Below is a summarized version of the Killam School Building Committee meeting, organized by timestamps and speakers, focusing on key points raised during the discussion in Reading, Massachusetts. This summary condenses the discussion into major themes, speaker contributions, and decisions, avoiding excessive detail while retaining the essence of the conversation. Timestamps correspond to the video linked at the bottom.
- 🧾 Roll Call & Agenda Review
- 💬 Public Comment
- 🧩 Liaison Reports
- 📐 90% Construction Documents — MSBA Submission
- 🔒 Proprietary Items — Required Committee Vote
- 💰 Financial Review & Approvals
- ✔️ Commitments Approved
- 1️⃣ Daily Times Chronicle Advertising
- 2️⃣ Peer Review — Forleaf
- 3️⃣ Early Switchgear Package — Systems Contracting
- 4️⃣ Materials Testing — UTS
- ✔️ Invoices Approved
- 🗂️ Schedule Review
- 📝 Approval of Prior Minutes
- 📅 Future Meetings
- 🛑 Adjournment
- ✅ Key Takeaways
🗓️ Killam School Building Committee — Meeting Summary
📍 Date: February 9, 2026
🕒 Duration ~1hr4min
📌 Location: Reading Town Hall & Zoom
🎙️ Chair: Carla Nazzaro
🧾 Roll Call & Agenda Review
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 1:47
Members present: Pat (absent), Sean Brandt, John Coote, Chris Haley, Kirk McCormack, Ed Ross, Greg Stepler, Nancy Twomey, Carla Nazzaro.
Agenda included: public comment, liaison reports, 90% MSBA submission, proprietary items, financials, commitments, schedule review, pre‑qual update, and minutes approval.
💬 Public Comment
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 2:58
- No public comments received.
🧩 Liaison Reports
🪑 Furniture Sit‑Test
Speaker: Carla Nazzaro
⏱️ 3:14
- Furniture test days scheduled:
- Feb 11: RISE Preschool (1 hour)
- Feb 12: Full-day testing for K–5 staff
- Vendors will bring multiple chair, desk, table, and divider options.
- Focus is strictly functionality, not colors.
- Next step: design coordination to ensure finishes and colors match across the building.
📐 90% Construction Documents — MSBA Submission
Overview
Speaker: Carla & Justin
⏱️ 4:40–11:12
- 90% CD package complete and ready for MSBA submission by Feb 10.
- Full cost estimates reconciled:
- Base construction: $91,023,873
- Add Alternates: approx. $1.5M (combined Charles St + Haverhill St)
- Total with all alternates ≈ $92.5M–$93M, still well under the $101.5M budget.
- Add alternates decreased significantly since 60% CDs due to shifting required roadway ADA work into the base scope.
Committee Vote
Motion: Approve submission of 90% construction documents to the MSBA
Vote: PASSED unanimously (8‑0). [2-9-26 killam | Word]
Additional Notes
- VE (Value Engineering) log submitted as required, though not expected to be used given strong budget position.
- Peer reviews begin immediately upon approval of reviewer contracts (approved later in meeting).
🔒 Proprietary Items — Required Committee Vote
Speaker: Jenny
⏱️ 14:05–18:34
Seven systems require proprietary specification due to interoperability with existing districtwide infrastructure:
- Access Control System
- CCTV / Video Surveillance
- Duress (Panic) Alarm System
- Public Address System (PA)
- Building Management System (BMS / HVAC Controls)
- Door Hardware Cores
- Intercom / Networking items (Genetec, Valcom, Honeywell, Schlage/Primus Everest)
Committee Vote
Motion: Approve all items as proprietary
Vote: PASSED unanimously (8‑0). [2-9-26 killam | Word]
💰 Financial Review & Approvals
Speaker: Justin
⏱️ 23:36–40:39
Budget Snapshot
- Construction budget (unchanged): $101,521,394
- A&E spent to date: $4,976,078
- Admin spent to date: $2,268,998
- FF&E and Technology not yet purchased.
✔️ Commitments Approved
1️⃣ Daily Times Chronicle Advertising
- $1,372
- Ads for RFP/RFQ publication.
2️⃣ Peer Review — Forleaf
- Third-party code review + steel peer review.
3️⃣ Early Switchgear Package — Systems Contracting
- $147,800
- Lowest responsible bidder; early procurement required due to long lead times.
4️⃣ Materials Testing — UTS
- Low bidder based on unit‑price matrix.
- Contract will exclude problematic clauses from their proposal (non-compete + hold-harmless) as clarified in discussion. [2-9-26 killam | Word]
All four commitments were approved unanimously.
✔️ Invoices Approved
BidDocs Online
- $350
LBA — Invoice #23076
- $55,583.50
Daily Times Chronicle — Multiple Invoices
- $1,372 total
All voted and approved unanimously.
🗂️ Schedule Review
Speaker: Justin & Mike
⏱️ 43:01–1:02:03
Major Milestones
| Phase | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% CDs Submitted to MSBA | Feb 10, 2026 |
| 100% CDs — SBC Vote | March 30, 2026 |
| Bid Docs Released | Late March |
| Filed Sub‑Bids Due | May 6, 2026 |
| General Contractor Bids Due | May 19, 2026 |
| Contract Award & Execution | Late May 2026 |
| Start of Construction Mobilization | Summer 2026 |
Notes
- Prequalification submissions due Feb 27; review meetings underway.
- Contractor site walk will be scheduled (likely a Friday around 1:15–2:00 PM).
- Depending on bidder response timing, May SBC meeting may shift (possibly week of May 26).
📝 Approval of Prior Minutes
⏱️ 1:03:05
- January 20, 2026 minutes approved unanimously.
📅 Future Meetings
- XLT: March 9, 2026
- Next SBC Meeting: March 16, 2026 at 7 PM
- Special SBC Meeting for 100% CDs: March 30, 2026
🛑 Adjournment
⏱️ 1:04:40
Meeting adjourned at 8:04 PM.
✅ Key Takeaways
- 90% Construction Documents approved and submitted on time.
- Project remains ~$10M under budget heading into bidding.
- Proprietary systems approved to maintain districtwide consistency.
- Switchgear early procurement secured with strong pricing.
- Materials testing, peer review, and early package vendors selected.
- Add alternates (Charles & Haverhill) now total ~$1.5M, significantly lower than earlier estimates.
- Bid dates finalized for early May (subs) and May 19 (GC).
- Construction start remains on track for Summer 2026.
