Norwood middle school committee approves invoices and equipment buys, indefinitely postpones roof‑screen design

The Town of Norwood Middle School Building Committee on May 12 approved April vendor invoices and several equipment and technology purchases, authorized a construction change order, and voted unanimously to indefinitely postpone further design of rooftop mechanical-unit screening.

The approvals release more than $3 million in April payments and clear planned purchases for furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) and classroom technology as the new middle school approaches Phase 1 substantial completion. Committee members also reviewed construction progress, options for reconnecting an outdoor walking path, and a recommended repair approach after moisture damage to the new gymnasium floor.

The invoice package for April totaled $3,032,256.62, the committee heard. The packet included Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) and QA/QC testing invoices for Vertex ($92,410.20), AI3 architectural services ($73,215.86), FF&E and technology vendor charges, radios for facilities ($22,165), restoration of a historic clock ($3,485), and payment application No. 23 for WT Rich (inclusive of change orders) for $2,671,227.47. After discussion, the committee approved the invoice package by roll call; all members present voted yes.

The committee approved off‑budget FF&E wish‑list items including a grand piano, kiln shelving, standing desks and wrestling mats. The original request total shown to the committee was $45,511; members amended the motion on the floor to include additional gym carting/roll‑up hardware and approved a revised total of $45,761 (motion and second not specified in the transcript; roll call unanimous).

Committee members also approved technology purchases including Google backup drives, a network backup appliance, PLTW tablets and Chromebook cases. The motion carried by roll call; the technology purchase total recorded in the motion was $100,207.20.

WT Rich change order number 20 — totaling $23,446 and made up of two PCOs for dryer exhaust ductwork at multiple locations ($11,045) and additional rooftop walkway/railing work and high‑visibility tape ($12,401) — was moved, seconded and approved unanimously by roll call.

On design work for rooftop mechanical‑unit screening, the committee reviewed a breakdown from AI3 and consultants showing design and construction‑administration hours and a worst‑case estimate for full structural/mechanical support work. Tony Mazzucco, committee member, said the combined design and construction cost estimates were large and moved to postpone the roof‑screen work indefinitely. "Candidly, I still think it's too expensive of a proposition to go forward with at this time," Mazzucco said during discussion. The motion to postpone indefinitely was seconded and passed unanimously; the committee will revisit the topic only if members later request it.

Project staff presented the regular budget and schedule update. The committee was told the overall project remains under the Town’s approved budget and continues to trend favorably through April. The Mass. School Building Authority (MSBA) reimbursement request process was described as ongoing; the team said roughly 65% of submitted costs have been deemed eligible to date.

Construction progress items highlighted by staff included completed facade work, continuing road and sitework, final plumbing inspections, elevator installation pending state inspection, auditorium lighting and curtain installation, landscaper mobilization, ceiling tile completion on the first floor, and ongoing commissioning and programming of building systems. Furniture deliveries are expected to begin the week after the meeting and the library move was scheduled to start the following Tuesday; staff confirmed teacher orientation and student tours are planned for August with teachers returning to the new building on August 26.

The committee reviewed three options to reconnect a walking path running from the road down to the athletic field. Options vary in retaining‑wall need, field shifts, guardrail requirements and potential impacts on existing field lighting. Staff noted that moving a light more than 10 feet "would require a design or at least a review of the entire field lighting plan," and that temporary jersey barriers could be used in the short term while a permanent solution is priced and scheduled.

Members discussed a gymnasium flooring incident in April where a wet coring operation for volleyball sleeves introduced moisture to an adjacent area, leading to removal of a roughly 20‑by‑20‑foot section, drying to the slab and ongoing review of contractor repair proposals. Project staff said the flooring installer acknowledged the issue, has proposed fixes and offered to extend warranty coverage; the Town has obtained an independent local flooring contractor's analysis and is awaiting the installer’s formal written response and an opinion from AI3. Committee members pressed for an "as‑new" final floor, suggested a warranty longer than one year and discussed bonding or other protections for the Town.

Other business: the committee confirmed a ribbon‑cutting ceremony for Monday, Aug. 25 at 1 p.m.; an outdoor classroom/play area concept was advanced to construction documents for pricing and will likely extend into September if approved.

Votes at a glance: the committee recorded unanimous approvals for the April minutes, the April vendor invoice package ($3,032,256.62), the FF&E wish‑list purchases (revised to $45,761), the technology purchases ($100,207.20), WT Rich change order #20 ($23,446), and a motion to postpone the roof‑screen design indefinitely. All recorded roll‑call votes were unanimous among members present.

The committee adjourned after a final voice vote marked unanimous in favor of adjournment.