A memo from the Department of Public Works, summarized to the joint committee, says the city is procuring 34 total lockdown shades of various sizes for the high school and that procurement began in December 2024.

Liaison Leah Radredasi told the committee that procurement remains in process and that the department must obtain two additional bids. The timeline for installation depends on procurement approvals and the winning vendor’s delivery and work schedules, the memo states. DPW also added seven shades in Rooms 231, 2302 and 233 after identifying additional unanticipated needs.

Why it matters: school and city committee members emphasized the safety purpose of the shades and commended DPW for identifying additional locations that needed coverage. Committee members agreed the specific locations listed in the memo should not be published publicly; the liaison provided a summarized update in the meeting instead.

The committee accepted the summary update and marked the item work complete; Raich and committee members thanked DPW for moving the procurement forward despite the process taking longer than preferred.