MRSD School Committee Meeting 04/08/2026

001I will call to order the April 8th Masconomet Regional School District School Committee meeting at 7:03 p.m. Um I will start with some brief remarks from the chair. Uh I just want to let everybody know that um Adrian and I have started having some discussions with Heather Delancey, our superintendent-elect. Um we've had some good discussions around planning, transition. Um uh some hires that have to happen going into next year. And so I I just want to thank Heather for her time. Um I also want to point out that um Mike has made himself available to Heather. They've met. Um they've had some good discussions. I understand you guys met for quite a while the the first day. And on top of that Mike has has offered to meet with Heather whenever she'd like um up

002until his last day here in Masconomet, so >> Thank you. >> Mike and Mike should know that's really important. Um you know, we're keeping a close eye on this transition just to make sure that we don't drop anything on the floor. So. Um I think that's it from comments uh from me. So by a show of hands, how many comments in the audience do we have tonight? One, two, three, four. Okay. So yeah, one by one you can come up, sign in, let us know uh your name and where you're in town you're representing. And um no real no real time restrictions tonight. So we only have four people. You can go in any order. Um >> Hello. My name is Charlotte Robbins. I'm a ninth grade Boxford resident. I'm here to explain why I

003made the difficult decision to leave Masconomet. I'm sharing this because future students deserve better than what I experienced this year. As the only girl on the varsity golf team, I was bullied and humiliated rather than treated as a teammate. I also overheard teammates bragging about stealing and sharing exams. Yet, when this was reported, the administration took no action. My father later reported photos posted to the Masco golf team Snapchat showing senior teammates drinking alcohol, including one instance of drinking and driving. Again, students pol- school policy and the MIA rules were not enforced. The students involved remained fully eligible and continued receiving awards. More recently, I was subjected to obscene and demeaning sexual comments, including a reference to sexual violence and assault. When my father reported this to the administration, he was assured the boys who

004said these things would be spoken to. To be clear, a male varsity athlete in front of multiple teammates threatened an extreme act of sexual violence toward me, and the administration's response was to talk to the perpetrator. That is simply not good enough. These experiences made it clear to me that rules at Masco are not enforced consistently or fairly. When I reported serious misconduct, I was left unprotected, unheard, and unsupported by those responsible for student safety and accountability. I want to emphasize that my teachers and many other teachers in the building supported me. My English teacher, Ms. Hildebrand, has been walking with me to our class on the third floor every single day since October to because she knew I had to walk past some of the seniors who bullied me and she wanted to make

005sure that I felt safe. Her along with other teachers and counselors listened, believed me, and stood by me and I'm deeply grateful for all of them. But even the best teachers cannot fix an environment where accountability is optional, concerns are dismissed, and serious issues are met with an action on the part of the school administration. I am leaving Masconomet to attend the school where I can feel safe, respected, and treated fairly. But my leaving does not solve the problems that remain. I urge this committee to closely examine the systems that failed me and that may may be failing other students. Policies only matter when they are enforced. Reporting only matters when it leads to meaningful investigation and the school is only truly safe when every student knows they will be protected when they speak up.

006Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Aaron O'Brien. I'm a teacher at the high school. Um, we are here tonight to read a statement on behalf of a group of concerned Masconomet educators. We are aware of an incident of discrimination discrimination on the basis of gender by the coach and members of the golf team that occurred this year. The administration was notified by the student athlete and parents in time to change the outcome but failed to act. After reporting the discrimination, the victim was subjected to retaliatory acts by members of the team and their friends. The school failed to repair the situation, discipline, or replace the coach, or discipline the students who participated in the discriminatory and retaliatory behavior. The situation escalated when threats of unwanted sexual assault were made against the victim by

007members of the boys hockey team in the locker room and in the school hallways. The victim and parents also reported this behavior, and the administration failed to follow the language in the school's handbook. The offending students were not punished for this behavior, nor were they reported to the police. >> We, as Masconomet educators, are deeply disturbed by these incidents and the lack of response by the athletic director, the high school principal, the assistant superintendent of super student services, and we are also concerned that the inaction will promote an unsafe environment for students and faculty alike. Lastly, we are concerned that other students have experienced or are experiencing incidents of bullying and discrimination in our school and on our athletic teams, and we want to ensure that if any student has ever experienced these wrongful acts,

008that they are able to come forward, report them, and feel supported. The failure to hold such behavior accountable is unacceptable to us, and we respectfully request that the school committee intervene immediately by insisting that the administration punish the students involved according to the student handbook rules, the Masconomet student athletes guidebook, the Masconomet bullying and pre-intervention plan and the MIAA rules and report the threats of sexual assault to the Boxford Police Department. We are all responsible for providing a physically safe, emotionally secure learning environment for our students and we cannot allow this behavior to go without consequences. My name's Carol Lund and I'm a teacher at Masconomet. Thank you. >> I'm Gary Mark and I'm on the Boxford Sustainability Committee. Um I'm here tonight because I want to thank you for considering a geothermal HVAC system

009to replace the existing outdated one. Um a geothermal system would greatly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants um that currently result from from burning gas. And uh because of the MSBA grant I think the costs will be comparable to only replacing the gas and not providing air conditioning which the geothermal system would be able to do. In addition to that uh with a gas system, you'll always have operating expenses of buying gas to provide provide the heat whereas with an electrically powered geothermal system uh you have the capability of adding solar at some point where the solar can provide the energy needed to run the system. So, I I'm glad you're considering it and and hope you make that decision. Thank you. Oh. >> Any other comments from the audience? >> So, I'll

010ask the obvious question. Um so, what are we going to do about that uh reported ongoing incident? >> So, before we go before we go there, right? Um Thank you. I mean, tonight, thank you for speaking. It's very brave. And thank you to everybody who came in support as well. I'm guessing most of you didn't come to you know, hear about the uh MSBA project tonight. So. Um I'm trying to gather my thoughts. So, it's not something we can discuss in public, but >> Well, but I think we do need to make it clear we're not just ignoring what what people are saying. Because that's How would they feel any different if we just move on to the next agenda item without saying anything? >> I agree. So, you know, let's gather our thoughts. This

011is a very serious topic. I suggest we gather our thoughts. Um you know, I'll take recommendations. If people have recommendations on how we want to move forward, mhm, and um you know, discuss that with Dr. Harvey. >> Good. >> And so I'm hoping for you I would like to do >> I'm suggesting that the school committee will I will gather recommendations on steps forward. I'd like us to rather than jump to recommendations to give this some thought. Um but I'd like recommendations by the end of the week on how you'd like to move forward and I can take those and um Dr. Harvey and I can discuss them during our next executive session. >> Yep. >> Can you provide some guidance here on what we are and are not allowed to talk about because obviously

012uh that this has come as com- complete news to most of us and it is deeply dis- upsetting. And so we would like to understand what position school committee is in to know more and take some kind of like I I would like it on the public record that we're not all just sitting here and there's nothing we can do. >> Is it Are public comments closed? >> I will welcome you come come up and give a comment if you'd like. Well, today was a a bombshell. The school committee decided today to in their wisdom Who are you, sir? >> I'm Pete Magnuson. I work here >> school. >> I'm a social studies teacher of 27 years. >> Thank you. >> Okay. One of the worst days I've ever had here at Masconomet High School.

