The finance subcommittee recommended awarding RFP 2026-002 for an agricultural science barn at Pleasant Street (adjacent to DePaolo Middle School). Miss Camuso reported the RFP drew two bids; J.A. Rosa Construction LLC was the low base bidder ($717,425) and the administration recommended an award of $803,990 after selecting several add-ons (paving, enhanced roofing warranty, fire alarm, partial slab and performance bond). The committee stated the project is fully funded by the Connecticut Agricultural Science & Technology Education (ASTE) grant and is not charged to the Board of Education operating budget.

Miss Camuso described a requested vendor price adjustment that reduced the original recommended figure from $808,430 by $4,440 to the currently presented award of $803,990. Committee members and other board members asked whether there was a dollar cap on the grant; administration answered it can spend only the available grant dollars and that funds have been accrued to cover the project as designed. Construction was described as likely to start in January and conclude by August 2026, weather permitting. The motion to award the contract passed after discussion.

The finance report also highlighted food-service changes: a return to pre‑COVID national school-lunch reimbursement rates corresponded with reduced paid/free meal counts (7,798 fewer lunches and 5,230 fewer breakfasts through November 2025) and a reported negative meal debt of $10,492. Miss Camuso said food services is a self‑sustaining program and not part of the BOE operating budget. The committee reported the district’s anticipated special-education excess‑cost reimbursement at roughly 70.3%, projecting about $3.3 million in reimbursements based on the December 1 filing; the first payment was expected in late February.

Next steps: administration will move forward with the contract award as approved and continue to monitor food-service operations and special-education reimbursements; any project schedule updates will be shared with the board.