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Committee hears six‑year capital preview; staff to pursue federal grant for high‑school systems upgrades
Summary
Facilities director Ron Scalcreto outlined a FY28–FY33 capital plan emphasizing aging boilers, rooftop units and UniVent systems and discussed options to add cooling and modern building controls at Bedford High; superintendent and staff said they are preparing a rapid federal grant application tied to military‑connected student thresholds to offset costs.
Facilities director Ron Scalcreto briefed the School Committee on May 5 about a preliminary FY28–FY33 capital plan that prioritizes replacement of end‑of‑life mechanical systems (boilers, rooftop units, UniVent units) and the possibility of adding air‑conditioning or improved cooling controls at Bedford High School.
Scalcreto told the committee much of the capital need is for systems that are 20–25 years old, and he emphasized that study and design work precedes full replacement so the district can procure competitively and avoid emergency replacements. He said technology improvements may allow adding cooling coils or air‑source heat pumps as part of UniVent and HVAC upgrades, and noted net‑zero/town energy goals factor into long‑range choices.
Superintendent Schwam noted staff are pursuing a rapid‑turnaround federal grant opportunity that targets districts serving a threshold share of military‑connected students (via the Hanscom Air Force Base liaison). He said the minimum grant award is in the low hundreds of thousands and awards can scale much higher, but the opportunity requires quick quotes and eligibility documentation.
Committee members asked why some large replacements are staggered across years and whether projects could be rearranged to smooth fiscal impacts; staff said studies and life‑cycle data guide timing but some movement is possible depending on town direction and energy‑strategy decisions. Members also asked about roofing, solar and other energy work; staff said those considerations will be factored into the long‑range plan.
What’s next: facilities staff will continue design and quote collection, coordinate with town officials on net‑zero priorities and, if the grant looks feasible, submit the application. The committee will have further capital review during the upcoming budget cycle.
