Becket School Committee Elects Bartolotta Chair, Approves $13 Million Construction Bids

BECKET -- January 14, 2019, Becket School Committee elects new officers and approves $13 million in construction bids at January reorganization meeting. Maureen Bartolotta defeated incumbent chair Nellie Corman in a contested voice vote, and Dick Bergstrom defeated Tom Bennett for vice chair; Tom Bennett was elected clerk and Jim Thorne treasurer, all at the board's January 14 annual reorganization session. The board then approved 19 separate construction bids totaling roughly $13 million for the first two phases of mechanical improvements at Valley View Middle School, the latest phase of an all-facility capital program that began in 2012-13; the largest single award went to General Sheet Metal of Minneapolis at $4,475,524. Facilities administrator Rod Lefkiewicz told the board the bids came in below budget and that phases three and four would return for approval approximately one year later. The board also approved a rate increase for construction manager Kraus-Anderson Construction Company, its first adjustment in nearly nine years, from 2 percent to 2.25 percent, effective after the Valley View project concludes.