School committee approves Schooley Mitchell engagement and five-year Allstate Waste contract

At a July 23, 2025 regular meeting at Raytheon Middle School, the Bridgewater-Raynham School Committee authorized the superintendent to contract with Schooley Mitchell for a contingency-based cost‑reduction analysis and approved a separate five‑year waste and recycling contract with Allstate Waste. The committee voted to pay Schooley Mitchell 50% of any realized cost savings for the first 36 months of the five‑year Allstate agreement.

The committee said it approved the move to pursue contracted market review after facing fiscal pressure this year. Superintendent Powers introduced Brian Berry of Schooley Mitchell and said the firm had reviewed district invoices and produced potential savings recommendations. “We don't charge any fees unless we're able to find savings,” Brian Berry told the committee, describing Schooley Mitchell's contingency model and post‑implementation invoice monitoring.

Why it matters: the committee has been operating under a 1/12 budget after a failed override and is seeking predictable multi‑year cost forecasts. Powers said locking into a longer Allstate contract gave the district a steadier rate after years of volatile year‑to‑year increases.

Details and committee concerns: Schooley Mitchell identified telecommunications and waste service as areas with near‑term potential; Berry said telecommunications (internet, phones, security lines) “could have something in the next 30 to 60 days.” On waste, the analysis presented three Allstate options; the district selected a five‑year term to secure lower annual increases, Powers said. Berry said the example savings shown in the analysis included a 36.5% reduction in one scenario; under the signed service agreement the firm would realize half of the first 36 months' savings, after which the district would retain 100% of the realized savings.

Committee members asked about procurement rules and whether Schooley Mitchell duplicated work of the business office. Powers replied that procurement thresholds for regional school districts require competitive processes above certain dollar levels and that Schooley Mitchell's contingency analysis complements rather than replaces procurement work. Committee members also asked about conflict of interest; Berry said Schooley Mitchell presents multiple vendor negotiations to the client and “you pick and choose what you want.”

On the Allstate contract, Powers said the five‑year option provided a smaller, locked percentage increase than recent single‑year renewals that ranged up to double digits. The administration estimated total realized savings across the five‑year period at $156,786; the committee was told that after the consultant's share during the first three years the district would realize the full savings in years four and five.

Formal actions: the committee voted to authorize the superintendent to enter into the Schooley Mitchell engagement tied to the Allstate procurement and separately voted to authorize the director of business services to sign a five‑year contract with Allstate Waste Management. The chair called the motions approved after members answered “Aye.” The meeting transcript records the motions as passed by a committee majority.

What happens next: Powers said the superintendent's office will bring Allstate contract documents to business and budget committees and that Schooley Mitchell will continue invoice monitoring and vendor negotiation work for the term specified in the agreement.