013To cite this particular problem, you're letting go a person who has helped this child in this in this time of need and you're looking to retain the person that ignored it. Think about that. >> Chris. All I can do all I can do right now is think about it. All I can do is reach out to council. And understand what what position the school committee is in. I'm not >> So we as school committee members can reach out to council and understand what happened? >> The chair can reach out to >> The chair can reach out. >> Reach out to council. >> Okay. >> And then that would likely have to be if we were had any I don't know because I don't know what our role is when it involves a student, but I

014can't imagine that would be in public session where we would get the information of a particular case. >> That's where we have to reach out to council. >> Clearly people need to be held accountable. Whoever does it, whether it's the school committee doing it or the administration, there needs to be accountability and addressing. >> I would I would just say that this isn't on our agenda and we do have to follow the law. >> Yeah. >> So I >> So folks sort of >> This has been This is a very 1 minute. This is a very heavy topic for us to um we don't know what position we're in. We didn't know this topic was coming tonight. Had I known, I would have been prepared. I would have reached out to council. I would have

015understood what my options were our options were. I'm gathering my thoughts. This is a very heavy topic and I'm I'm sorry I don't have a precise path forward for you tonight. But we will come up with a path forward that's within our legal rights and we will take next steps. So if you'd like to approach the podium, I I I will This will be the last comment of the evening now. >> This is not center lines, I'm Charlotte's father. Some of what Charlotte said is most likely confidential and privileged, but not all of it. The academic integrity violations that were obvious, the stealing of exams, sharing of exams, the reporting of that sharing, none of that was part of the complaint. You can talk about that here. The alcohol violations, none of that was part

016of the complaint. You can talk about that here. And the reports of sexual violence against her, we filed no official complaint. You can talk about that here. So, don't tell them that you can't talk about it because you can talk about it and you should. Thank you. Any last comments as we go around? Okay. >> I have a kind of a question / comment. I mean, can we because I mean, I we always welcome people to email us. I mean, our emails are on masconoma.org for anybody in the in the Tri-Town to email any one of us that are on the school committee with anything that you want, any piece of information that's a part of any issue or concern so that we would know each of us personally what is going on. I mean,

017I just speak for myself. I definitely would have want wanted to know that. So, please know that you absolutely have the right and you should email us when there is a concern of any of any level with any area of the school. I mean, we do have limits on what we can and can't do, but I guess I'll just say that we are the frontlines. I mean, a school committee is essentially the frontline for the the students and the Tri-Town community. So, please please email us. Please contact each one of us. You know, I guess our emails are on there. I mean, I that's because this is very concerning, but I have a lot of questions that I know I can't probably get answered. >> When this happened, they were in communication. >> Oh, okay.

018>> We're going to talk with you now. You can come >> Oh, thank you. I'm sorry. Uh we're going to move on. Uh first topic is the school choice hearing and vote. >> You know, Matt, can we just take a minute and go? I just I'm >> Yeah, it's going to take a minute to bring this up anyways. >> I'm still a horrified by this, so I just >> I'll be back. 60 seconds. >> All right, folks want a minute. See you in a minute. >> You take a recess? >> A little bit. >> Thank you. Sorry. Yes, for a minute. >> Sorry. >> This is Christina. >> This is just where we're sitting here. I don't know if it's going to work or not. That's fine. >> I thought we had a podium. >>

019It is. >> You're opening a public hearing on school choice. Uh so this is part of um school committee's responsibilities every year um is to uh decide whether it will be participating in the uh school choice program uh and and that means to admit non-resident students uh through this program. Uh a receiving district is receiving there can withdraw from school choice only if a school committee holds a public hearing on this issue and then votes to withdraw from the school choice program prior to June 1st. Uh the resolution on which the school committee votes to withdraw from school choice must contain the reasons for the withdrawal. Uh so just to give you some history on this, this is our school choice enrollment um from 2020 from the FY 21 uh year through uh what we

020would estimate for FY27. So, currently in the FY20 the 2026 FY fiscal year, there are 52 school choice students enrolled in the district. And I just used a estimate with for FY27 of 54 and that would be per the recommendation of adding 10 students in the ninth grade, which you'll see in a little bit. Just to actually look at this too, our FY27 budget anticipated 54 choice students. So, it it did budget actually it anticipated 52, so it budgeted flat to the the current years number of students. This is our projected enrollment for 26-27. We base that on the October 1st enrollment data. I did make a little change to some of the the way we've done enrollment predictions. In this case, between grades eight and nine, we used the decrease of 65 students for

021next year and that's we are uh students that are going to Essex Tech are is approximately 50 that we've had already that have committed. So, 65 is probably closer to the number that we we would see in that drop between grades eight and nine for next year. So, that's why we use 65. So, there's that two 208 students there in grade nine with school with 10 choice students that would make it 218. So, you can see that the impact there on that what that would look like in the high school. We didn't uh And um recommend adding in grade seven. Um this is due to the uh going to a split team uh in the middle school for next year. So, uh felt it was uh probably responsible and sensible to uh not add students

022to that and see how that plays out um when you go into the you know, for this and look at it for the 528. So, um this time we're supposed to look for anybody who wants to make a public comment on school choice. Uh And then there's a recommendation here uh as I said, this would be to uh participate uh to withdraw from participation cuz this the state assumes you're going to participate unless you withdraw. Uh withdraw from grade seven, eight, 10, 11, and 12 due to enrollment. Uh and then to limit school choice participation to in grade nine to 10 students uh for the 26-27 school year. >> I'll move that the Masconomet Regional School District withdraw from participation in the school choice program for the 2026 to 2027 school year in grade seven,

023eight, 10, 11, and 12 due to enrollment. Furthermore, I move that the Masconomet Regional School District limit school choice participation in grade nine to 10 students for the 2026-2027 school year. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Discussion. Uh any public comment? Let's skip that step. Any discussion? >> I just have a quick question and forgive me if it sounds stupid, but the kids that are currently in that, do they do they get affected by if we withdraw? >> No. >> So, they're it's just nobody new. >> Nobody new here so you know. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Once you Once you accept a student, they are here until they graduate or go going else on their own on their own choice. >> Okay. >> Any other questions, comments? >> Yeah, just the way the motion is

024worded it by limiting the participation grade 9 to 10 students it it sounds like that includes everyone including the ones that were already here. So, I don't know if that's just the way it's >> It's the way we've always done it, Bill. I mean, you could say >> Yeah. >> I used the motion from last year. So >> Good enough. >> I have a question. Um so we're anticipating we're going from 273 children in the eighth grade to 208 children in the ninth grade. >> Yeah, that's a 65 student drop. As I said, that we got the Essex Tech numbers back and with their new lottery system and all all of that there are 50 commits to Essex Tech Essex Tech for next year. So Yeah, usually we usually use I usually use 45 as

025that number. >> Yeah. >> That's that's been the average historically, but as I said, I already know there's 50 for Essex Tech. So >> And so do we not know so it's 50 for Essex Tech, but you're estimating 65? >> Yeah, it's that's private school. >> Yeah. >> What's our budget assume? >> For school choice? >> Yes. >> Uh 50 we budgeted flat so 52. >> Okay. >> So if you did not do school choice at all for next year and if you didn't add those 10 students in ninth grade um you'd be down to 44 you'd be eight eight light. So 40,000. I mean, with the numbers dropped so much from 273 to 208 or this year's 255 to 208, would they have considered doing more than 10? >> Couldn't. It's really Mhm. >>

026I would be open to that, especially when we have a neighboring school district who has presented a desire to um >> But, 10's 10's a typical number I've done, so >> I withdraw my motion. >> What would you be thinking? Like 20? >> 15? 20? >> Mhm. >> What if it's 10 from the middle school to the high school? >> Mhm. >> That'd put us at >> We think we can >> at 218. >> If we can think we can handle that with the reductions in force, we also have the high school >> across the grade. >> All ninth. >> It'll be all ninth, yeah. >> I wish we could open it to And that's >> And >> There's no saying all of the spots get filled, either. >> Right. >> So, if we do

