PVMHS School Building Committee10.08.26

The Peabody High School Building Committee met on October 8, 2026, for meeting 13 of the school building project. The committee approved the September 10 meeting minutes and voted to designate Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) under Massachusetts Chapter 149A as the project’s preferred delivery method, then separately voted to send that decision to the City Council through the mayor’s office. The discussion contrasted CMR with design-bid-build, emphasizing early contractor input on estimating, site logistics, phasing, and cost control for the complex occupied school site. The team said a CMR selection process could take up to 60 days; no contractor was selected and no construction contract was awarded. The committee also noted prior progress on an $8 million appropriation and anticipated presenting the delivery-method decision to the council.

The design update covered building-space planning, career and technical education programs, and anticipated MSBA reimbursement. Preliminary discussion cited a proposed building of just over 400,000 gross square feet and a rough construction-cost range of about $500–$525 million; estimates and reimbursable areas remain subject to refinement. The design team reported that recent MSBA limit increases could add at least $500,000 in reimbursement. Further work will refine space needs and costs before later project milestones. The committee also reviewed plans for a public project website; no other procurement award or bid approval was identified.