MERSD School Committee Meeting | May 19, 2026

The Manchester Essex Regional School District (MERSD) School Committee held a meeting on May 19, 2026, focusing on several key procurement and budgetary matters. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the Essex Elementary School feasibility study, where the committee voted to amend the appropriation from $1.5 million to $1.8 million to cover increased costs due to project timeline extensions and consultant fees. This amendment included the use of approximately $300,000 in MSBA grant funds, with the remainder to be assessed to the towns involved. The committee also reviewed construction delivery methods for the new school building, weighing the traditional design-bid-build approach against the construction manager at risk (CMAR) model, with a preference leaning towards CMAR due to the project's complexity and phased construction needs. Additionally, the district issued a Request for Services (RFS) for a combination of gas and electric vehicles, with proposals due June 1, 2026, aiming to restore late bus services. Budget allocations for fiscal year 2027 were confirmed, with principals receiving their line items. The meeting included updates on ongoing capital improvement projects and emphasized the importance of managing costs amid rising material prices. No new policy changes affecting procurement were reported.