02720 in grade nine, is that what you're saying? Or 10 in grade nine? Wait. >> The motion was for 10. That's what the numbers are set on. >> Yeah, you know, from grade eight this year at 273 to 60 something percent. >> Yeah. >> Another way to look at it is this year we have 25 >> five eighth graders. With 10 >> Mhm. >> 218. With 20, we'd have 228. We're still down almost 30 students. >> Mhm. >> If we go to 20 >> We we also made a lot of our reductions. >> Made some reductions in high school. Made some >> Based on >> Right. >> being able to fill some of this. It's not that. And you know, adding 20. >> I guess my thought here is is if this number was 218

028and and the tech only accepted 40 of our students instead of 50, we'd still probably be accepting 10 students. I guess. >> But, they took so many Jefferson students this year. >> They haven't told us what their what their breakdowns are. So, the the law changed so that they have to do a lottery. >> Right. >> They have but it's all wait it's based on these weighted percentages and they haven't actually shared with us what town gets what percentage. >> is in three of the towns not accepting new students, but anyway, just >> What do we get per student at 5,000? >> 5,000 is the Yeah, school choice number. >> I should say 50,000. >> Any other thoughts? We started 10 and then we redacted that and then 15 and 20. >> Do we know

029if if we were to accept more than 10, what impact might that have on what we might what potentially we might do in the future with Georgetown? >> I don't think it would have much of an impact. Are you sure? Yeah. I mean, it's >> It's like next year we could go back down to 10. Just say we have something in place for Georgetown, right? Wait, mhm. We back down there. >> No, students would become I don't know if it's what you're getting at is if they're already here and then we move into something like the Just >> You know, obviously we're we don't have unlimited >> I see what you're saying. >> So, does that impact what we could do with them if we add if we add students today? >> I see what

030you're saying. >> I think this year they're freshman class is under 40 kids. So, you know, when you're compiling volume capacity, I think the building is certainly at capacity. You know, class sizes, teachers, that's something we'd have to work out as part of that discussion obviously forward, but it would just be incremental on top of this, I think. So, there's room to deal with that capacity issue in terms of teacher-student ratios, class sizes, I think. >> Mhm. I mean, it's an unknown to me because I know when we were discussing the budget, the the the the cuts that we made were having impacts on class sizes, you know, you know, all over the place. So, uh you know, so, adding it adding additional students, 10 seems like a sufficiently small number that I don't think

031the impact would be material, but at at some point it becomes material, and I'm just not sure what that number is. >> 20 is triggering >> 20 is a section. >> Yeah, 20 is a section. >> Which feels like it could have a material impact somewhere. And given the financial constraints, I don't know that the 50 say you get in exchange for accepting that is an offset. >> But it But it won't trigger a classroom because we're not adding staff. Like I understand 20 is a classroom, >> Mhm. >> but it's not like we're adding a step like staff or sections. >> No, and therein lies the problem is that you have to absorb the the new class. >> But there's no additional cost is what I like Yes, maybe minimal, but it's not English

032class size is going to go up by >> some number that we don't >> half grade English class. English next to science. 20 or sections or something. Together. So, for that reason, I'm inclined to keep it at 10. Just >> I agree with that. >> I'm inclined to go to 15. We can We have room. And we budgeted for it. So. >> I mean We didn't budget for it, did we? >> No, we didn't budget for it. >> 15 would be more than what we budgeted for, right? >> I mean, it's in the right way. >> Yes. >> Um >> Nothing says we're going to get 15 by the way. >> Right. And those spots don't stay with that grade. So, if the 15 or say 10 or 15 aren't filled, they then aren't filled

033the next year, you know. Unless the committee decides to open it back up. >> I didn't state a motion. >> I'll move that we accept 15 students. >> Okay. I move that the Masconomet Regional School District withdraw from participation in the school choice program for the 2026-2027 school year in grade 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 due to enrollment. Furthermore, I move that the Masconomet Regional School District limit school choice participation in grade 9 to 15 students for the 2026-2027 school year. >> I'll second. >> Second? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Do we vote now? >> No? >> Mhm. >> Um might be tricky. All in favor? >> I. >> All against? >> Against. >> Can I just see the Sorry. All in favor? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Against? 1 2 3 Abstain?

034What? Okay. Let's 15. >> You don't have an SAB tonight? >> Same. >> All right. Thanks everybody. 15, right? So we'll All right. Um H electrification study presentation. >> So Jess Barber is here. Let me join the Zoom here real quick. Here are my slide decks, so give me just one sec. >> You want to explain it? >> I can give you Put your name So do you request for chair? Rachel, can you hear me? Got it. Thank you. Thumbs up. Okay. You want me to explain it? Um So thank you everybody for your time tonight. We're here to talk about a summary of the HVAC HVAC feasibility study that we completed for you. We were hired in August of last year to start the study and finished it in January. So this is a

035summary of those reports that have been sent to you. My name is Jess Barber. I'm a mechanical engineer with CMTA engineering consultants here in Boston. I worked with the district over this 5-month period to put this report together. So this is meant to be a summary of those findings. Feel free to stop me at any time if you have questions as we go through this. I have about 15 or so slides to go through that just kind of step you through the process we went through and the level of analysis we went to to give you the options. There's no decision being made. Uh is another note this is not affiliated with the MSBA accelerator repair program. That's a separate thing that you are entering into. This will help greatly support that effort when that

036goes to in motion. So this will be used to help to help us streamline and speed up that process with the MSBA when that all starts to unfold with you guys. But this was all done prior to all that really being a thing is how this all kind of happened. So um that said, I'm going to start through the slides here. Uh quick agenda what we're going to do. We did review several HVAC options and this is across the entire building, large building. We'll talk about those. We'll talk about the the considerations we looked at within the buildings, some challenges that we faced within these buildings, um the cost implications that come along with this, some incentives that are out there. Um and then again Q&A which feel free to interrupt me at any time.

037So we looked at four different HVAC options uh for the for the middle school high school. So we're thinking about this in terms of the entire complex. So we looked at what we call an end kind replacement. That's the base option. Take everything you have, replace it with brand new stuff exactly like you have today. So it's like the base level of what what wanted to do. We added a subset to that saying if we want to go to all that work, we should at least look to air condition the building. So this option 1A then took that same base option, we layered an air conditioning on top of that. Option 1 and 1A are fossil fuel based heating systems cuz that's what you have here today primarily. So that's what option 1 and 1A

038uh were comprised of. Option 2 and 3 added in the heat pump world, which is where the MSBA will help you through accelerator program. We looked at heat pump options, whether it's an air source heat pump or a ground source heat pump. They both are technologies that work for buildings like this. They have their advantages and disadvantages. They are electric based systems uh which would start to reduce or eliminate your fossil fuel um requirements for the facility from a heating perspective. So again, just a quick summary. Uh option 1 and 1A, I'll talk about those together cuz it's the same option, just one with and without air conditioning. Um so just so you get a kind of a gauge of what was involved in this. Um it is the lowest first cost option, but there's

039no access to rebates or incentives from Mass Save or federal government or you know, MSBA won't let you do this either if you go through their program. Um but it did provide for completely renewed infrastructure. The buildings are aged, there's a lot of old infrastructure. At some point in time, you have to be thinking about replacing these systems. So the the estimating include total replacement of of the heating uh infrastructure throughout the building. Um and it is a full building heating replacement and with the option of full cooling at the same time and we'll show you the numbers for that in a minute. As I said before, it does retain fossil fuels for heating in those two options. Uh we would put a whole new building automation system in so that it could be controlled

040by the facilities team. Um and then we would also be getting improved indoor air quality just by having new systems. You just tend to get better improvement with operation and all in the learning environment. So you can see those are some of the benefits of of that system. If we move to option two, which is what we call an air source heat pump system, so we're using the atmosphere outdoors to to move heat inside and outside, um it's the moderate it's the mama bear situation in terms of cost. Um it's a medium cost, but it also operates at medium point in terms of energy efficiency. You start to unlock access to mass save rebates, which helps to reduce the premium cost that you would bear to invest in these types of in systems. Again, just

