Facilities staff presented a broad summer-and-upcoming-projects update across district buildings, listing completed maintenance, in-progress work and proposed capital items for fiscal 2025–26.

Staff said custodial crews conducted a top-to-bottom deep clean across multiple buildings and that many classrooms and common areas are in noticeably improved condition. At Bronx (elementary) staff removed loose stage paneling and repaired other trim; at Brown staff replaced a kitchen spray nozzle and installed a new bottle-filling station in the cafeteria. Staff reported a new playground structure and a newly resurfaced rubber playground surface at Glover (installed the day after school opened), funded in part by a PTO donation.

Several HVAC and comfort upgrades were completed over the summer: mini-split heat-and-cool systems were installed in multiple locations (classrooms and offices at Veterans, the high school cafeteria office and elsewhere) to replace noisy window units and improve year-round comfort. At Glover the planned HVAC upgrade is complete except for one circuit board still on order; staff said the school is seeing the expected improvement in several spaces. Veterans Middle School will have the D‑wing roof replaced starting next week; staff said two classrooms will be temporarily relocated during that work.

Kitchen and building-systems work at the high school included delivery of replacement kitchen exhaust fans and a new grease trap that staff plan to install during a multi-day holiday closure. Staff reported ongoing work to tie in fire-door installations; one vendor was asked to return and resolve outstanding connections before the final patching and closure. Other physical improvements noted: auditorium door frames at the high school are warped and under review for replacement; exterior pavers and lighting at the main high-school entrance require repair and replacement; and the field-house needs cleaning, paint and acoustic work, with banner replacements and potential ceiling-panel repairs discussed as part of a larger renovation request.

Staff also raised multiple capital or operating concerns for committee prioritization: repair or replacement of worn school signs and a districtwide signage coherence study, replacement of gym floors that need full sanding and line repainting, repair or relocation of large boulders on playgrounds for safety, replacement of worn or broken fencing at Hopkins Field (a previously quoted vendor price increased about $10,000 since spring), and completion of a feasibility study for early-education programming (Eveleth/Avila/Early Education feasibility) that staff said was approved in last year’s budget but whose funds and schedule require confirmation.

Facilities proposed scheduling building walk-throughs with principals and head custodians so the committee can prioritize capital requests and see facilities in use; staff suggested two-hour visits on alternating weeks, preferably after school hours. Staff said many of the items discussed are intended for capital planning and that some require outside contractors or town approvals. Committee members asked that staff compile cost estimates and prioritization so the school committee and select board can consider funding decisions in the coming budget cycle.

The update combined completed work (custodial deep-cleaning, playground and mini-split installs) with forward-looking capital requests (field-house renovation, gym floor sanding, feasibility study for early education) and operational matters (fire-door tie-ins, signage and fencing procurement).