Westfield. >> So, >> well, it can't just be us. It must be, you know, Charlemont Mohawk, >> right? >> This is a It's almost like there should be a fingerprinting bookmobile that drives around, >> right?
Um, and there was a lot of good follow-up questions. Um, going back to your question, Stephen, the RFP for the HVAC upgrade, um, it's really like it's it's it's bespoke. It's not engineering design services necessarily even that part yet. It is really an assessment, an evaluation of our system. Um, which is twofold because we there's also state requirement that we do um an an evaluation of our HVAC system um you know by the end of this calendar year um 20% of our of our buildings need to be um assessed. So this will really help speed that process along um and ensure that we have all the documentation and reporting um necessary for that requirement. Um and then we've asked um the vendors will propose at least three options for different um types of heating systems um that would be viable for the the building. So it's really like an assessment and sort of design options that will be given and then from there we'll do schematic um schematic designs and then um going out to the for the project.
>> Okay. H have you seen districts convert rather than try to sell or rent? Have you have you I guess maybe it's early because everyone's in this same phase of consolidation in the state of California like it's kind of this ripple effect but converting it into something that the district would use whether it's a resource center community center build something completely different that is in you know in need visual I saw you know Malpus has their new visual performing arts center. >> Yes. like are you seeing either not happening yet but directionally that happening? >> Yeah, I think there's a coming up with a you know it's part of the process of you know once there's kind of we see a lot of consolidations happening and then an assessment of the facilities in general and maybe there's uh you know certain assets that are surplus and other assets that continue to be used at the district for for district services.