The Next Generation School Building Committee voted unanimously to approve final fixtures, furnishings and equipment (FF&E) and technology packages for Norton Elementary School and the North End/Barnum Elementary project and to submit the documents to the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services/Office of Grants Administration for written approval.

Justin Hopkins, a senior project manager at Tekton Architects, told the committee the two projects remain on schedule and under construction and that the committee should proceed with FF&E and technology approvals to meet procurement lead times. "For Barnum Elementary, our, combined budget is 3,520,000. For Norton, it's $2,199,100," Hopkins said, summarizing the district line items for furniture and IT.

The consultant team presented detailed classroom and support-space selections — early childhood and kindergarten furniture, desks and flexible seating for elementary classrooms, media-center shelving and seating, cafeteria tables and stackable chairs, visual-arts and music tables, administrative workstations and maintenance equipment such as floor scrubbers and a scissor lift. Nicole Tatro, who led the FF&E work with district staff, described multiple review iterations with teachers and administrators.

Hopkins told the committee the most recent professional cost estimates show Barnum’s combined FF&E and technology estimate at $2,910,049, which is $609,951 below Barnum’s allocated budget, while Norton’s estimate is $2,455,800, which is $257,200 over Norton’s allocated FF&E and technology budget. Hopkins described three paths: approve Barnum only; approve both and rely on expected buyout or procurement savings; or approve both and reallocate contingency or bid savings to cover Norton’s shortfall.

Rich Sitnik, Arcadis owner’s representative, reported available Norton bid savings of $836,000 and an owner’s contingency for Norton of $4,036,000. Sitnik moved to allocate $257,200 from Norton bid savings toward the Norton FF&E and technology package to cover the estimated shortfall; the committee approved the allocation by voice vote.

After that allocation, the committee then voted to approve the Norton FF&E and technology construction documents, specifications and project manuals (documents dated Oct. 31; professional cost estimates dated Nov. 6) and separately voted to submit the Norton package to the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services / Office of Grants Administration for written approval. The committee repeated the same approvals for the North End (Barnum) project and likewise voted to submit Barnum’s FF&E and technology documents to the state for approval. Board of Education members present subsequently approved the same FF&E and technology documents and cost estimates at their meeting; all recorded votes in committee and at the board were unanimous.

Committee members and the project team emphasized that many of the FF&E selections remain subject to final color and minor specification choices at purchase time and that teachers and specialist staff participated in selection working groups. Hopkins noted procurement will use a mix of state contract purchases, formal bids for packages expected to exceed state single-vendor thresholds, and direct purchases for small wares.

The committee’s approvals allow Tekton and district procurement staff to proceed with phased purchasing to meet summer 2026 installation schedules. Several members thanked volunteer committee members and project staff for multi‑year work on the projects.

Votes at a glance: Norton allocation — $257,200 from Norton bid savings to FF&E/technology (moved by Rich Sitnik, approved by voice vote). Norton construction documents — approved (moved by Greg Rosenblatt; seconded; approved unanimously). Norton submission to state — approved unanimously. North End/Barnum construction documents — approved (moved and seconded; approved unanimously). Barnum submission to state — approved unanimously.