Work continues on the Hopkins School renovation/addition project. PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

The School Committee on Thursday voted to pursue a lease agreement with a vendor for a temporary kitchen trailer to be located at Hopkins School.

Members also reached a consensus that Vertex (owner’s project manager) should seek proposals from designers for improvements to the Loop Road at the site as well as the future moving of four modulars there once the Charleswood School project is completed.

Chris Eberly, Vertex’s project manager, gave a presentation to the committee that highlighted the Hopkins School renovation/addition project to date and included these future issues.

Eberly explained that of the $52.4 million project total, $45.4 million has been entered into contracts and committed, and $11.6 million has been spent.

Speaking of contingency funds and putting aside funds for possible change orders, Eberly noted there is $3.2 million available “for other purposes” like capital needs and restoration of items that were removed from the project or as a giveback to the town.

Food services discussed

Eberly noted food service needs at Hopkins come to the forefront when the addition opens and the existing cafeteria and gym close during the final construction phase (February 2026 to June 2026).

The full budget to set up a temporary kitchen trailer and operate it for those five months is $380,000. Costs include utilities, a platform and ramp for access, water and electricity connections, sewer installation, contingency and equipment like temporary grease interceptors.

At first, School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh suggested the committee wait two weeks until all members were present to vote on the temporary kitchen agreement. Members Susan Stephenson and Chris Masters were not at the meeting.

Eberly responded that the issue is “time sensitive,” because it would be desirable to “lock in” the vendor with the specific temporary kitchen trailer that the school requires.

Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Susan Rothermich said this specific unit “works for the number and size that fit our needs.”

When Nancy Cavanaugh asked about alternatives like food preparation at other schools and transporting meals, both Eberly and Rothermich said the other options “did not make a lot of sense” and would be costly.

Eberly said it would be a labor issue and that a two-bay sink would have to be installed. It also would pose a “quality of life” issue, he said. His group could not envision busing over “bagged sandwiches and chips as daily lunch for five months.”

Rothermich elaborated, saying the alternative of using another school kitchen meant preparing, packaging and transporting breakfasts and lunches to Hopkins School.

“We’d have to rent a vehicle. The amount of food and logistics did not make a lot of sense. This gives [the students] appropriate meals for breakfasts and lunches,” she said.

Eberly said the temporary trailer would be adjacent to the building, and the district would meet requirements of a covered walkway if deemed necessary by the Health Department, along with its other stipulations.

Loop Road, modulars OK’d

Eberly said the Loop Road at the site is in “rough shape” and talked about repairs like a top coat and binder on a pulverized graded base, new asphalt curbs including sidewalks, and line striping. The work would be conducted in conjunction with the project in the summer of 2026.

He said the repairs would exclude the parking lot, and it would cost $150,000 initially for the design, estimating and permitting.

A benefit, Eberly noted, would be to remove it from the 10-year capital plan and instead incorporate it into the current Hopkins project.

The Loop Road work and contingency would total an estimated $1,450,000.

Together, the temporary kitchen facility and road work would cost $1.8 million, leaving an approximate $1.4 million balance, Eberly said.

Also discussed was a plan to move four modular classrooms over to the Hopkins School to help with capacity. This move is expected to happen in the summer of 2027, following completion of the new Charleswood School.

The move is something that has been “always off in the distance,” Eberly said. He noted that the quoted estimate in 2024 was $1.2 million. With overhead and contingency, that would rise to $1.5 million.

Eberly said he thought there would be money in the Hopkins project to reallocate for this purpose. It would not involve going back to Town Meeting for another authorization or taking the money out of the Charleswood School project, he added.

The project manager said other needs that are “not immediate” but the committee might want to look at in the future include modernizing the elevator, replacing the boiler and cleaning up the existing conditions in unrenovated classrooms at Hopkins School.

Earlier, the School Committee approved $150,099 for moving logistics associated with technology. This expense includes the removal and reinstallation of projectors and telephones as well as new ones.

The committee also voted to transfer funds totaling $35,325 for the purchase of wireless access points and network switches and modules. The price was reduced via a discount from E-Rate (a universal service program for schools and libraries), according to Eberly.

The next meeting will be held May 1 and will include a school choice public hearing.