School committee approves $126,218 purchase of two Ventrac tractors for winter maintenance

Director Copas told the committee the district needs heavier commercial-grade equipment after a difficult winter and two staff injuries. "I am asking for approval to invoke for a $126,218.24 for 2, for lack of better term, tractors," he said, adding the machines come with a blade, a broom brush and a snowblower and are built for sustained campus work rather than one-off residential use.

Copas described a one-year parts-and-service warranty and said the equipment has an expected working life of about 15 years if maintained properly. He told members the tractors were available through the Sourcewell cooperative, which his office and the district attorneys had reviewed as an approved vendor route.

Members asked how the machines would be deployed across campuses, where they would be stored and whether they would duplicate town Department of Public Works responsibilities. Copas said the district's custodial and grounds staff would operate the tractors, storage is available on campus at sheds at the middle school and VA campus, and the equipment would help clear sidewalks and bus loops more quickly while DPW continued to handle main roads and larger town responsibilities.

The committee moved to approve the purchase of two Ventrac tractors and attachments from Turf Products Corporation for $126,218.24 through the Sourcewell cooperative. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Implementation: the facilities department will schedule vendor delivery, staff training and storage arrangements; contracts and purchase orders will be executed through the FY26 year-end process.