Committee advised to use superintendent-run advisory committee, not standing subcommittee quorum, for roof project

Committee members seeking guidance on how to organize oversight for a planned high‑school roof project were advised to ask the superintendent to stand up a superintendent-originated advisory building committee rather than convert the facilities subcommittee into a formal subcommittee quorum. The presenter described the legal distinction: a subcommittee of the school committee is subject to open-meeting law and forms a public quorum, whereas a superintendent advisory committee may include school committee liaisons but should be kept under quorum to avoid creating a de facto school committee meeting outside the public agenda process. Members noted the school committee had previously voted to use the facilities subcommittee for the roof project; presenters advised checking the district policy manual on advisory committees and, where MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) processes apply, following MSBA guidance on committee structure. The presenter recommended the superintendent populate an advisory committee with relevant stakeholders and one or two school committee liaisons to report back as needed.