School committee accepts donation to install water bottle filling stations at Village School

The Marblehead School Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a donation from the Village School PTO to install water-bottle filling stations at Village School cafeterias. The committee approved the donation and associated project estimate during its Sept. 30 meeting.

Committee members voted to accept the donation after a recommendation that included cost estimates for equipment and plumbing. The packet cited a per-unit cost of $1,703 for each filling station and an estimated $800 for plumbing, for a total project cost of $4,206.

The motion to accept the donation was moved by a committee member and seconded; the committee recorded a 5-0 vote in favor. The acceptance means the PTO funds will be used to purchase and install the filling stations at the school's cafeterias, subject to any usual district procurement and installation procedures.

The committee did not vote on installation contracts or a firm construction schedule during the meeting. Staff and the administration will handle procurement and any required site work under the district’s standard processes.

The committee's immediate action was limited to accepting the gift and its stated cost estimate; further administrative steps for installation and payment will follow the district’s procurement and facilities procedures.