Updates on the Hopkins School and Charleswood School construction projects were among the items on a packed School Committee agenda Thursday.

On the Hopkins project, the School Committee approved a $101,404 contract with BCM Controls, a security vendor that will expand technology systems in the building, including cameras, network switches and access control components.

“It is advantageous to use some existing vendors because they are more familiar with the equipment and systems the school uses,” said Chris Eberly, Vertex’s project manager, of BCM.

“They will be dealing with existing infrastructure and scaling it up,” Eberly said.

The $57.4 million project is on schedule, with $45.2 million (86%) spent on commitments to date.

Eberly reported that the addition/expansion at Hopkins is running $2.2 million under budget.

Despite the weather, the work is proceeding on time, with final completion anticipated in August 2026.

The Charleswood School project, Eberly noted, is trending $8.6 million below previous estimates.

He explained that a construction contract is expected to be awarded in June or July of this year. Once the Charleswood School opens in 2028, Eberly said modulars would be moved from Elmwood to Hopkins.

“We can absorb those costs [in the budget] to move the modulars because we are trending under budget,” Eberly added.

Superintendent search progresses

School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh informed members that consultant New England School Development Council (NESDEC) recommended that the human resources director, Sheena Martin, become a member of the screening committee reviewing applicants for the superintendent’s position.

Member Kyla McSweeney, who is on the screening committee, said that Martin’s help had been valuable so far and recommended she become a voting member, a decision that was approved unanimously.

That brings the screening committee to 13 members, the number the board originally thought should be the cap.

McSweeney said there had been 30 applicants for the job and that 10 individuals were moved forward for interviews.

McSweeney said it is “pretty remarkable,” to attract so many candidates for the position.

Nancy Cavanaugh said there would be a workshop with an NESDEC consultant via Zoom on March 19, with the next step being an announcement of three or four finalists.

From there, the School Committee will interview the candidates and likely select a new superintendent in May.

Project 351 ambassador introduced

The committee was introduced to eighth grader Connor Moore by Hopkinton Middle School Assistant Principal Ann Benbenek. Moore is this year’s Project 351 ambassador. The program is comprised of a year of leadership and personal growth opportunities.

Moore was nominated by eighth grade teachers as a representative who demonstrates leadership qualities and exemplifies the motto “Strong mind, kind heart.”

The experience kicked off last month at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, with speeches by notable state figures. Launch day was held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King and included service work to benefit Cradles to Crayons.

Moore talked about helping children with clothing insecurity, saying participants will be bringing that fundraising effort for clothing donations to the school March 25 to April 5.

He said it was a “real cool experience,” adding that he attends leadership academy meetings once per week online.

Nurse talks about protocols

The district’s head nurse, Sarah Patterson, joined Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh in speaking about health protocols around student absences. Patterson noted that parents generally report absences through a Google form, phone call or email.

She explained that there is no regulation requiring them to report symptoms with specificity, and not all absences are because of illness. Examples of other reasons are appointments, transportation problems, mental health days and family issues, to name a few.

Patterson said that her staff has not been seeing clusters or outbreaks of flu or other illnesses in the district. She also spoke about obstacles for school nurses such as not having access to the Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network (MAVEN) tool used by the Department of Public Health to track and monitor communicable diseases.

But, she added, the district works closely with the town’s public health nurse (who does have access), and the School Department would be advised about ways to communicate and take counter measures should clusters or outbreaks occur.

The superintendent said the district still has COVID equipment to do deep cleanings.

Patterson added that COVID taught students and adults about responsible hygiene and healthy habits, and that dialogue continues.