Tri-County School Committee Elects Dousa Chair, Weighs Costly Geothermal Addition

NORTH ATTLEBORO -- July 17, 2024, Tri-County School Committee reorganizes leadership and weighs a state-backed geothermal proposal that could reshape its building project. The committee elected John Dousa as the new chair, Patricia Warren as vice chair, and Dr. Wadicki as secretary at its July 17 meeting, with Steven Dockray reappointed treasurer and Dr. Jennifer D'Angelo named assistant treasurer. Building Committee Chair Brian Mushnick reported the district withdrew from the Franklin Planning Board's oversight jurisdiction roughly one week prior, citing a disputed $100,000 traffic study requirement, and is now operating under the town building inspector, the same arrangement used for the Franklin High School project. A delegation of state energy officials from four agencies, including the local state representative who chairs the Joint Committee on Energy, urged the committee to reinstate geothermal heating that had been value-engineered out of the design at a savings of roughly $3 million; the committee said it will not move forward without written funding commitments. The committee approved a revised student handbook and heard that both legislative resolutions submitted by Tri-County's subcommittee were accepted by MASC, with the MSBA-reform resolution expanded to incorporate related legislation. Signed warrants for fiscal year 2024 totaled $3,212,356, including $1,414,091 in building project expenses.