The Mendon-Upton Regional School District has met the MSBA's initial requirements for a proposed roof project and will meet with the Massachusetts School Building Authority on Feb. 5 to begin the scope-definition phase, Superintendent Doctor Cohen said at the Jan. 27 meeting.

Cohen said the district submitted the statement of interest, completed the initial compliance certification and maintenance plan, and secured local authorization of funding. "Next week on February 5th we have a meeting with MSBA and that's when we'll be hopefully hearing about the OPM and heading into the second phase, the scope definition phase," she said.

The committee also took a formal vote to nominate local residents and district staff to serve on a school building committee that will oversee the project and subsequent capital planning. The district presented a recommended list that included:

- Kyle Raposo, Mendon resident and construction superintendent (experience with school projects);
- Nicole Cassello, Mendon resident, construction manager (architecture degree, nearly 30 years of experience);
- Bill Casey, Upton resident and long-time building/grounds foreman; and district staff ex officio membership for the town administrators.

Cohen said the committee needs at least one school committee member to serve on the building committee and suggested rotating membership if desired. Committee members moved and seconded a nomination of the listed individuals and alternates; the chair called the voice vote, and members responded "Aye." The motion passed.

Why it matters: MSBA approval of the project team and entry into scope definition begins the district's path toward a partially state-funded roof replacement. If the project proceeds, towns will still vote on local funding shares for the town-funded portion.

What to watch: The Feb. 5 MSBA meeting should identify the district's Owner's Project Manager (OPM) and move the project into a scope and cost-estimating phase. The committee also discussed forming subgroups to focus on discrete capital projects such as fields and facilities once the building committee is operational.