Mashpee officials flag contractor failures, water damage and change orders at KCC HVAC project

Suzanne Pettingill, a Mashpee resident and classroom teacher, told the school committee she came to raise concerns about the KCC HVAC project contractor, saying the company "does not appear to have turned out to have been the best choice" and that poor cleanup and schedule failures left teachers unable to prepare classrooms for the start of school.

The committee's facilities and central office staff described a sequence of discoveries made as crews opened ductwork: insulation and sheet‑metal that had been improperly installed by prior contractors, misordered return and supply piping, and air gaps in two major trunk lines. The work uncovered moisture damage after a rooftop HVAC unit was reportedly not covered during a storm; a third‑party assessment and remediation were undertaken for wet insulation and ceiling materials.

Ashley, the district finance lead, told the board the district has recorded roughly $43,000 of completed remediation work and that about $125,000 of additional change orders have been proposed to remediate pre‑existing conditions revealed by demolition. She also said two change orders totaling $2,618.37 had been approved by the town to date and that several other change orders remain subject to town DPW and town‑board approvals.

Interim Superintendent Mary Kate said the project team is prioritizing teacher access and safety: "We will not take kids into that building if it's not safe," she said, adding that DPW staff and night crews have been deployed and contractors are being pushed to run double shifts and weekend work so classrooms are ready for teacher arrival on Monday and students on Wednesday. The district also reported scheduled heat‑pump startups Aug. 29–30 for the first floor and additional staged startups through September.

Committee members pressed for clearer financial tracking. Member Brian asked for a cost breakout by building and the status of contingency funds; staff committed to deliver a more detailed worksheet before the next meeting, saying the overall program budget for three projects stands at $7.3 million and that, to date, roughly $2.0 million has been spent or encumbered across the portfolio (administration said it would clarify encumbrances versus paid amounts).

On liability and recovery, Ashley said the silica remediation (clay dust in art rooms) cost about $33,000 and was paid from school‑choice funds after town discussion; she said insurance had not been pursued because the items lost were largely consumables and no dollar value had been compiled to present a claim. Mary Kate and facilities staff said the DPW is working with the general contractor to track additional DPW labor and costs incurred while cleaning and securing spaces.

The committee requested the town DPW clarify which change orders have formal town approval, a full breakout of amounts spent and encumbered per project, and the remaining contingency. Staff also agreed to provide duct‑testing and startup reports (manufacturer and inspector testing) once available and to confirm warranty scopes and pathways for future failures.

Next steps: administration will submit a clearer finance worksheet and contingency status to the committee, continue remediation with DPW oversight, and return with startup and inspection reports. The committee will receive updates prior to the next meeting and has urged the administration to ensure teachers can access classrooms as scheduled.