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LEXINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Lexington Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Present: Superintendent Paul Ash, School Committee Chair Mary Ann Stewart, School
Committee Vice-Chair Alessandro Alessandrini, School Committee Members
Margaret Coppe and Bonnie Brodner. Not present: Jessie Steigerwald
Minutes were taken by the Chair.
I. Call to Order and Welcome (Mary Ann Stewart)
The Meeting was convened at 7:31 PM
II. Public Comment
Frank Sandy (N. Emerson Road, Precinct 6) had questions with regard to the
Superintendent’s salary amount in his renewed contract agreement for FY13.
III. Superintendent’s Announcements
Dr. Ash updated the Committee about the New Teacher Orientation, which took place earlier
in the day. He said there were about 60 new classroom teachers and specialists, all of whom
are excited to be working here.
IV. Members’ Reports / Members’ Concerns
Mary Ann Stewart updated the Committee with regard to the new logo project underway at
Cary Memorial Library; a designer has been selected.
V. Discussion Items
1. Bridge and Bowman Renovation Projects
a. Scope of Work and Costs
b. Two-Year Scheduling Plan (10:04)
The projected cost of the two projects increased from 19.4 million dollars to 21.9 million
dollars, due to scheduling constraints, increased costs for materials, and increased costs
discovered as the project moved to final design. Dr. Ash and David Finney and Greg
Schrader from Design Partnership of Cambridge updated the Committee about the work that
has been going on throughout the summer with the Permanent Building Committee (PBC).
On August 8, PBC met with Bridge and Bowman Principals, Mary Anton and Meg Colella
to discuss possible scope reductions. Dr. Ash, Margaret Coppe, and Jessie Steigerwald were
at that meeting and were part of that discussion. Mary Ann Stewart was also at the meeting
as an observer. One suggestion of possible scope reductions are the windows. The
estimated cost of windows is $750,000. Pat Goddard, Director of Public Facilities,
suggested this would be a reasonable item to remove from the scope as it could be addressed
as a stand alone item in the future, funded by an approved capital request.
There were questions and comments from the Committee.
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Betsy Wilkinson, Bowman PTA Treasurer, had comments pertaining to the windows.
Rebecca Moore, Bridge PTA Co-President, had comments pertaining to possible canopy for
the front of the schools.
Justine Wirtanen, Bridge PTA Co-President, had comments pertaining to the windows.
Dr. Ash requested to caucus with the Chair. The Chair called for a brief recess at 9:25 PM.
The meeting was called back into session at 9:35.
Jon Himmel, Permanent Building Committee Chair, had comments pertaining to the scope
of work and estimated project costs.
Bill Hurley, Capital Expenditures Committee member, had comments pertaining to the
overall project costs.
Motion to remove items #4, #7, #13, and #15 from “accepted base scope
reductions” to return to the scope of work [cast iron boilers/steel condensing
boilers; 10 KVA/15 KVA; existing windows/hung windows; repair & reuse
windows/provide new windows] and direct Design Partnership to refine their
cost estimate (Stewart, Brodner). The Motion passed 4-0 (Steigerwald).
Motion that a new canopy at each school become a possible bid alternate
(Coppe, Alessandrini). The Motion passed 4-0.
Dr. Ash discussed the two-year scheduling plan of work for the Bridge/Bowman Project.
The next meeting of the School Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at
7:30 PM in the Town Office Building, Selectmen’s Meeting Room, 1625 Massachusetts
Avenue.
Motion that the Committee go into Executive Session under Exemption 3, to
discuss Lexington Educational Secretaries Association Collective Bargaining
and Litigation, not to return to Open Session (Coppe, Alessandrini).
Alessandrini-aye; Brodner-aye; Coppe-aye; and Stewart-aye.
The Committee went into Executive Session at 10:16 PM
Documents: School Committee meeting agenda; 5-page handout of Design Development Estimates
from Design Partnership.
Voted by the School Committee July 17, 2012