FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Andrew Toland, Director of Communications atoland@mansd.org or 603-624-6300, ext. 199

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Manchester School District sets interviews with three firms for facilities planning

MANCHESTER – Manchester School District received three responses to its request for proposals to assist the District with long-term facilities planning. The three firms submitting responses were the three that were deemed qualified in an earlier stage of review: Harriman, Lavallee Brensinger Architects, and SMMA. 

The Finance and Facilities Committee met Thursday morning to open and review responses for completeness. The committee has scheduled interviews with the three firms, which will be held in a non-public meeting on Wednesday, January 11. 

“This morning, we met to officially open the three responses we received to our request for proposals in our long-term facilities planning process,” Superintendent of Schools Jenn Gillis said. “While this was a brief meeting – we opened submission packets and set interviews with the respondents – it was another important step in what has been a detailed process. This is urgent work, and it is essential that we get this right. We take this process very seriously and are eager for interviews next week.”

The interviews will be held in non-public meetings over the course of the day, this coming Wednesday, January 11. Interviews will be held in order that the submissions were received: Harriman, Lavallee Brensinger, and SMMA. In November, the District released a “request for qualifications,” an additional step in the procurement process to ensure that potential bidders are qualified. The District received three submissions, and the Finance and Facilities Committee invited those firms to submit responses to the request for proposals. 

The request for proposals follows the Board of School Committee’s adoption of a “3-4-12 model” – three high schools, four middle schools and 12 elementary schools. That model is supported by information gathered through previous studies and informed by community feedback gathered through a series of forums held late last year. The selected firm will help the District take the next steps toward making that “3-4-12 model” a reality. 

The Finance and Facilities Committee has scheduled a special meeting to discuss next steps in the process and develop interview questions on Friday, January 6, at 4 p.m. at the District Office at 20 Hecker Street. 

You can find more information at https://bit.ly/long-term-facilities.

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