Roles & Responsibility

Building Project Roles and Responsibilities

Project Management

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has promulgated new rules regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Building Committee and the School Committee which is referred to as "Eligible Applicant" in 963 CMR.

Under the new rules from MSBA, the School Committee being the Awarding Authority and now the Eligible Applicant must be highly involved in the project. The School Committee has indicated that they wish to be highly involved in this project. There will be a plan developed for updates to the School Committee from the Building Committee and a process developed to receive design and construction input from the School Committee. Having the School Committee Chairman on the building committee should streamline this process.

These rules specifically require the School Committee to retain all fiduciary responsibility. The Building Committee has the responsibility to review, reject or approve payments to service providers with the final approval from the School Committee.

The new rules also specify that the members of the Building Committee be experienced in architecture, engineering, education, finance and construction. The Building Committee also includes a specific list of required members from the Finance Committee, School Committee and Selectmen.  Also required are the School Superintendent, Principal and Facilities Director. Under the statute their primary duty is to monitor the process and advise the School Committee during the construction of the project. The Building Committee will be responsible to oversee the selection of the Owners Project Manager, Architect and contractor. The final review and hiring of these services will be by the School Committee.

Reporting to the School Committee, the Building Committee will head up the day to day activities through the Procurement Administrator and the Owners Project Manager. These day to day activities will include the design, cost estimating, value engineering, bidding and construction. Natick Public Schools will be using a contracted Owners Project Manager and working within the guidelines of the MSBA. The Procurement Administrator will oversee the Owners Project Manager as we move through the various activities involved in the feasibility study, funding agreement, design and construction of the Natick High School.

The Building Committee's technical expertise is a key factor to ensuring a smooth and efficient project progression. At critical points of each phase the Building Committee will update the School Committee on status and progress