The Stoughton Elementary School Building Committee approved more than half a million dollars in construction payments Wednesday, even as district leadership raised alarms regarding the reliability of green energy infrastructure planned for the new South School. Mark Raymond of Vertex presented two invoices from construction manager WT Rich totaling $583,740, which the committee found reasonable following a detailed review of the current project billing. Motion Made by a committee member to approve the vendor invoice package in the amounts of $561,840 and $21,900. Motion Passed (4-0), with T. Calter, S. Cavey, M. Tisdale, and J. Wolk all voting in favor via roll call.

The financial approval came alongside a blunt assessment of the school's proposed electric vehicle charging stations from Superintendent Joseph Baeta. While the stations help the project earn LEED sustainability points, Baeta warned that the district’s experience with current vendors has been a failure. I’m going on record to tell you the existing system has been a disaster, Baeta said, noting that the district has received no response to dozens of emails and phone calls regarding system monitoring. I’m getting beat up over this. I want to make sure we aren’t creating a bigger problem at the elementary school. In response, project consultants suggested the committee could distinguish between "EV-ready" parking spots and actual charging stations to ensure the building is future-proofed without inheriting immediate maintenance headaches.

The project is currently hitting the 60% design milestone, a phase that includes new state-mandated adjustments for special education infrastructure. Architects noted that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) now requires the addition of changing tables in specific classrooms. These updated designs will be submitted to cost estimators this week, with final price projections expected by January 5. To accommodate the review of these figures, the committee shifted its next meeting to January 21. Town Manager Thomas Calter noted that the Select Board will likely need to endorse a formal statement for the MSBA next week to keep the permitting process on track.

Safety and traffic concerns surrounding Fano Drive also resurfaced during the session. While some residents have called for traffic signals, Calter clarified that such work remains outside the committee’s legal and financial limits. Putting lights down there is beyond our project limits, Calter stated, emphasizing that the focus remains on ensuring the site has adequate access for emergency vehicles. Superintendent Baeta agreed, characterizing the Fano Drive connection strictly as a secondary exit for a significant emergency.

Beyond traffic, the committee is scrutinizing the interior security of the new facility. Raymond highlighted the need for transparency regarding the number of card readers used for building access, noting they are expensive but vital components. I want to make sure this is explained in a public meeting so everyone knows the plan before the school opens, Raymond said. The committee also reviewed 3D visualizations of the learning commons and cafeteria, which were shared via QR codes to allow members and the public to virtually tour the intended space. Chair Chris Shannon, who recused himself from the approval of previous minutes due to an earlier absence, questioned consultants on whether any protected habitats encompass the site. While current maps show no protected areas, the team is awaiting a final scientist confirmation to satisfy environmental permitting requirements ahead of a January Planning Board hearing.

Addressing long-term campus needs, the project team confirmed that the 60% design documents include a provision for a future storage garage. This would replace the storage space being lost with the demolition of the old South School. The existing South School has storage space that the district will be losing, Raymond noted. We want to make sure we aren’t precluding a replacement in the future. Consultants suggested the garage could be added as a project alternate if construction bids come in under the projected budget later this spring.