Bedford Board approves curriculum, contracts and site work for new schools; consent agenda passes with one abstention

The Bedford Board of Education voted on multiple items at its April 17 meeting, approving curriculum, service contracts and early site work for the district's new schools.

Minutes and consent agenda The board approved minutes from the April 3, 2025 work session on a motion by Miss Boynton and second by Miss Macklin; roll call was 5‑0. The consent agenda passed on a motion to approve, with a second; final roll call was 4‑yes, 0‑no, 1‑abstain (Mister Akins abstained).

Curriculum and service contracts On Superintendent Doctor Johnson’s recommendations, the board approved several items grouped under the superintendent’s report: - Adoption of the Scholastic Pre‑K curriculum “Pre‑K On My Way” (motion recorded as moved by Mister Akins, second by Miss Boynton); roll call 5‑0. District staff presented the selection process and said Scholastic was chosen because it met state list requirements, provided a structured scope and sequence, included supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities and offered implementation professional development. - Renewal of a PowerSchool/Naviance contract and other service contracts referenced by the superintendent (motion and roll call recorded together with other items; roll calls show these items approved 5‑0). - Approval of contracts including a balanced purchasing initiative with Gordon Food Service and E‑Rate‑funded technology purchases (licenses, access points, firewalls and related equipment) for the 2025–26 school year; a district technology staff member explained E‑Rate provides a substantial federal discount tied to the district’s federal meal program eligibility. Motion passed 5‑0.

Guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for early middle‑school site work The board approved a resolution authorizing a guaranteed maximum price for early site work at the new middle school on a motion by Miss Boynton and second by Miss Macklin; roll call was 5‑0. District staff said the contract is for site preparation and utilities and is a contract not to exceed $2,500,000, which includes roughly $250,000 in allowances to address potential poor soils or unforeseen ground conditions. Staff said actual costs are expected to be below the contract cap and that the allowance would be used only if needed. Construction manager Chris Montgomery said early site work would begin pending approvals and that full GMP documents for the building would follow.

Other business The board approved use of facilities requests (class reunion) and additional service contracts as presented; roll calls for these motions were recorded as 5‑0.

Ending: All items described above were approved by recorded roll calls. No item on the public agenda was tabled or defeated; the board entered an executive session at the end of the meeting and announced it would not return to public voting.