041like the other options, it does provide for completely renewed infrastructure throughout the facility from a heating perspective. It will give you full building heating and full building cooling uh with that approach, and it would the building would end up with 100% electric heat pumps for building heating, which was kind of the goal we were looking at as part of the the study evaluation. Again, new building controls, and and we get better indoor air quality with that as well. They all kind of bring that benefit no matter what you look to do, you'll improve those types of things. The third option is the ground source heat pump option. So, uh this is a not a good option for you to consider. It does come along with the highest price tag. This is with anything, the best

042has always cost the most, and that's just the way this works as well. However, with this with this approach, there's even greater access to rebates and incentives. So, mass save number start to really increase um as well as there's still access to federal tax credits through what we used to call the Inflation Reduction Act. Um big beautiful bill passed in July of last year. There's a lot that was going on in the federal government about what was going on with that bill or with that particular law. The geothermal or ground source technology investment was not touched in terms of how all that was um affected back in July. Solar renewables, that got a major whacking to it, so you you really don't get a lot of access to that anymore, but the ground source heat

043pump is still an alternative, and that sunsets in 2032 in terms of being having access to that money, and I'll show you some of the numbers that go along with that here when we get to the financial side of things. So, then we do a just a quick like good, better, best summary, like I like to call it. So, we we talk about we we show all the systems here, and we look at looking at it's it's the qualitative analysis that we look at, like why would we choose this system versus that system? So, if you look at a red, yellow, green, it kind of logically makes sense to me that green is better than red. Not that red is bad, it's just green is better than red. So, when you look at these different

044options, the ground source heat pump system has the most green. However, the one that's red is the first cost. That's always the challenge we have with these systems. The MSBA's here to help, and you have other access now to help kind of reduce some of those first cost premiums. And the others, not that they're there's nothing bad about them, they're just not as good as that when it comes to the long-term performance you would get in energy performance and reduction of fossil fuels. Um, it again depends on what you're looking for um as a district in terms of how to approach this. So, these are all just showing you the options that you understand what's at your fingertips to be able to choose from in the future. Again, no decision's being made tonight, just giving

045you the information of the analysis and what your options are. Any questions on any of that? It's a lot of information. I try to keep it high level. Yes, sir. >> Yeah, um so, just looking at that chart there, I'm curious uh looking at the the one heading maintainability and simplicity. Um could you kind of at a I guess appropriate eye level sort of explain how those different systems got the grades that they did? >> Sure. So, typically uh maintenance and simplicity comes along with having more equipment or less equipment. So, typically, what we find is the the end kind option, the way these systems work now is we have a separate system in the building that heats it, and we have a whole separate system that also cools it. So, you have your you

046have to have both of those and maintain and operate both of those systems in order to have heating and cooling. When you move into heat pump systems, you buy one system and it gives you both. So, that kind of eliminates So, that's where I mean you get to air source, we give that one a yellow, and the reason that's a yellow is because with an air source heat pump system, you have outdoor equipment that is being used to heat and cool, and that stuff just doesn't last as long over the lifespan of a system. With real ground source, we're taking what would be outdoors, and we stick it in the ground. So, there's nothing to do in terms of maintenance with those, and the simplicity is from the fact that you have less equipment to

047operate and maintain over the life of the system. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Any other questions? Okay. I'll move into some of the building considerations here, just to give you the understanding of of what we looked at. We did also we had an architect on our team that helped us look at the building itself, the structure of the building envelope, the windows, and the roof, just to get a sense of you know, of how it's performing. So, you can see in some of this thermal imagery, um you know, what we find in buildings such as this is that they do they leak, right? That's just like your house, they leak over time. Windows leak, doors leak. It just happens over the course of the building over 20 or 30 years, it just is what it

048is. And so, through this thermal imagery, it helps us start to identify where some maybe some easy money can be or short money could be invested to help give us a quick return in terms of things like that. So, that's what this analysis showed for us. Um so, the when you look at the color gradients, you know, the the the hot spots there where you're seeing the the thermal bridging and the coldness that comes through on a cold day through the through the window mullions and the windows and things like that. So, it just gives us a visual indication of of of how those systems are performing to help us decide or help to recommend should we do this versus this versus that. So, it's just a tool we use to help us do the

049evaluations and then we'll talk about the recommendations we made out of that here in a minute. And does this show that we need to be replacing windows? There are portions of the building where yes, well, we have recommended by some of the windows, yes, sir. But for the most part, you know, it's windows are super expensive and you really need to wait till you're at the end of the life to to replace those. That is the return on investment those is a lot harder to show unless they're real bad shape. And then for in general, this building isn't in bad shape, but there was a few targeted areas that we did find that we feel like you should address. >> The glass block has been identified as part of the roof project. >> Okay. >>

050So, the glass block is where is what we are recommending as well. >> That's the upper right? >> Yeah, the right hand side. >> Okay. Correct. >> Which is I believe is in your celery repair application for those glass for the glass block and for the roof. So, it kind of worked out we we both align very well in terms of what we're recommending versus what you applied for in the statement of interest to the MSBA. Um so, here we just kind of said what I just said there. So, the architectural improvements that we that we are recommending and are carrying through in our budget estimates. So, we'll show them in a new flat roof across the whole building. It's a big building, so it's a lot of roof. The glass block and clear story

051windows of gym we saw a picture of. We would also be recommending new corridor ceilings and lights and patching and painting because when you come in and replace systems like this, it's a it's a pretty invasive process and so there's a lot of work that needs to be done above those ceilings. So, in the end it becomes more economical to take those ceilings down, run the new utilities, put new ceilings back, new lights back um and it's going to be the typically the the most economical way to do it to to get this done without getting butchered up over time and taking ceiling down and putting back up can can damage those surfaces. So, we recommend those to be new as part of that process. Other system improvements that we have included based on conversations

052with the staff, um there have been pressurization issues in the kitchen cafe area in terms of pressures of or exhaust being pulled out of the building than is being made up. So, we've included some provisions within the scope and estimates to address those. Um there's many exhaust fans that needed to be replaced in the building, so we've included those in the scope as well. There was a need to include air conditioning in in IT rooms and closets all over the building, so we included that in the in the scope and the estimates as well. And just so you know, there has been um several locations where what we call VRF systems, that's an air air source based HVAC system that has already been put in by the district at some point in time that are

053relatively new. We're not suggesting tear those out cuz they still have life on them. So, those would remain. We're not looking to throw away, you know, something that's just got some age left on it. I mean, it may have to be replaced in 15 years, but it's still got a lot of legs on it. Mr. >> Um what rooms currently in both the buildings have AC, and do the IT rooms and closets have AC? >> Yeah, IT rooms do not have AC. >> And is is it only like the libraries, the auditorium Can you >> Yeah, there's maybe five rooms or so that I recall. I don't remember the specific room numbers, unfortunately, but there was a handful. They weren't that big. >> Is there a purpose why those ones specifically are called out? Do

054does equipment in there need to be cool or >> Yes, there's So, there's there's data servers and racks that are in there that are creating heat in there that can then tend to maybe uh have premature failure to those to the data switches and things like that that overheat. >> Actually, thank you. >> So, it was a concern brought up during the review. Let's make sure if we're going to do all this work, let's make sure we don't forget about that. That's kind of how that was brought up here. Yes. Okay, so now let's get into the cost. Everybody wants to know what is what does this cost? It's a big number. So, uh we did have an estimator on our team that helped us do this. I'm not a cost estimator, so we helped

