The Hopkinton School Committee approved contingency funding Thursday to support a temporary food service solution during construction at Hopkins School and authorized design and permitting work for a full‑depth paving of the campus loop road.

During a construction dashboard update, a project representative said the Hopkins addition remains on schedule and on budget; the report reviewed procurement of classroom technology, mechanical/electrical/plumbing rough‑ins, CMU block work and upcoming window and brick facade installation. The presenter also summarized the committee’s contingency planning for change orders and other risks.

The committee voted to authorize a $380,000 contingency to fund a temporary kitchen trailer and related setup while the school kitchen is taken offline for renovation. The presenter said the trailer would be a full working kitchen connected to utilities and would allow a fuller menu than off‑site catered or packaged meals; initial price estimates given to the committee included setup and removal ($40,000), five months’ rent ($130,000) and a platform/access cost ($15,000), and the presenter described $380,000 as a conservative contingency to cover utilities, equipment and any additional loose items required for safe operation. The presenter said the district will consult with the local health department before finalizing contracts.

The committee also authorized $150,000 for design, engineering and permitting for a full‑depth repave of the campus loop road, a project the presenter said is on the district’s 10‑year capital plan and was estimated by the presenter as roughly $1,450,000 for construction (subject to permitting and conservation commission review). The presenter emphasized that the committee was being asked only to authorize the design and permitting work, not the construction contract; conservation review will be required where the work crosses or borders wetlands.

The board voted in a single motion to approve both items and to authorize Susan Rothermich to approve the final proposals; Jamie moved and Susan seconded the motion, which carried with “Aye” votes.

The construction presenter reviewed budget‑management practices used by the owner’s project manager, including a monthly change‑order log, a 6% contingency factor applied to remaining construction contract amounts for unidentified change‑order risk, a 5% contingency on certain owner equipment budgets to cover tariffs, and ongoing tracking of holds/allowances that could revert to the owner if unspent. The presenter said there was about $2.1 million of “potential known risks” being held as a conservative placeholder and that about $3.2 million remained available for other uses after conservative risk forecasting; the presenter cautioned these were forecasts and not guaranteed expenses.

The project schedule items mentioned in the presentation included window installation and exterior brick starting next month and continued MEP rough‑ins and slab work; the presenter said site photos showed progress on the west and north elevations and roof and interior block work.

Committee members and public commenters asked about wetlands and conservation commission approvals for the loop‑road work and whether the district would expand the road beyond its current footprint; the presenter said the intention is replacement in kind and that any expansion could trigger additional wetlands requirements and higher costs.