Project team members from Left Field and contractor Gilbane told the council on Nov. 10 that high‑school construction is progressing on schedule: the academic tower foundation is complete, crews are working west to east across the site, and bids for remaining packages are due in coming weeks. The team said a Guaranteed Maximum Price submission is expected early in the new year and that the council will be asked on Jan. 12 to approve the final construction contract.

Project staff said they have received three abutter complaints about vibration and one complaint about backup-alarm noise. The team described abutter surveys, ongoing vibration monitoring at site limits, and operational changes such as switching to smaller rollers when feasible. Staff said the backup‑alarm requirement is an OSHA safety rule and that full substitution would impose significant cost and schedule impacts.

On change‑order oversight, staff recommended—and the council approved—revised thresholds intended to preserve timely construction decisions while maintaining council oversight. Under the new framework, administrative approval (town manager) can authorize time‑sensitive changes up to $15,000; the change‑order task force will review changes between $15,000 and $50,000; the task force and building committee will review and recommend for $50,000–$100,000; and any change orders above $100,000 require building committee and council votes. For elective (non‑time‑sensitive) betterments, the building committee and task force will review items up to $15,000; items above $15,000 will be brought to council.

Staff said these adjustments were driven by Open Meetings Act constraints (notice requirements and in‑person quorum concerns) that had made the task‑force process impractically slow for time‑sensitive construction items. Project staff and council members said the change preserves final council review for contractual amendments while allowing the contractor to proceed on site where necessary to avoid schedule delays.

Curtis Corner selective-demolition and site‑stabilization bids are due Dec. 12, staff said; the design for athletic fields will resume in January once price certainty is established. The project team reiterated a target to open the athletic fields in 2027, concurrent with the high school opening.

Next steps: council approved the change‑order thresholds and staff will return with bid recommendations and the final GMP for council approval in January.