MERSD-Essex School Building Committee Meeting | July 28, 2026

The Essex School Building Committee meeting held on July 28, 2026, focused primarily on procurement and project management decisions related to the Essex Elementary School construction project. Key procurement activities included the approval of multiple invoices from JCJ and Doran Whittier totaling over $155,000 for project management and consulting services. The committee also discussed budget adjustments related to the MSBA feasibility study, noting a pending budget revision to increase the feasibility study budget from $1.5 million to $1.8 million. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the selection of the construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the project. After a thorough evaluation and interviews of five firms, the subcommittee recommended Conigli as the preferred CMAR, citing their strong team, leadership, and approach to pre-construction services. The committee voted to approve this recommendation, authorizing Doran Whittier to proceed accordingly. Discussions also covered sustainability goals, LEED certification progress, and upcoming project milestones including cost estimation and community meetings. The meeting emphasized compliance with supplier diversity requirements and outlined next steps for contract negotiation and pre-construction services initiation with Conigli.