Essex School Building Committee Unanimously Approves PSR Submission and $7,500 OPM Amendment

ESSEX — April 28, 2026 — Essex school building committee approves 2,200-page feasibility report for state submission. The Essex Elementary School Building Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize submission of the Preferred Schematic Report to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, formally closing the feasibility phase and clearing the project to enter schematic design. The panel also approved Budget Amendment 2, a $7,500 transfer within the existing $1.5 million project appropriation to cover cost estimates performed by PM&C for the Project Design Program and Preliminary Schematic Report phases. OPM representative Christina, of Dore & Whittier Management Partners, acknowledged the work had been authorized verbally before the budget line was formally reallocated, prompting a process discussion led by committee member Mike. Committee member Michelle offered that "this cost was anticipated all along — we just didn't know what the actual cost was." A separate amendment extending the OPM contract through schematic design was tabled pending coordination with MSBA and legal counsel over the two-town appropriation structure; a full budget update is expected at the first May meeting.