School committee approves 5‑year lease for FlowWater filling stations in cafeterias

The school committee approved a five‑year lease to install FlowWater chilled, filtered water stations in cafeteria spaces, forwarding the lease for final City Council approval as required under Massachusetts law. Director Jen Silva (nursing) and Noel Velez (finance) presented the proposal, which staff described as a cafeteria‑focused deployment complementary to planned replacements funded by the state’s SWIG program.

Director Silva explained USDA rules require schools to provide drinking water and that FlowWater units offer a seven‑step filtration, five‑gallon chilled reservoir, and a lease option that includes warranty and maintenance for the lease duration. The presentation noted unit maintenance and warranty coverage as a key reason to choose leasing rather than purchasing: purchase warranties last one year, while leased units are maintained for the lease term.

Noel Velez confirmed the food service fund can cover the lease payments because the devices will be used in cafeterias during meal service. Committee members discussed whether the PTO or other building users would be governed if they used the machines; staff advised that the machines must remain in cafeterias and be used for meal programs to be paid from the lunch program account. Member Graham moved approval; roll call was 7‑0 in favor.

Administration said the district will continue to replace remaining negative‑testing fountains via SWIG funding using LK replacements for those fixtures and reserve FlowWater units for cafeteria locations where premium chilled water would be most visible to students and staff.