055develop the scope. We give it to the cost estimator. They use their their knowledge um of the cost estimating world and the market the escalation and the tariffs and all the stuff you hear in the news. They count they account for all of that as they go. And with their with their crystal ball. Um just to give you a little bit of perspective on this cost estimate, we base it on the entire building, which is 336,000 plus square feet. Again, it's a very large building. We look at the middle school and the high school combined. Uh we would procure this as a GC bid through mass public procurement. Um this does currently assume a June 2027 start date in terms of what the estimate we put together was. Due to the sheer volume of work

056needed, we have anticipated three summers of work to occur to do if you look to start and finish this whole thing. So, it's going to take a significant amount of time and disruption to do this. And these would be summer slammers, so you have, you know, 8 weeks to kind of get in and do your work and get out so that you have the the students back in school without being disrupted. There may be some work that could be done in second shift or after hours that may not impact education. We would study all that as we got deeper into it to find out what those could be. But for the most part, there's not going to be much that can be done um in the building cuz everything really affects learning and we really

057don't want to have anything that disrupts the learning environment through construction, especially the safety of the students and just the learning and it's just a something that is thought about. So, a lot of discussions will still need to be had about how this actually phased and got constructed over time, but something to start thinking about. So, we did include some second shift premiums during the summer because we're trying to get as much done as we possibly can during that time and it's built into these estimates. And is that comprehensive scope discussed? So, it does include the roof, the the last part, these IT rooms, this this kitchen and cafeteria items and and and heating and cooling across the entire the entire 330,000 square feet. And we look at this and all these buckets if you

058can see on the chart on the left, we've broken this estimate up into all these pieces and parts so you can understand because you're going to see this number go, "Why is this so much money?" But when we break it down, you can see where it's coming from in terms of the site work that was needed, the the building envelope and the plumbing and the HVAC and all that stuff. It starts to add up. And then when you look at the contractor markups and contingencies that need to be applied and then the soft costs of hiring the design team and the open bid to do it, that's all real money that needs to be When you think about this total project budget, what's important you to understand. Plus, there's also escalation on top of that.

059It's a variable that we've considered. So, when we look at all four options, a lot of numbers here on the screen, um but when you look at them if you look at the numbers here, option 1, 1A, 2, and 3, option 1 is tracking about 40 million total, option 1A is about 48 million total, option 2 is about 42 million total, option 3 is 52 million in total. Again, that's the premium I talked about earlier with ground source heat pumps. The the it gives you the best results, but it costs the most to buy and the wells themselves are very expensive nowadays in the market. Um they're they're expensive and we're not seeing that number dropping um as the demand goes up and the lack of labor that we still deal with here in Massachusetts

060is something to consider. So, those are factored into this just to give you the scale of what it is. So, then we always try to look at these in terms of dollars per square foot just to kind of get a sense of it. So, when you look at the option 1A, it's 21% more than the base, kind of that in-kind. And we give you the option because we want you to understand if you choose to do nothing but keep it the way you have it, you still need to invest a bunch of money to replace all these systems. So, what starts to become the conversation is what is the delta to do something different if we want to do something different. What does that premium start to look like and what are the benefits of

061spending that extra money if we want to do that as a committee. So, that option 1A um to do the in-kind but then also add air conditioning adds 21% to that. It's pretty big jump, but it's a big building to air condition. So, there's a lot of cost that comes with that whether it's you know, the equipment to do the cooling, the new electrical services we need that are larger. That's just kind of the factors you see into that. So, then we get into the air source heat pump option. It's only a 5% increase from the in-kind option. The reason that is that way is because as I said earlier, we're buying one system to do two things and not two systems to do two things. We're buying less stuff to make all this work

062and you see those number of realized um through those first cost savings. And then option three is kind of the same thing but again the wealth the geothermal ground source well field is very large cuz this is a very large building and that's what that delta is. So, if you look at the numbers on here that uh that geothermal well field we're projecting at $7 million just to buy the the underground wells to connect back into the building. That's that's almost that cuts most of that premium when you look at the $12 million premium seven of it is just to do that. So, just give you a sense of where all these numbers shake out. So, this is just what we consider trade costs. This is what you would like if on bid day what

063you would see a bid from a GC is what this number is is showing in the trades. Yes, sir. >> For the uh ground source heat pumps, where did you consider putting the wells? Are they across the fields? >> Yeah, they're in a they're in one of the fields. We actually moved it around a couple of times cuz we we I think we had it in a spot that maybe had some money that had been invested in and we moved it to a different spot. I'm not sure I have a diagram over here in the slide deck. >> So, we'd likely lose a field for >> for construction. It would have to be it would take the summer to do that or whenever to do it and it would take time to get resurfaced and

064repaired. >> Okay. >> Yes. And there's still options that can be looked at once it turns into a project. We can look at you know, whether it goes in a field or it could potentially go under parking lots are also alternatives. Again, those are conversations that we need to be had in more detail about um you know, what's the best place for it and we look at constructability and phasing. And that kind of collateral stuff that comes along with it. And maybe hey, we need these fields. We can't give you these fields. Those are conversations >> This is a big deal. >> Yeah. >> I think it was the field out on the middle school side by the front. I'm trying I think that's field one. >> Okay. >> That field That field was where

065the lacrosse was. >> Yes. >> I think we >> Yeah. >> That was the most beneficial that they found when they made the decision. >> Uh for it to become a usable lot. >> Actually usable after the fact. You just have to wait it. >> That whatever that you place that that's usable land after the fact. >> You have to have the >> Yes, exactly. Yeah, so you so it's underground, you'll never see it again, all right? You'll put the you can put the >> dirt and the grass back on it. It just takes that time to >> to recover. >> Unless it's not on turf. >> Yeah, I think yeah, that may be where we had started. It was like obviously we're not going to tear up turf and do that. That would be

066a horrible idea. So, So, then this is trade cost. And so, then we get into the next layer of cost become the markups and the contingencies and the escalations and the soft costs that start to make make these numbers get even higher and higher and higher. But this is when you start looking at total project cost and you need to be thinking about you're not just buying the work, you have to buy all the other stuff that comes with it. You have to pay architects, you have to pay engineers, you have to pay the OPMs and all this other stuff that has to happen. So, the numbers start to go up. So, you're looking at about 62 million for option one, about 75 million on A, 65 million for option two, and about 80 million

067for option three. They're all scaled cuz the percentages are all the same. So, they're the same delta supply. I'm just the the market starts to make those numbers separate a little bit further. And I'll show you some paybacks and other stuff here shortly about why the decision you want to you'd want to understand is why would I want to spend 80 million dollars versus 65 million dollars. We'll show you the potential financial means that might make that make some sense to you. Again, don't have to make any decisions right now, but just do you start giving you information to educate you what what's in front of you should you choose to go this path. Um And this is some incentives. I talked about incentives earlier. In Mass Save has a very robust program. Always has,

068and it's even gotten stronger recently with the electrification increase across the Commonwealth and the federal tax credits as well. Now, I will tell you that Mass Save had a program, great program, and they changed it on us last year. Now, they'll change it again. It can all subject to change without notice. So, this is all based on what we know today, what these programs are, what this order of magnitude of the incentives could be. So, with option one and one A, nobody's going to help you. You're not you're not getting any incentives back for that from Mass Save or from the federal government. There there is no incentive for that. Back in the day, maybe you could have with Mass Save, but then again, the whole program's changed towards electrification. So, if you if you

069you to say I'm putting in fossil fuel boiler, they say on your own." So, how that would work with Mass Save? So, we start getting to option two and three and that's where the money starts to come out. So, again, Mass Save isn't It's not a huge number um because they started to cap these as they I think there's been so much demand that's been placed on that system in the past year and everyone's jumping at it to get it. They said, "Whoa, we can't we maybe we've overcommitted." So, they started to reduce those caps. Could it change again? Maybe, I don't know, but this is where it stands today. It's a good program um and you definitely would want to enter into it as these numbers would become more clearer the deeper you get

