The Stoughton School Building Committee welcomed its new construction management team on October 8, signaling a major shift into the pre-construction phase of the town’s elementary school project. Project owners’ representative Tim of Vertex delivered the evening’s most significant financial news, reporting that independent cost estimates for the Fano Drive approach have come in significantly lower than anticipated. We are happy to report that the numbers for the Fano Drive approach are below budget—we expect them to be at least seven figures below budget, Tim told the committee, though he cautioned that the economic environment remains volatile as they move toward finalizing design development.

The meeting also marked a change in how the community can engage with the project. Chair Thomas J. Calter opened the session by announcing that the committee will no longer utilize a hybrid meeting format for the foreseeable future, citing the technical difficulty of managing remote and in-person participation simultaneously. I am calling to order the October 8, 2025 meeting. We are meeting in person, not hybrid, Calter said. It is just too difficult to maneuver for those meetings, and I think most of our meetings for the foreseeable future will be in person.

Representatives from WT Rich, the firm recently awarded the Construction Manager at Risk contract, introduced their leadership team and shared a three-minute conceptual video of the new building. Harvey, a representative for WT Rich, explained that his team is currently finishing work on the Coakley Middle School in Norwood and will be strictly dedicated to the Stoughton project starting in December. He described the firm’s philosophy of finding a better mousetrap through value engineering, which seeks to achieve the architects' design intent through more cost-effective methods. Pre-construction starts with the award, Harvey noted. We do budget reviews in tandem with estimating to ensure we achieve the desired budget for the town and the MSBA.

Alex of WT Rich highlighted his experience with three previous elementary school projects, while Brian Parity, the senior pre-construction manager, outlined the aggressive schedule ahead. Parity noted that the team is targeting October 24 to issue a submittal package, which will require a brief, likely virtual, committee meeting on October 29 to meet Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) deadlines. We will need another SBC meeting... in early November to approve that package, Parity explained. Then we roll into Construction Documents. 60% CDs will wrap up in early January.

The committee moved to keep the project moving financially, reviewing a monthly expense breakdown presented by Finance Committee member Joel. The request totaled $401,070.68, covering design development work by DRA Architects, geotechnical surveys, and wetland flagging. Motion Made by [member] to approve the invoices in the amount of $401,070.68. While the final roll call was not fully captured due to a transcript interruption, the Motion Passed (Unanimous Implied) as the committee transitioned to environmental updates. During that discussion, architect Gordon noted that the project is moving toward a Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission, having already completed necessary tree and wetland surveys to preserve mature growth on the site.

Technical complexity remains a focus for the team, particularly regarding the building's structural components. Tim explained that the design features a mix of 80% structural steel and 20% mass timber framing. Because of long lead times for essential equipment, the team is considering the early purchase of electrical switchgear, which currently faces a 60-week delay. Calter reinforced the need for strict fiscal discipline during these procurement discussions. Addressing the term over budget, Calter remarked, That's the first and last time we want to hear that.

The project is also navigating legal and land-use hurdles. The committee is continuing to work with a private LLC on the land conveyance necessary for the site. Tim noted that the MSBA will not issue a Project Funding Agreement until the town demonstrates full control of the property, a milestone expected after a November 13 deadline. Joel noted that the Finance Committee has already voted to approve the relevant articles for the upcoming Town Meeting, which will be critical for the land transfer.

As the meeting concluded, Superintendent Joseph Baeta suggested that future sessions move out of the current cramped quarters to more modern facilities. This room is not the best for this meeting. I suggest moving to the High School or the O'Donnell Middle School Learning Commons, Baeta said, noting those spaces have better technology for public presentations. Joel suggested the South School as an alternative, citing its quiet environment and existing camera setup for local cable access. Calter agreed to revisit the location plan at the next monthly meeting.