The Medford Comprehensive High School Building Committee voted 12–0 to approve a contract with design firm SMMA to perform feasibility-study services for the proposed Medford Comprehensive High School project. The vote followed a briefing that the MSBA base contract cannot be modified but that the city can change the task order to refine scope, timing and deliverables.

Committee chair Jenny Graham announced the outcome: “The contract is approved.” Committee members were told optional services such as geothermal assessments and additional test pits are not included in the base price and would be procured later by change order or by a construction manager if chosen.

The committee also approved prior meeting minutes and a consultant invoice during the same session. The minutes were approved by roll call (12 yes, 0 no, 3 absent). A Left Field invoice was approved following a motion moved by Joan Bowen and seconded by Libby Brown; the chair recorded the invoice vote as 12–0 with three absences.

Why it matters: approving SMMA’s feasibility contract allows the design team to proceed with the Preliminary Design Program (PDP) tasks required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), including educational programming, existing-conditions studies and high-level cost estimating. Committee members were told city and mayoral signatures are still required before the district forwards the contract to MSBA.

What was decided and next steps: with committee approval, staff will coordinate contract execution with the city and then submit materials to MSBA. Optional technical investigations remain on the table as change orders. The committee was told to expect draft PDP materials in February; the committee plans a formal PDP-approval vote on Feb. 23 and a PDP submission target of Feb. 25, 2026.

Votes at a glance:
- Approval of minutes: approved by roll call (12 yes, 0 no, 3 absent).
- Invoice for Left Field: motion by Joan Bowen, seconded by Libby Brown; approved 12–0 (3 absent).
- SMMA feasibility contract: motion moved by Ken Lord, seconded by Aaron Olapade; approved 12–0 (3 absent).
- Motion to adjourn: approved by roll call (12 yes, 0 no).

The committee will move forward with contract execution, then proceed with the PDP deliverables and MSBA submittal deadlines as the next formal milestones.