# Gardner School Committee Meeting Nov 9, 2026


**Body:** City of Gardner Massachusetts
**Date:** November 10, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Education, Construction & Infrastructure, Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding


The Gardner School Committee meeting, held November 9, 2026, approved its consent agenda, which included acceptance of $37,000 in grant funding for the plumbing pathway in the MVP program and the middle school Connected Learning grant. The facilities and finance reports highlighted school capital work: the high school locker-room project has approximately $400,000 in soft costs and about $200,000–$225,000 in change orders, leaving an estimated $600,000 shortfall against available funding. Cited change-order issues included asbestos, lead paint, and unexpectedly thick flooring. Fine & Bond is the engineer of record and Stutman Contracting the general contractor. The committee discussed seeking city funding for the high school elevator, locker rooms, and second-floor bathrooms, but the transcript does not establish a final funding-request vote; members sought clearer project information and prioritization. The elevator contract was reported at about $135,000, and bathroom work was estimated at roughly $150,000.

The committee voted to table the capital-improvement submission pending more information about the city’s process and the request’s origin; the initial city deadline was November 13, with some flexibility noted. Facilities also reported that fire-suppression system corrections would be scheduled for summer to avoid disruption during the school year, and that a refrigeration issue involving General Air at the middle school cafeteria had been addressed. The FY28 budget outlook was described as challenging, with a projected deficit of about $2 million based on conservative assumptions; grant funding was also cited as a possible constraint on sustaining school initiatives. No other procurement awards were identified.

**Source:** City of Gardner Massachusetts