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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-10 School Committee MinutesMASS. 71 Reading School Committee A : 413 Reading, Massachusetts Regular Session February 10, 2004 CALL TO ORDER Chair Dahl called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M. Present were School Committee Members Carpenter, McFadden, Russo, and Webb. Also present was Superintendent Schettini. Mr. Spadafora arrived at 8:15. Mr. Dahl made a statement to reinforce the fact that the Reading School Committee has always had absolute support for the METCO Program in Reading and asked Superintendent Schettini to convey this message to the High School Principal to reinforce with his staff. BILLS & PAYROLL There were no bills and/or payroll CITIZENS' INPUT David Lautman spoke, as a representative for Lacrosse and Youth Soccer, about the need for building a second field citing the amount of use by all teams as the major incentive. Chair Dahl recognized the need and indicated it would be possible to put a second field on the Add Alt. list and also stated the Committee was supportive. GIFTS None SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT None SCHOOL COMMITTEE CALENDAR None LIAISON REPORT None OLD BUSINESS Jim Jordan, from AD, gave an update on the New Elementary School Project stating that significant progress has been made in the past couple of weeks. • Structural panels in building C are just about done • Electrical will be inspected this week • Metal studs were completed in building C • Sheet rock materials arrived • Plumbing and electrical is ahead of schedule • Roof over Gymnasium will be started this week • Skylight will be installed this week • Insulation will be installed in the roof over Building A & C in the upcoming weeks Scott Dunlap discussed change order #5 and stated the reasons for the change order as upgrading for fire protection. A discussion followed. Ms Webb moved to approve change order #5 for the New Reading Elementary School in the amount of $116,122. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. The vote was 5-0. Mr. Dunlap indicated that the Barrows project plans were about 90 % complete and remains on target for start in March. He is sending a set of preliminary drawings to Chief Burns. AD will be reviewing the cost documents, along with Flansburg, to resolve any issues, Mr. Dunlap will get copies to the Chief and should go out to bid sometime in March. A discussion about the document review followed. Superintendent Schettini introduced a discussion of proprietary items by Scott Dunlap who provided background information and indicated that language would still include "or equal". A motion was made by Ms. Webb and seconded by Mr. Spadafora to include proprieta specifications, based on the investigation of School Committee consultants and information received from such consultants, all as described in a letter to Superintendent Schettini dated February 5, 2004 from Ai3 (Proiect Managers) with the words "standardization of spare parts, tools as repair methods", added to the Reason for Proprietary Specification under Von Duprin Exit Hardware, LCN Closers, and Schlage Locksets, Latchsets, and Cylinders, and the following items for the reasons and as described in such letter: Densglass Sheathing and Simplex Fire alarm System. The vote was 6-0 Linda Phillips questioned the size of the gym in the new elementary school. Mr. Dunlap indicated it was regulation size. Mr. Dahl asked if we could investigate putting seating on one side. Mr. Spadafora suggested that Ms Phillips point might be one of budgetary concerns and a discussion followed on budgetary impact, size, and addition of seating. Mr. McFadden suggested placement for electrical work for a scoreboard be considered. Superintendent Schettini stated that the scoreboard from the old fieldhouse could possible be placed somewhere else. Ms. Phillips asked when we would be ready to accept bids on Barrows and how long would the bids be valid, considering we will have to go to town meeting to request the money in April. Scott Dunlap stated the bids are valid for 30 days and we can request an extension, if necessary. Mr. Keith Hoffses, from Design Partnership, presented an update on the RMHS Project budget There was discussion that followed about the timing of decision making on construction alternatives, expenses, bids, forming strategies and prioritizing decisions on the gym and discussing it at a future meeting, keeping academia in perspective, having a recorded history, the practice of using contingency fees, and getting signatures from the town. Ms. Webb initiated a discussion about the porcelain pavers vs. rubber flooring in the atrium. Ms. Webb made a motion and it was seconded by Mr. McFadden to contractually establish 4 alternates for the RMHS proiect and further direct the Architect, The Design Partnership of Cambridge, to include all necessary information in the bidding documents such that the filed sub-bidders and general contractor will provide a complete and competitive bid on each of these alternates The Committee further acknowledges that the order of the alternates shall be as follows: 1. Synthetic Practice Field 2. Replace Field House Bleachers 3. Porcelain Pavers in the Atrium 4. Porcelain Pavers in the Field House Lobby and that the alternates must be accepted and incorporated into the construction contract in the order listed. Such incorporation and acceptance of the alternates into the final construction contract shall not occur until the Committee has reviewed all bids and taken another vote regarding their incorporation The vote was 6-0 Mr. McFadden initiated a discussion regarding the RMHS Construction Documents. Mr. Spadafora moved to approve, seconded by Ms Webb, based on the Architect's completion of the Construction Documents for the Reading Memorial High School and the Architect's presentation of the most recent construction cost estimates dated February 4, 2004, the Construction Documents and the release of 100% complete bidding documents on Februarv 24, 2004, provided a representative School Committee member, after consultation with Project Management, gives final approval of the release of bidding documents prior to the release of the bid on February 24, 2004 The vote was 6-0. Mr. Spadafora moved to empower Mr. McFadden to give final approval of the RMHS bidding documents prior to release of the documents on Februarv 24, 2004, and also moved that Mr. Spadafora be empowered to be the alternate, Ms Webb seconded the motion The vote was 6-0. ADJOURN Mr. Dahl motioned to adiourn at 10.05 and Mr. Carpenter seconded The vote was 6-0. 1 u d bmx 7 j hr. Superintendent of Schools