963 CMR: Massachusetts School Building Authority

963 CMR 2.00: SCHOOL BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM

 (3) School Building Committee. (a) The Eligible Applicant shall formulate a school building committee for the purpose of generally monitoring the Application process and to advise the Eligible Applicant during the construction of an Approved Project. (b) he school building committee shall be formed in accordance with the provisions of the Eligible Applicant’s local charter and/or by-laws and it is recommended that the city, town, regional school district, or independent agricultural and technical school make a reasonable effort to include one or more of the following individuals: the local chief executive officer of the Eligible Applicant, or, in the case of a town whose local chief executive officer is a multi-party body, said body may elect one of its members to serve on the school building committee; the town administrator, town manager, or city manager, where applicable; at least one member of the school committee, as required by M.G.L. c. 71, § 68; the superintendent of schools; the local official responsible for building maintenance; a representative of the office or body authorized by law to construct school buildings in that city, town or regional school district, or for that independent agricultural and technical school; the school principal from the subject school; a member who has knowledge of the educational mission and function of the facility; a local budget official or member of the local finance committee; members ofthe community with architecture, engineering and/or construction experience to provide advice relative to the effect of the Proposed Project on the community and to examine building design and construction in terms of its constructability.

(c) The Authority may hold “best practices” information sessions at varying geographic locations in the Commonwealth for the purposes of keeping school building committees up to date on regulatory and policy activities of the Authority. (d) The Eligible Applicant shall submit to the Authority for its approval, a written statement describing the composition of the school building committee and the role of the school building committee in monitoring the Application process and advising the Eligible Applicant during the construction of the Approved Project. The written statement shall be in a format prescribed by the Authority. (e) The Authority shall approve the composition and role of the school building committee which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Authority’s approval will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to: 1. past performance of the school building committee, the building committee, whether temporary or permanent, or any other committee responsible for the oversight, management, or administration of the construction of public buildings, the composition of the school building committee and qualifications of its individual members, the powers and duties of the school building committee; and the school building committee’s procedures for conducting its meetings; and 2. the extent to which there is representation of the municipal government, school district personnel with management, educational and maintenance expertise, and representation of members of the local community with design and construction experience. After the approval of the school building committee by the Authority, if any, the Eligible Applicant shall notify the Authority in writing within 20 calendar days of any changes to the membership or the duties of said committee. The Eligible Applicant shall make a reasonable effort to ensure the continuity of membership of the school building committee throughout the life of an Approved Project.

Again, at a meeting of Templeton selectmen, it was stated that it is the law for a director of building & grounds to be on the school building committee. The above code does not seem to say that.

posted by Jeff Bennett