On January 9 and January 10, 2023 the Town Council and School Board respectively approved the charge for the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC).  By email on February 10, Councilor Timothy Reiniger stated his intent to discuss an amendment to the charge at the February 13 council meeting, during the Town Council Reports and Correspondence.  During that discussion, Chair Jeremy Gabrielson asked that the amendments be shared with the School Board and to place the request on the March 13 council agenda.

At the March 13 council meeting, Reiniger said that his proposed amendments were "technical" and intended to clarify what the appropriate guidelines and rules from the State Board of Education are.  "Given that this is such a high-profile issue for the town, and to remove any possibility of contention on the basis that it is the wrong charge; I am intending to help the process."  Councilor Susan Gillis made a motion to approve Reindeer's amendments; Reiniger seconded.

Reiniger's proposed amendments are italicized and read as follows: 

Committee Created: There is hereby created a School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC) to consist of nine members.  The Committee shall be a joint ad hoc committee of the School Board and Town Council, assisting them in their respective responsibilities for development of a school building project and funding which meets state standards and guidelines, including: 1) the State Board of Education rules for major capital school construction projects, 2) the Public School Standards and Guidelines for New School Construction & Major Renovation Projects, and 3) "Space Allocation Guidelines" and submit to the Town voters.

The approved SBAC charge reads as follows:

Committee Created:  Committee Created: There is hereby created a School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC) to consist of nine members.  The Committee shall be a joint ad hoc committee of the School Board and Town Council, assisting them in their respective responsibilities for development of a school building project and funding which meets the Department of Education guidelines for major capital school construction projects and submit to the Town voters.

Gabrielson said the primary difference between Reiniger's amendments and the SBAC charge is that Reiniger's amendments  are "Specifying the specific guidelines for the committee to be referring to in their work."

Councilor Nicole Boucher pointed out that during a January 3 joint workshop regarding the charge, the Town Council and School Board included the same specificity in the original draft, but voted to remove it; "We know the state might be going in to the process of reopening for bids to try to get funding, so those guideline names may change. The way we currently have this  charge is that they [SBAC] have to follow Department of Education rules and guidelines, so these things are already covered under that."

Councilor Gretchen Noonan added that she was concerned the amendments, "May actually cause confusion."  The state document, The Public School Standards & Guidelines For New School Construction and Major Renovation Projects, says, "This document is intended to stimulate discussion.  We hope these discussions will lead to the inclusion of the most appropriate elements that meet the unique needs of a specific project."  Within this document Noonan says, are lists of items that are considered "required, recommended, and premium," "The state does not cover premium items, but does allow municipalities to pay for these items out of their own budgets."  

"My concern is, how do you meet a document like that?  Everything is either required, recommended, or premium; it is not an outline of the things you really must have when you are building a new school.  It seems that it is a jumping off point for the state and municipalities to negotiate over what is most appropriate."

Gabrielson asked Town Manager Matthew Sturgis if the School Board had made comments on the document.  Sturgis replied that Superintendnet Dr. Record had received legal review from the school attorney indicating that, "They did not find anything inappropriate," and that the School Board will discuss during their April 11 meeting.

Councilor Penny Jordan, who is co-chair of the SBAC, said, "I don't feel it is necessary to change the charge of the committee in order to achieve what you [Reiniger] are trying to achieve; which is, ensuring the committee understands that these [guidelines] exist and have to be considered as we go through our work."  Jordan added, "We have an amazing committee that comes at the work of the committee from a very objective perspective. I can say with confidence that there are no preconceived notions of as to where we are headed."

Gabrielson made a friendly amendment to Gillis' motion, to add that "We would make these amendments pending adoption by the School Board."  Upon voting, Gabrielson, Gillis, and Reiniger voted in favor of the motion.  Councilors Boucher, Jordan, and Noonan voted against.  With councilor Caitlin Jordan's absence, the vote was split.  In the event of split vote of 3-3, a motion may not pass without a quorum of four votes in favor.