EAST LONGMEADOW — In another step forward for the East Longmeadow High School project, the School Committee approved six proprietary items, only available from one vendor, to be included in the building design.
“We tried not to utilize too many proprietary items,” said Ben Murphy, senior program manager for Skanska, the owner’s project manager. “Obviously, we want a competitive bidding and as fair a price as we can get on the market.” However, there were some proprietary systems that are already in use in other town buildings. It would have been “costly and ineffective” to use an alternative, Murphy said.
The proprietary items included the HVAC automation system, camera security access software, a video surveillance system and the door hardware, access controls and lock engagement system.
An elected body must approve proprietary systems under the rules of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, a semi-governmental entity that reimburses municipalities for select school construction and repairs.
The committee also took up another financial matter during the meeting. Superintendent Gordon Smith said the state has received many reimbursement requests for special education transportation through the Commonwealth Special Education Reimbursement Program, known as the circuit breaker. This program is designed to help school districts provide students with quality special education through financial assistance. Because there have been so many requests, the reimbursement rate has been reduced from 75% to 44%. Smith said that is equivalent to a loss of $150,000 for East Longmeadow Public Schools.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Pamela Blair said that overages in the circuit breaker line items were moved to the special education out-of-district account. She said this will allow for accurate reporting of special education expenses.
