Listen to the full meeting
The Fall River School Committee Facilities and Operations Subcommittee met on October 22, 2026, to address building projects, operational workflows, and facility planning. Under an amended order of business, member Collin R. Dias questioned a $10,000 expenditure for tree removal at the Wiley School, a vacant property the School Committee voted to return to the city over a year prior. Chief Operating Officer Ken Pacheco explained the cleanup was necessary to prevent damage, eliminate hazards, and prepare the historic building for prospective apartment redevelopment. The discussion also addressed the discovery and shredding of old financial and human resources files left in the building, alongside concerns about the City Council’s delay in formally processing the real estate transfer.
The committee then reviewed the Central Office window replacement project funded by Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. The project faced prolonged delays after initial installation bids exceeded available funding by roughly $600,000, and a subsequent window procurement attempt prepared by project architect Robinson Green Beretta (RGB) failed to comply with Massachusetts Chapter 30B procurement requirements. Interim Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Smith and Ken Pacheco reported that a revised procurement was scheduled to be advertised on October 26, 2026, with bids due November 12, 2026. City Councilor Shawn E. Cadime urged the district to seek additional CPA or city funding to hire specialized historic contractors rather than attempting in-house installation with school maintenance staff.
The subcommittee also discussed long-term facilities master planning, the ongoing review of the draft purchase and sales agreement for Bishop Stang/Bishop Connolly, and the persistent challenge of hiring skilled tradespeople—specifically carpenter-painters and refrigeration technicians—under existing municipal wage structures. Before adjourning, the committee voted to table updates on Brightly maintenance software and the $67,000 Tighe & Bond traffic and pedestrian access study, directing the administration to gather missing documentation and ensure consultants fulfill contractual requirements.
Topics discussed
- 0:31 · Move new business to the top of the agenda — approved
Move new business to the top of the agenda - 0:42 · Wiley School tree removal and building cleanup
Collin R. Dias inquired why $10,000 of school funds was spent on tree removal at the Wiley School after it was voted to be turned over to the city; Ken Pacheco explained the maintenance was needed to prevent building damage and prepare it for redevelopment. - 12:37 · Central Office window procurement and CPC funding
Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Smith and Ken Pacheco reviewed the history of CPC funding for the Central Office windows, past bids that exceeded budgets, an invalid procurement process handled by RGB, and the upcoming re-bid. - 49:19 · Adjourn the Facilities and Operations Subcommittee meeting — passed
Adjourn the Facilities and Operations Subcommittee meeting - 1:13:06 · Trade staff recruitment and compensation
Ken Pacheco and committee members addressed difficulties in filling in-house maintenance positions, such as carpenter-painters and HVAC/refrigeration technicians, due to uncompetitive municipal wage rates compared to the private sector. - 1:18:22 · Bishop Connolly purchase and sales agreement review
Collin R. Dias requested that school administration review the draft purchase and sales agreement for Bishop Connolly to identify any restrictions on building usage or tenants. - 1:23:22 · Brightly versus Incident IQ maintenance software transition
Kevin Aguiar and Collin R. Dias questioned costs associated with switching from Brightly to Incident IQ for maintenance work orders. - 1:24:58 · Table the Brightly software update to the next meeting — tabled
Table the Brightly software update to the next meeting - 1:27:32 · Capital improvement planning and joint municipal facilities study
The committee and Councilor Shawn E. Cadime discussed the necessity of hiring an engineering or architectural firm to create a district-wide building condition assessment and capital improvement plan. - 1:27:49 · Tighe & Bond school traffic and pedestrian access study
The committee reviewed a $67,000 access study by Tighe & Bond, criticizing its lack of vehicular traffic data and failure to coordinate with the city engineer and traffic board. - 1:27:49 · Table the Tighe & Bond access study update to allow administration to seek revisions and consultations — tabled
Table the Tighe & Bond access study update to allow administration to seek revisions and consultations