070into understanding the project scope and we would they would become on board and help us evaluate what those targets could like this is our just kind of thumb estimate of what we think it could be in terms of order of magnitude. Um but once you do the ground source heat pump system, that's where Mass Save really does encourage that and you can see that number jump up tremendously because that's where that they're seeing the electric grid demand reductions by going with that type of system. They love that and that's why they see you and they see incentivizing that back to you as a customer because it helps them in terms of demand reduction across the grid across the entire state. The federal government sees that, too. That was That was one of the reasons when

071that was a part of the bill actually enacted back in 2021. So, there's a massive incentive out there for ground source heat pump. So, you can see potentially $6 million could come back from federal government. So, you add those two numbers up, you're looking at about $8 million plus could come back to you as an incentive. You still make those investments. You still have to come up with the money for it. And it's an incentive act just like the MSBA would do a reimbursement to you. It's the same kind of process. So, you would get that reimbursement back from Mass Save. You get that reimbursement back from the federal government to help offset those premiums and then you decide do you take that money, you put it on the bond, or whatever however you're paying

072for this is what you could make that decision of what to do with that money. But that all comes back to you. The MSBA has a um a design or it has a has some guidance out there that says uh, if you apply for that money you get it you get to keep all of it cuz there was fear back in the day that you know, let's say for instance the MSBA in a typical uh, core project funds 40% people were afraid well, you're going to take 40% of my incentive back well, they won't do that. So, all that incentive money will come back to you as a district to be able to keep and redistribute it back into however you choose to do that just so you know that. >> So, before we leave

073there and I confess I'm I'm ignorant on the subject but as a school district what would federal tax credits do for us? >> You will you will get a direct payment check back from the federal government. You'll see a check for $6 million that will come back to your bank accounts as a school district. >> Real. >> It is a tax so that was when the when the Inflation Reduction Act came came about in 2021 that was the one of the big changes. So, there's always been incentives out there for private sector to invest in grassroots technology. So, if I built a building I could do it and get money back and and pay for you know, whatever it cost me to build my building. So, when Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2021 it allowed

074public entities such as yourself to start to have access to that kind of funds. So, it comes back to you through a direct payment. >> Oh. >> So, yeah you're not filing taxes, right? You would you have to file there's trust me there's there's this is not easy money to get it's a lot of paperwork there's a lot of hoops to jump through to get it. There's still applications a CPA they would need to be hired to help do the the audits and the um, certifiable studies to say the valuation cuz it comes down to what the valuation of the energy property is and they would determine that to say that's where you get the $6 million from. So, there's a bunch of steps to go through. Not easy but it's real money. >> Sounds

075like it's worth it. >> We've had we've had we've had a district down in Connecticut just received $5 million back for some school projects we did down there. So, it's real. >> Now, how that works, if the district is participating in the MSBA, is it still full >> All yours. >> All right. >> They would not try to keep a cent. They wouldn't try to claw back a percentage of that money. There's There's Like I said, there's guidance out there. They've said you cuz again, they're If you think about it, they're they >> launching the 5 program. >> They're really encouraging districts to do this, and they don't want to create any more hardship on towns and districts to do things like this because there is I mean, this is a financial This is a

076big financial commitment, no matter how you shake it. This This is a big financial commitment. So, their their approach is let's don't saddle the districts any more than we have to with this. So, that would all be That would come back into your budgets. And we've seen owners take that and just again, do a big uh payment on the bond or whatever or you really do whatever you want with it. And then, a picture's worth a thousand words. So, this is what you can call the life cycle cost analysis diagram. So, the numbers on the left, those represent the first cost numbers I mentioned earlier. And the numbers on the far right are what it will cost you to have operated the system, say, 30 years down the road. So, once you start looking at

077the lines as they slope left to right, that factors in what it's costing you to turn the lights on every day, turn on the heating every day, your operation and maintenance costs. At points down the road, midpoint, you'll have to replacing equipment. It's the nature of of the beast. It's like your car. They just don't run forever. You have to maintain them and replace pieces and parts on them. Mechanical systems are the same way. So, we factored in um at the 15-year and 20-year mark, planned planned um allocations that you should be thinking about to replace, just to give you the big picture of how these things function. So, what you see is that the blue line on there is the ground source heat pump system. So, on the far left is the highest one

078on the left cuz it costs the most. But, on the far right, it's the second system. So, it actually is a little bit more than the end kind plus AC. But, the difference here is that you're a fossil fuel free system with the blue line and not with the red dash line. So, if that's important, that's what that's the really the rationale behind that. >> Yes. >> It's not fossil fuel save C. It's fossil fuel, the yellow line. Yeah, the second system >> All right. Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. The red line is just the end kind. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Gary. No problem. >> I appreciate that, right. I'm My eyes are bad anyway, so I can't even see the colors here. So, but yeah, so that red line is the If you

079business as usual. Business as usual. So, that just gives you a visual representation of what this will look like. And so, when you when you uh enter into the MSBA accelerated repair program, whomever is hired have to go through a formal process, and that justification has to be done in order for the MSBA to accept a schematic design. So, this will happen again at some level um to do that. And then, the MSBA will start getting into it and help to articulate to you what are the eligible reimbursable expenses that we're funding. So, when you get into these projects, well, and again, this is new, so MSBA is learning it as we go as well. But, the the HVAC piece is an eligible piece. If you were to put gas fired boilers in, they wouldn't

080they wouldn't help you with the reimbursements to that. But, they will help you with the win- windows and the roof. And we've also learned that if there is as you do buildings of this magnitude, we start to worry about code triggers. Like, is the building sprinkler or not? We have fire protection here, so we're not worried about that here. But, we do worry about ADA accessibility issues in the building. So, we would have to then study all those things to make sure that as part of this project that the building addresses all that. And MSBA would help reimburse you for those costs that come into that. That's a Those aren't going to be huge costs for this building cuz the building is in pretty good shape, but there could be little things here and there,

081but that would be included in the study that'll happen as you enter into the accelerated repair program piece. So, that's the end of my spiel. Appreciate you listening to me through this tonight. Um again, I'm happy to answer any more questions you might have. I can talk about this for hours and hours and hours if you let me, but I'd like to go home if I can. That's to be honest. And then we can make this PowerPoint available presentation to you if you I think I sent it. It is. They all have it. Do you have it? I might have sent it. And I think you have the report, too. So, you're welcome to send me questions in the meantime if you have them. >> Just real quick, I just want to know if I'm

082missing something or if it's just a typo. Uh option three, the trade cost study was 52.3 million. Where is slide 14? Yeah, slide uh slide 15 14. >> 14. >> Trip summary, yes. It's 50 >> Could be a typo. So, what >> No, 52.3 million and then if I go down to charts, there's 8.2 million in savings, which I think is about 44 and change. Is there something else that's in that 41.5 million or is it just a typo? >> Could be a typo. >> Yeah, so I think I don't think So, in other words, the school committee, right? The the option three doesn't come down below option two. If it's a typo, >> Back. >> it's around 44 and change. >> That's right. That's with the incentive. So, yeah, the incentives >> I go

083off 80 >> That's 50 52.3 minus 8. >> million >> 82 >> 2 3 Oops. minus 6 - 2 >> It looks like I might have a typo. We can adjust the the numbers and get you an updated value. Let me Let me Give me some time to go back and scratch Sure. First and make sure I feel like the numbers are right, but let me double-check. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. >> for that oversight. >> Thank you. >> for being wrong, but thank you for checking me on that. Um And if this And if there And if we have an error and it's in the report as well, we'll update the report and send it back to the district so you have the record copy of have a mistake. Thank you for that comment.

