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Council hears debate over who should pay for school facilities feasibility study
Summary
The council and the school department debated funding for a facilities planning study (bids at $75,000 and $165,000); councilors urged further stakeholder engagement and suggested cost‑sharing or workshops before authorizing town funds.
The council discussed a request that the town fund an educational facilities planning study to evaluate possible school consolidations or closures. The superintendent (introduced in the agenda as Dr. Michael Salito) did not present in person; a school representative explained the department received two bids: Studio JAEZ at $75,000 and a higher bid at $165,000. The school asked the town to fund the study because its undesignated fund balance is limited.
"Budgetarily, we we only have $118,000 that's remaining in our fund balance that is not designated for a particular category," the school representative (speaker 10) said, explaining why the department requested town support. Council members pushed for more stakeholder engagement and asked that the school committee return with additional context, cost‑sharing proposals and clearer deliverables before the council would consider awarding funds. Several councilors flagged the risk that a feasibility study could produce unaffordable options and suggested a workshop between the school committee and council to refine the project scope.
No motion to award the study was made. Councilors recommended that the school committee meet with the selected firm(s), refine the scope to ensure actionable, affordable options and then present a cost‑sharing or funding plan to the council.
