Building committee approves SMMA feasibility contract and sets PDP schedule for Medford High

The Medford Comprehensive High School Building Committee voted unanimously on Nov. 24 to approve a contract with SMMA to perform feasibility‑study services tied to the district’s designer selection process and MSBA submission.

Chair Jenny Graham opened the agenda item by explaining that the MSBA base contract cannot be modified by the city and that the locally negotiated task order with SMMA had been revised to clarify scope, timing and deliverables. Ken Lord moved to approve the contract and Aaron seconded; the roll call showed 12 in favor, 0 opposed and 3 absent.

Project staff and the design team outlined the near‑term schedule the committee will use to prepare the Preliminary Design Program (PDP). Project consultant Matt said, “The submission date for that is 02/25/2026,” and added that the February materials will focus on the educational plan and high‑level footprints rather than detailed building sections.

The team described PDP deliverables that will be produced and shared with committee members: an educational visioning summary, a space‑summary spreadsheet that follows MSBA templates, an existing‑conditions report, and high‑level cost estimates (expressed as cost per square foot) to compare renovation and new‑construction options. Matt said cost estimates in PDP are “very high level” and intended for comparative purposes among several options.

Design and technical work already under way includes a districtwide set of educational programming meetings (49 sessions completed to date), student shadowing, a site survey and drone flights, soil borings and a geophysical survey to map bedrock. Wayne Keithner, the survey consultant from Brennan, described the survey workflow — from deed research to setting control points — and said fieldwork is expected to run into the new year and is weather dependent.

Staff told the committee they will notify nearby property owners before visible field activity (stakes, drones, testing) and are preparing an abutters mailing. The team also plans to deploy sound meters at property lines to establish a baseline, noting the requirement to avoid increasing measured site sound by more than 10 decibels at property lines.

Members pressed the team on enrollment and program sizing. Staff said the district and MSBA agreed on a certified enrollment number of 1,395 for grades 9–12; that number is used in MSBA formulas that help size spaces. The design team explained that Chapter 74 (CTE) programs and special‑education spaces are tailored by DESE and that renovating a large existing shop may allow the project to retain its footprint, whereas new construction would be sized to projected program enrollment.

The committee was also briefed on advisory groups that will be formed to provide deeper input on sustainability/MEP systems, site safety and security, exterior/materials, and educational planning/equity. Signups will be circulated to committee members first and then a broader call to the community will follow.

Next steps and public dates: a building‑committee meeting on Dec. 22 to review draft space‑summary and existing‑conditions documents, additional visioning sessions in December (Dec. 9 and Dec. 17), and committee review and (targeted) approval of PDP documents in late February 2026 so the submission can proceed to MSBA.