084>> Thank you. >> Yeah, sorry. Go on. >> Go on. >> Okay, that's all I was saying. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. >> You It's been a while since I've looked at the report. Does the report spell out maintenance costs or no? >> You know, we look at maintenance costs at a square foot level at this study phase. So, there's nothing specific that says like a dollar amount or like a maintenance plan. It's not that level. >> Okay. Okay. >> I think um Ethan Jeff had a pretty good handle on what the typical maintenance was running, so we had a pretty good gauge from them to to help then the range we expected in terms of the percentages we were using for that chart, but we didn't go and accurately or like look piece by

085piece of what that would be. >> Okay. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Sorry, could you clarify one more time what escalation was? >> Escalation is that things don't cost what they cost today in three year. So, inflation is a construction Things cost more as supply as supply and demand changes. >> Okay, so >> Things will cost more. >> Everything here is based on today's dollars, and then you added an escalation to reflect a percentage on top of that to uh for inflation in the year and a half or whatever. >> Yes, but it is based the the estimates are based on a start date of June of 2027. So, it's based on dollars in 2027 and this escalation >> Okay. >> So, we may if we if we were to start in June

086of 2027, we may not see the escalation. >> Correct. You could see So, we we want to I feel like it's better for me to give you a little bit higher just to make sure if we can if we can trim those down over time, people No one wants to People get upset if I come back and say I'm sorry, it was $100 million not $80 million. No one's going to be happy. So, we want to try to get as much without being crazy. We want to get as much cushion in there as we can so that the numbers Cuz nothing's been designed. Like this is based on a an evaluation of our our engineering judgment. We do this for a living, okay? So, don't take that the wrong way, but we we know what

087we're doing with this, but the detailed design hasn't been done yet. So, engineering hasn't been done and there's a lot of details here that still have to be ironed out. So, that's why we carry contingencies plus those and no one no one has a crystal ball and knows what the market's going to be a year from now. There's another war, who you know, you never know what the market conditions will do. So, those are impossible to predict. So, we our estimate what they do is they trend they they keep track of those escalation numbers year over year and try to come up with what they think is a reasonable based on historical data where they see that line headed. 7% is where everybody likes today. >> Is it Is your 7% based on sort of

088an annual growth number or is it So, if we wait an extra year and it's going to go up to 8% or does it go up to 7% a year? >> Well, would it be another seven? No, but it would need to be evaluated. That's why these numbers are hard to It's hard to say because um you know, and if if the if it takes longer than three years to do, it's going to cost you more. If you can do it faster, it could cost you less, but then can we accommodate doing it faster? You'd have to make those decisions or we'd have to make those together to decide can we can we absorb some hassle with the contractor and try to do this faster is it worth that delta or not. Those are decisions

089that that can be discussed and made over a period of time once this is more defined what the scope is. Again, so that would all come up in the ARP piece with that consultant office. >> Is that based on uh average inflation rates across the country or is that based on data that you have as you've gone through projects? >> He's he's using his data base here in New England. >> Great. >> That's cuz he's based here in in he lives in the Southeast. So he's he's based on and he works on all kinds of projects for us to do these estimates. So it's based on what he sees here in this in this market, not Yeah, cuz the Midwest would be different. You'd see different escalations. You'd see much different. It'd probably be 30%

090less to do this project if you were in Indiana. Just just the way the world works. But this is based on here in this location. Any questions or comments? Okay, well we'll double check the numbers and get back with you. So you have the right numbers. If they change, I'll follow up with you. >> Thank you, everybody. >> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> It's work. >> Thank you. >> No. Can Can anybody help me read this? Can I read this? What is this is the MSBA? >> So this is uh the vote to authorize the debt for um the schematic design and owner's project manager um cost for the uh for the roof and HVAC project. So, this language comes uh, pretty much directly from MSBA. And we fill in the fill

091in the words as appropriate. Uh, MSBA has reviewed and approved this, so they're good with it. Bond counsel has reviewed and approved. He's good with it. >> And the reason we're doing it today is that it had to take place within a certain number of days. >> Yeah, you have to do it so this This vote will set off a 60-day uh, window that the towns have to hold a town meeting to disapprove of the debt is the way the law is written. That's uh, MGL chapter 71 16D that you see in there. Um, so that the school could one of the school committees um they are authorized by that statute to borrow money to do projects for capital projects for the district. Um, and the but the way the law reads then towns have

09260 days from the time you vote to authorize the debt to disapprove of the debt. Um, and so they held the town meeting uh, and when you see the town meeting article, you'll see that there is language in there that then also makes the town meeting vote uh, subject to the passage of a proposition 2 and 1/2 override at the ballot uh, after that. So, um, that has to happen all this a town meeting vote and a ballot question in each of the three towns. All three of them have to pass in order for the debt to be approved by the towns. So, this is the first step in that process. >> David, would you like a motion? >> Is there a motion? >> Can't pull it up or I would. >> Yeah, I I

093can read it if you want. I move that the Mac and Ally Regional School District, henceforth known as the district, hereby appropriates the amount of $1,738,652 consisting of $698,938 for Masconomet High School and $1,039,714 for Masconomet Middle School for the purpose of paying feasibility study and schematic design costs related to a potential accelerated repair project involving replacement of the roof and conversion of the HVAC system to heat pumps at Masconomet Middle School located at 20 Endicott Road in Boxford, Massachusetts and replacement of the roof and conversion of the HVAC system to heat pumps at Masconomet High School located at 20 Endicott Road in Boxford, Massachusetts including the payment of all costs incidental and related thereto the project which proposed repair would materially extend the useful life of the school and preserve an asset that otherwise

094is capable of supporting the required educational program and for which the district has applied for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the MSBA said amount to be expended at the direction of the Masconomet Regional District School Committee to meet this appropriation the district is authorized to borrow said amount under Chapter 1, Section 16D of the General Laws and the District Agreement as amended and pursuant or pursuant to any other enabling authority. The district acknowledges that the MSBA's grant program is a non-entitlement discretionary program based on need as determined by the MSBA and any project costs the district incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the district. And that if invited to collaborate with the MSBA on the proposed repair project, the

095amount of borrowing authorized pursuant to this vote shall be reduced by any grant amount set forth in the project funding agreement that may be executed between the Massac Regional School District and the MSBA. Further moved that within 3 days from the date on which this vote is adopted by this the vote is adopted, the superintendent be and hereby is instructed to notify the Board of Selectmen of each of the member towns of this district as to the amount and general purposes of the debt herein authorized as required by the district agreement and by chapter 71, section 16D of the general laws. >> Thank you. >> Well done. >> Second. >> I second that. >> There you go. >> Uh all in favor? >> I. >> Against? Any abstain? All right. Thanks, everybody. >> So, I

096will >> Thanks, Mike. >> Yeah, the notice will go out tomorrow um to the to the select board. >> That's very exciting. >> It's ready to rock. >> Yes. >> But does it I mean, Topsfield already closed their warrant, so this is already in the warrant. >> Yeah, Kevin had it a week ago. >> We need to get the new agreement >> Certification of MSBA? >> Yep. This is um We don't have to read this one, um but this document is part of um the requirements that we have to submit to the MSBA by um June 1st. Um and so this these are all this is the fine print of the agreement um uh the district and the MSBI. So we need the school committee to approve it. And I have a copy for Matt

