Walpole school committee approves $1.02 million in vendor invoices, hears middle-school construction update

Walpole Public Schools’ School Building Committee on April 15 approved the March vendor invoice package totaling $1,017,002.90 and received an update on construction and state reimbursements for the middle school project.

The committee voted 8–4 to approve the vendor invoice package after discussion of line items that included a Fontaine requisition for $792,373 and invoices from Vertex, Taffei, and FF&E providers. Fontaine is reported as 97% complete on its contract work, the committee was told.

The construction update, delivered by Fontaine representatives Griffin and Joel and summarized by district staff member Kate, described work in two general areas: a “base bid” zone (marked in project plans as the green area) where landscape touch-ups and slope stabilization are under way, and a change-order area toward East Street (marked orange) where site preparation for dugouts, footings and underground electrical conduit has started. Griffin said Brightview seeded a sloped area and installed stabilization mats and that Quigley’s site crew has been performing drainage and earth-moving work to prepare dugout pads and footings. The electrician began installing underground conduit the week of the meeting; footings and poured dugout pads are scheduled next, with field work continuing into July.

A committee member asked whether utilities on street poles would be moved to the new light poles; Griffin clarified that the light poles on the left side of the site will retain the utilities, and that poles on the right are for netting and will remain to be fitted with new netting.

The committee discussed separating field work from the remainder of the vendor invoice package. Kate and project staff said the field work had been previously approved by the building committee and thus remained included in the submitted package. Committee member Jack Fisher objected to that approach and asked that the field work be reconsidered as a separate item, saying, “I object to the, not separating out the field work. And so, I would respectfully request that that be discussed and reconsidered.”

Committee members also received a status update from district staff on reimbursements from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The district’s reimbursements stood at 94.52% of the estimated grant; once MSBA has reimbursed up to 95% of the estimated grant, further payments are held until completion of a final audit. District staff said the final-audit clock—MSBA’s review period—typically takes about two to three years after the last submission. Staff said they hope to vote the final Fontaine requisition in early fall to trigger the final MSBA submission.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes for Feb. 11, 2025 — motion by Jack Fisher, second by Nancy Gallivan; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call yes).

- Approval of minutes for March 18, 2025 — motion by Jack Fisher, second by Nancy Gallivan; outcome: approved (roll call: 11 yes, 1 abstain [Mr. Sinek]).

- Approval of March vendor invoice package ($1,017,002.90) — motion by Ms. Giositz, second by Dr. Kenny; outcome: approved, 8 yes, 4 no (committee chair voted no).

The committee set its next meeting for May 6, continuing the hybrid format for School Building Committee meetings.