by Loumarie I. Rodriguez
BRIDGEWATER-ROXBURY-WASHINGTON — The Region 12 Board of Education, meeting Monday, October 7, approved a motion to hire a project manager to work on a plan to consolidate the region’s three elementary schools.
Initially the project manager will go over the plans of the consolidation plan.
The project manager would be hired until a referendum on the proposal. If the consolidation plan does not pass, the project manager’s services will no longer would be needed.
If the plan is approved, the project manager would continue working with the board.
“I had brought this [hiring a project manager] to a prior meeting and I’m not sure if everybody understood what I was asking for,” Superintendent Dr. Patricia Cosentino said.
Dr. Cosentino reported she hired a temporary consultant to attend a Thursday, October 10, meeting with four architects who are making presentations on designs for a pre-kindergarten to Grade 5 school to house students from all three elementary schools.
The consultant is helping with questions to ask and understand the matrix of the plans presented and will help the board to evaluate the architects.
“In order to get from here to there, you need to have all the pieces in place,” said board member Greg Cava. “If you are going to start looking at architects and start planning a construction project, then you need to have your manager on board and not at the end.
“You need to bring them in the very beginning, because there are many pieces that need to be planned in order to have a proper and successful process.”
Member Kelly Lott did not agree with the decision to hire a project manager before consolidation is voted on.
“It seems to me that it’s not proper to be spending money on architects, consultants, project managers for a building project that hasn’t been approved,” said Ms. Lott.
“Why don’t we have a referendum; if the voters say yes, then let’s spend the money and if they say no, we have spent a lot of money that’s going nowhere.”
Ms. Lott said the board has spent a lot of money on the pre-authorized ventures expenditures on land, plans and architects.
Member Tony Bedini explained that the numbers are needed from the architects to show the public what is going to be put into the new school and the layout of the plan.
“I don’t understand how you propose to get to the right number and not use any of those services [architects and project manager],” said Mr. Bedini.
“Do you want to go to the referendum and say we think the school is about $20 million, 30 or 49 or do we just pick a number? I think the public wants to know a little better.”
Mr. Bedini said if the board wants accurate numbers, professionals are needed.
Mr. Cava said he understands that certain board members want to kill the vote for the consolidation plan, but feels that they should do it responsibly.
Some board members questioned the purpose of hiring a temporary consultant.
“I felt it would be good to have someone there with this knowledge who represents us,” said Dr. Cosentino.
Member Peter Tagley, noting the board has a budget of about $21 million, asked if the money goes to local vendors.
He suggested creating a local vendor database to help people within Region 12 find work.
“We have a lot of guys that use the educational system with their kids,” said Mr. Tagley. “It seems to me it’s good public relations. The government does it, the state government does it and it gets people support.”
The concept would to advertise for electricians, plumbers, painters, handymen and other that live in the three Region 12 towns who are interested in being in the database.
A job ad would be put out to see if anyone listed in the database would be interested. The database would concentrate on smaller jobs.
Member Michael Sinatra, said that while the database is a good idea, it could add an extra step in the process of hiring.
He if board have heard complaints about the current system. He said proof of complaints could convince him to go along with the idea.
“One or two local people [vendors] said they would like to get some of the work,” said Mr. Bedini.
“It’s really important that we create a good public environment with people who live in the towns,” said Mr. Tagley. “I think it’s a good idea and I think there are people out there that would like to get some work done.
“The question is can we get to them? And my answer is sure we can.”
The board did not approve the repair project for Shepaug Middle High School, because the plan has not been thoroughly overlooked, despite being listed on the agenda.
“I don’t want to bring it here until it’s been overlooked properly and that’s why it’s not here tonight, because it’s better to have it correct,” said Mr. Cava. “I don’t have anything to tell you.”
Mr. Cava explained there is no date in place or time frame for the board or any members to talk about the scope of the repair work. He said it has to go through a process in order for it be correct and he does not want to waste the board’s time with further discussion until the details are in proper form.
He explained the Facilities Committee is still going over a few numbers. Members then will pass the numbers off to be approved by the bond counsel.
Dr. Cosentino reported that 797 students are enrolled in schools in Region 12 as of October 1.
The board unanimously approved a field trip to Quebec for students in Grades 8 through 12 and briefly discussed the subject of a senior taking a trip to Nepal to work closely with a doctor as her senior project.