097to sign after you guys approve it and then I can upload and send away and check that one off the list. So Does anyone have any questions on the document? It's It's very It's a standard document that they enter into with >> going to say is this boiler plate from them? >> Absolutely from them. I type in Masconomet Regional School District at the top and that's it. >> Sign it or we don't get into the program. >> Correct. >> If you don't approve it, we're not we're not doing this. So Do we need a motion? >> Yes. >> Motion to approve this document. Initial compliance certification. >> I'm trying to be economical here. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any against? Any abstentions? Thank you. >> Good. >> All right. >>

098Thank you Mike and Jeff and everyone who's put all this time. >> All right. Georgetown High School Masconomet High School tuition agreement task force. So I'll um I'll give everybody a quick update. We did meet with the Georgetown superintendent. Um >> So last Tuesday? >> Last Tuesday it's my Mike Bull who's the chair of the school committee. And that was Mike, myself and Adrian and Heather Sullivan as well. She was able to get a sense of what's going on. And good discussion we reiterated our uh what I believe is general interest continue to pursue Uh to look into investigate the prospect of them joining district at some point in the future. I reiterated that my understanding I my opinion of the school committee would be that we would likely want something more permanent and not

099a temporary move that would be too disruptive to the school if it was just temporary for a year or two. They shared the same perspective. Um and at the end of the meeting it was proposed that we establish a tuition agreement task force to start to figure out in the next month um basically what this could look like from a financial perspective, what sorts of um you know, what sorts of things you'd have to go do research on um and then just kind of start to paint the picture for for for the for the tuitioning agreements. And again, the tuitioning in would just be a placeholder for, you know, a year maybe two, I don't know while we work through adjusting the regional agreement to make them part of the the district. So, after that

100uh I did ask Bill to represent the school committee on the task force. And in addition to Bill, it'll be I got my Apple list in front of me who we said was going to be on it, but it'll be Brad, Katie, ourself. I think that's Bill, that's all >> It was like HR >> HR, yeah. >> Finance. >> Yeah, we're on finance. We're on finance. HR is under finance, so yeah. that's the one piece we're missing. >> And Georgetown will drain me. >> Yeah, it works well. >> So. >> Um. So I don't know that we need a vote or anything like that, but they can take a couple of minutes. If you guys have questions or comments or anything like that, I think we will discuss what will be a series of meetings

101coming up that Bill has offered to to help help with and represent the school committee. I think we should appoint him. >> Okay. >> Uh I would advise against that and leave it as a superintendent's advisory group at this point cuz then we don't have to post it. Once you guys create a subcommittee that's appointed by the committee, you have to worry about open meeting law postings. >> Even for task forces? >> I would I would worry Yeah, once it's If it If the If it's an advisory group to the school committee, it's subject to open meeting law. If it's an advisory to the superintendent, it's not. So, I would say It's going to be easier to keep it that way. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> At this point, it's just three meetings for three

102subsequent Fridays starting this Friday. >> Okay. He's not >> Nobody's making decisions, right? >> Yeah. He's an advisor. >> They basically there to answer questions and report back to us. >> Report back. >> I have no problem with it being Bill. I was just saying >> Yeah, I don't I see drilling. >> The procedurally, probably should stay away from that. Let's make it cleaner. >> Anything else you want to say? >> So this makes it sound like cuz I thought Georgetown was kind of shopping around. >> They are. Oh, okay. >> Not just us. >> Okay, so they are >> Yeah. >> It's something similar with other towns, too. Yeah, their is to present something to Georgetown soon so that they can make a decision how they want to proceed forward. >> I don't know

103if they're doing precisely this with other districts, but I think they have been talking to >> They're not doing tuitions, yeah, they're doing but they're having discussions with other districts about regionalize regionalization possibilities. >> Okay, so uh I suspect the next update we'll get we'll get from Bill in like maybe at the end of the month. >> Agreed. >> Yeah. Thank you Bill for taking the time to do this. >> Yeah, sure. Big help. Happy to help. >> Hey, uh subcommittee reports. Community relations. >> Um so I did send out an email to get the schedule for meeting with DCI and community relations together to get information out for the town meetings and budget and anything that we've got with I knew we were going to have an update for the MSBA project and all

104of the information that we've got coming up. So once we get that scheduled, we can initiate movement with getting all of the information out you know, in a coordinated fashion. I guess. >> Um Since you bring up that topic, do you want to touch on you met with Joe this past weekend? >> Uh Joe and I connected. He walked me through uh previous deck that had been used. I think it was maybe like the year before I joined school committee. >> Yeah. >> Um So they had kind of laid out all the capital stuff in that and it's basically the same kind of update we need to give everyone, just stuff has changed since then. >> Same, yep. >> So, he shared that with Matt and I so that we can kind of iterate offline

105and just plug in questions and things that we know um and then he would propose some dates maybe next week, I think. >> Yeah. >> I don't know we'll have something to talk about next week, but like we I can gauge see, but plan was to get it locked in before moderator forum started. For us, it's the last week of April. So, it's coming up fast. So, within the next week and a half to 2 weeks, we're going to have to have everything locked in. >> Yep. >> So, that was our sort of most efficient path to try and get something that we could all just look at and go, "Yep, this works." or let's add this to it. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, we'll see where we land on that over the weekend

106maybe and then if we can meet next week, great. If not, we'll >> And then you'll do things like getting posts out to get people to town meeting and support the vote, support the or Yes, support the vote, but >> All of that. >> Inform them on the >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> All the templates ready. Yes. >> Yeah, it'd be great if we can just use the same deck for all three towns, but we have to use just the numbers that are different. >> Keep it organized, yeah? >> I know everybody's had to We've had replicated efforts in towns in years past. All right. Uh DCI budget to be had. I think we got that. Same thing. >> Yeah, I know the DCI budget's going to be going to go get us to town

107meeting. Sorry. >> But no other one. >> I know updates. >> Honestly, I think to report is on updates. I will say I did go to the Middleton select board meeting last night. It was a joint meeting with the finance committee and they're already talking about guidance for next year and they said we're leaning towards 2%. Same as everyone else. Anyway. And they said they were going to try to coordinate with the other member towns. So They want for next year. Stop. Appreciate it. On the upper left every side. Hilton Bay is on by a by the committee. I've been great. Uh what's the Topsfield? Uh I think Topsfield has a listening session weekends at the library. Um Hello. I haven't had much contact. I kind of like giving them some space to do the

108warrants and figure all that stuff out and Yeah, I thought it was a third session. So Yeah, the library I thought it was this weekend. I don't know. I have to look at it, but Yeah, I think I'll try and coordinate something before town meeting so that we can grab coffee with them or something and just see where their head is, but So how did the meeting go when you and Lissa went to the select board meeting? What was it? A couple of Mondays ago? We answered the questions they had and you know, they basically wanted information didn't have yet. They wanted to know like what was the the range of the overall cost for the capital and you know, what was included and what was some of the details and we're like this is

109step one. We're just going to get a project manager and the schematic done and then we will be able to answer those questions. Did anyone ask how many um heat pumps were involved? They did not go there. It was surprising that they did not go there. >> Last listening session, that's that's where the questioning went to. >> Yeah, they the one that I was at, too. So, I'm happy I can share this deck with them and say, "Here's a Here's an idea where things could be maybe headed." There's a moderator forum, possibly on the 20 last week of the month, I believe. Yeah. >> Uh anybody in negotiations? >> Um >> All right, consent agenda. Approve warrants in the amount of $1,150,456.30. Approve overnight DC field trip, October 2026. Approve school committee meeting minutes, March

1102nd, March 4th, March 9th, March 11th. Moved. >> Second. Uh all in favor? >> Aye. >> Against? Any abstain? We have one more motion. >> Make a motion to adjourn. >> Yeah. Second. All right. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Against? Any abstain? >> Also the field trip. Coordination mark. >> Not only are they doing the DC sites, they're doing the National Spy Museum. >> Oh, sure next year. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Mhm.