School committee approves $404,479 contract for access‑control upgrades, authorizes $57,000 trust draw

The Swansea School Committee voted unanimously Dec. 16 to award a contract to ENE for a district‑wide access control upgrade and to authorize use of additional local trust funds to cover a projected contingency.

Director of Finance and Operations Mr. Bello told the committee the bid opening on Dec. 6 produced three proposals and "the lowest bid was from ENE, which was $404,479." He said the project could require change orders and estimated a 7 percent contingency—about $28,000—bringing the approximate total to $432,000.

Mr. Bello said the school will first draw on $375,100 remaining in the threat‑assessment Article 10 fund that was approved at Town Meeting in 2022 and requested committee approval to use up to $57,000 from the Joseph Case trust to cover the remainder. "A contract has been sent to ENE, they have signed, our superintendent has signed as well," he said.

An unidentified committee member moved to award the contract to ENE; a second was recorded. The motion passed on a voice vote and was recorded as unanimous.

After the contract vote, a separate motion to allow the superintendent and Joanne (school staff) to use up to $57,000 from the Joseph Case trust was made and seconded; that motion also passed.

Committee members said a kickoff meeting with the vendor was scheduled for the following morning and that technology and facilities staff would walk through buildings with the vendor as part of project planning. The director said detailed bid breakdowns and the school‑by‑school costing were included in the meeting handouts.