Schools will buy specified lights after bid dispute; labor to be rebid

Staff reported a contested school lighting procurement in which a contractor attempted to substitute a different lighting product that staff and school officials said did not meet safety specifications for athletics. After back-and-forth and town-council involvement, staff said the schools will buy the specified lights themselves and rebid contracts limited to installation labor.

Committee members asked whether rebids could exclude the contractor who submitted the non‑spec proposal; staff explained sealed-bid processes could still allow that contractor to bid on labor-only work, though the product specification issue will be avoided because the district will supply the fixtures. The committee did not take a formal vote on procurement policy but discussed procurement safeguards for future school bids.