Although it is not up to the board to decide if the trip is approved, Dr. Cosentino wanted to acknowledge the purpose of the trip, which is being finalized.
Initially the project manager will go over the plans of the consolidation plan.
The project manager would be hired until a referendum on the proposal. If the consolidation plan does not pass, the project manager’s services will no longer would be needed.
If the plan is approved, the project manager would continue working with the board.
Dr. Cosentino reported she hired a temporary consultant to attend a Thursday, October 10, meeting with four architects who are making presentations on designs for a pre-kindergarten to Grade 5 school to house students from all three elementary schools.
The consultant is helping with questions to ask and understand the matrix of the plans presented and will help the board to evaluate the architects.
“In order to get from here to there, you need to have all the pieces in place,” said board member Greg Cava. “If you are going to start looking at architects and start planning a construction project, then you need to have your manager on board and not at the end.
“You need to bring them in the very beginning, because there are many pieces that need to be planned in order to have a proper and successful process.”
Member Kelly Lott did not agree with the decision to hire a project manager before consolidation is voted on.
“It seems to me that it’s not proper to be spending money on architects, consultants, project managers for a building project that hasn’t been approved,” said Ms. Lott.
“Why don’t we have a referendum; if the voters say yes, then let’s spend the money and if they say no, we have spent a lot of money that’s going nowhere.”
Ms. Lott said the board has spent a lot of money on the pre-authorized ventures expenditures on land, plans and architects.
Member Tony Bedini explained that the numbers are needed from the architects to show the public what is going to be put into the new school and the layout of the plan.
“I don’t understand how you propose to get to the right number and not use any of those services [architects and project manager],” said Mr. Bedini.
“Do you want to go to the referendum and say we think the school is about $20 million, 30 or 49 or do we just pick a number? I think the public wants to know a little better.”
Mr. Bedini said if the board wants accurate numbers, professionals are needed.
Mr. Cava said he understands that certain board members want to kill the vote for the consolidation plan, but feels that they should do it responsibly.
Some board members questioned the purpose of hiring a temporary consultant.
“I felt it would be good to have someone there with this knowledge who represents us,” said Dr. Cosentino.
Member Peter Tagley, noting the board has a budget of about $21 million, asked if the money goes to local vendors.
He suggested creating a local vendor database to help people within Region 12 find work.
“We have a lot of guys that use the educational system with their kids,” said Mr. Tagley. “It seems to me it’s good public relations. The government does it, the state government does it and it gets people support.”
The concept would to advertise for electricians, plumbers, painters, handymen and other that live in the three Region 12 towns who are interested in being in the database.
A job ad would be put out to see if anyone listed in the database would be interested. The database would concentrate on smaller jobs.
Member Michael Sinatra, said that while the database is a good idea, it could add an extra step in the process of hiring.
He if board have heard complaints about the current system. He said proof of complaints could convince him to go along with the idea.
“One or two local people [vendors] said they would like to get some of the work,” said Mr. Bedini.
“It’s really important that we create a good public environment with people who live in the towns,” said Mr. Tagley. “I think it’s a good idea and I think there are people out there that would like to get some work done.
“The question is can we get to them? And my answer is sure we can.”
The board did not approve the repair project for Shepaug Middle High School, because the plan has not been thoroughly overlooked, despite being listed on the agenda.
“I don’t want to bring it here until it’s been overlooked properly and that’s why it’s not here tonight, because it’s better to have it correct,” said Mr. Cava. “I don’t have anything to tell you.”
Mr. Cava explained there is no date in place or time frame for the board or any members to talk about the scope of the repair work. He said it has to go through a process in order for it be correct and he does not want to waste the board’s time with further discussion until the details are in proper form.
He explained the Facilities Committee is still going over a few numbers. Members then will pass the numbers off to be approved by the bond counsel.
Dr. Cosentino reported that 797 students are enrolled in schools in Region 12 as of October 1.
The board unanimously approved a field trip to Quebec for students in Grades 8 through 12 and briefly discussed the subject of a senior taking a trip to Nepal to work closely with a doctor as her senior project.
Although it is not up to the board to decide if the trip is approved, Dr. Cosentino wanted to acknowledge the purpose of the trip, which is being finalized.
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