District seeks board approval to abate high‑school hallway pending DCED grant outcome

Mr. Fabrizio told the committee the district submitted a DCED grant to abate asbestos across approximately 56,000 sq ft at the high school (full abatement estimate ~$1.73M). Because grant awards will be made later in the year, he recommended the district proceed this summer with mechanical abatement and encapsulation of a 2,500‑sq‑ft front hallway (estimated cost $55,000) so the department can lock contractor schedules if necessary.

He said three vendors will support the work: an AHER air‑quality representative for air monitoring, a licensed abatement contractor (Bristol Environmental) and a flooring contractor (Franklin Flooring) to reinstall matching floors after encapsulation. “I’d like to get this board approved at our next board meeting because I have to sign the documents so I can lock these guys in because their schedule will fill up for the summertime,” he said.

Committee members asked whether a partial DCED award is possible and confirmed that, if the full grant is awarded, the district would have to revise the scope rather than repurpose funds. Members raised no objection to moving forward with the $55,000 hallway abatement and urged scheduling the work during periods when buildings are unoccupied.

Why it matters: the work addresses documented asbestos in public circulation spaces and aligns with a competitive state grant application; the committee recommended timely board approval to secure contractor schedules if needed.

What’s next: staff requested the board approve the $55,000 mechanical abatement for the front hallway at the next board meeting and will proceed with contracting subject to grant timing and final approvals.