Somerset schools slated for security upgrades

School Committee funds $289,648 for building security measures

SOMERSET – School officials said they took active steps to improve security in the town’s three elementary schools and the middle school.

With few specifics given in open session, they transferred $289,648 in anticipated surplus funds for this fiscal year to a security measures account for improvements at all four buildings, according to the superintendent’s office and School Committeeman Victor Machado.

The vote was unanimous.

Machado, who was committee chairman until a reorganization Tuesday night, said they discussed the changes and expenses in an executive session with the administration.

They voted the funding total in open session.

Business Manager Lindsey Albernaz that night listed $291,729 for the budget balance she anticipated on expenditures through June 30, the end of fiscal 2018.

The surplus is based upon a $19.2 million budget this year.

The work was slated to begin after Friday when the school system closes for one week of vacation, returning April 23.

He said school officials did not wish to share deficiencies that were identified by a risk assessment team from the department’s insurance company.

“It will be very visual when it’s completed,” Machado said.

He said he and other committee members were surprised at the level of surplus that will fund these projects.

He said a good portion of the expected available funds came from personnel expenses not spent. They included maternity leaves and paying long-term substitutes, a long-term leave by a union official and a music director’s position that was not filled for several months, Machado said.

The building expenditures were separate from funds needed to add one school resource officer in the kindergarten to Grade 8 schools.

Machado said he believed there was committee consensus on that proposal issued by Police Chief George McNeil to the Board of Selectmen and the town administrator and finance director on Wednesday.

A related article that’s been presented for the annual Town Meeting next month is to fund $800,000 for a middle school feasibility study on a range of repairs, upgrades and improvements needed at the Grades 6-8 school on Brayton Avenue.

In other School Committee matters, the board reorganized and on a 3-2 vote named Melissa Terra the new chairwoman. Machado, Committeeman Andrew Crook and Terra voted in favor with Committeewoman Lori Rothwell and Michael Botelho opposed.

Crook was voted vice chairman on a unanimous vote, while Rothwell and Botelho were named committee representatives to the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee.

The latter board will not be reorganizing until late May after the town election in Berkley.

Chairman Richard Peirce of Somerset and Vice Chairman Dean Larabee of Berkley will remain in those positions until that board’s May 24 meeting.

Email Michael Holtzman at mholtzman@heraldnews.com or call him at 508-676-2573.