Facilities director says district on track for 3% maintenance but cautions on timing, reimbursements and outstanding roof work

Liam Lynch, who introduced himself as the district's facilities director, briefed the School Committee on a three-month facilities report and a series of capital-improvement projects. He said the district has advanced several previously budgeted CapEx items and is on track to meet the district's 3% maintenance-of-effort goal, while noting timing and reimbursement constraints for some projects.

Lynch described recently completed work and remaining items: rooftop heating-unit installations still require follow-through, a section of the Broad Rock roof that had been approved remains to be finished, and the high-school gym floor was refinished after an earlier safety-related disruption. He said the department has coordinated with vendors to limit disruptions to athletics and school days.

Committee members asked for clearer cost figures in future reports; Lynch said he meets regularly with the new chief financial officer, Patricia Proctor, to align CapEx priorities and to move reimbursable projects forward so the town can recover housing-aid funds once projects show substantial completion. The superintendent confirmed that housing aid had been withheld previously because projects were not substantially complete, and that completing those projects will allow the district to file for reimbursement.

Lynch also described operational priorities (student comfort, safety, security) and said his approach is to balance maintenance and long-term CapEx while minimizing disruption to programming. Committee members welcomed the concise, story-driven report and urged that future reports include cost figures and contingency plans to ensure the district can meet statutory maintenance obligations on time.

No formal vote resulted from the facilities update; Lynch said he will accept committee feedback and provide more detailed, costed information at upcoming meetings.