DIGHTON – The Dighton Board of Selectmen together with members of the Dighton-Rehoboth (D-R) Regional School Committee are seeking interested applicants from the Dighton community to join the Dighton Elementary School (DES) Building Committee.
Are you a member of the Dighton community interested in helping to lead a possible school building project for the Dighton Elementary School? You can apply to join the School Building Committee today.
Applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16 at Dighton Town Hall, 979 Somerset Ave.
Dighton’s Volunteer Application Form can be found, downloaded and submitted via the following link: https://www.dighton-ma.gov/FormCenter/Volunteering-7/Volunteer-Application-Form-48.
The establishment of a Dighton Elementary School Building Committee is a key requirement of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the town to kick off the MSBA-approved Eligibility Period. Dighton town and school district officials learned in December 2023 that the town has been invited into an Eligibility Period to further explore and assess opportunities to address the DES school building and programmatic needs.
December’s vote by the MSBA for the Dighton Elementary School to be entered into its Eligibility Period comes as a result of a Statement of Interest (SOI) submitted to the MSBA in April 2023 by Dighton school and town officials. The SOI outlined overcrowding issues, continual increases in enrollment, and obsolete building space for required educational programming at DES, which was built in 1953 and had an addition put on in 1999.
MSBA regulations specify general requirements governing the composition of school building committees established to provide oversight for school building projects. In addition to the required members set by the MSBA, the Dighton Board of Selectmen and School Committee are seeking up to five (5) community volunteers to serve on the SBC.
Below are some frequently asked questions for applicants to consider:
Who can join the School Building Committee?
There are currently five open volunteer positions in each of the categories listed below:
• One member of the community appointed by the Board of Selectmen with knowledge of the education mission and function of an elementary school facility
• Two members of the community appointed by the Board of Selectmen with architecture, engineering, and/or construction experience
• One community at-large designee appointed by the Board of Selectmen
• One community at-large designee appointed by the D-R School Committee
Who else will be on the School Building Committee?
Other positions on the SBC are mandated by the MSBA. They include:
• A member of the Board of Selectmen
• Two members of the School Committee
• The Superintendent and administrators from D-R Regional School District
• Dighton Town Administrator and Financial Team representatives
Why does the town need a School Building Committee?
The Town of Dighton and the D-R Regional School District have been accepted into the first phase of the MSBA’s grant program. The grant program could potentially provide significant state funding for the rebuilding or construction of a new school. This state funding program requires that all applicants establish an SBC according to state guidelines.
What is the School Building Committee?
• The SBC will monitor and provide technical guidance and fiscal oversight during the planning, design, and construction of a new Dighton Elementary school.
• The SBC will work with Dighton town, school district officials, and consultants to oversee project management such as hiring project managers, architects, and construction contractors.
• The SBC will also ensure that detailed plans and designs meet the needs of the school district within budget.
• If the project proceeds to a construction phase, members will also monitor construction to ensure adherence with the approved plans and budget.
What is the time commitment?
SBC members are asked to commit to the full length of the building project, as well as several years of follow-up work that will continue after the school opens and project punch-lists and contract closeouts continue.
There is the potential that the Committee’s efforts will entail a 7-10-year commitment from its members. During this time, members will be expected to prepare for and participate in meetings that will occur 1-2 times per month. This is usually a two-hour meeting held in the evening.
Work phases will include:
• Evaluation, assessment, and planning
• Design
• Construction
• Post-occupancy punch-list closeout
• Various funding approval processes
Do I have to commit to the entire project period?
While members may serve less than the entire 7-10-year period, applicants who express an intent and ability to serve for the entire project period will be preferred.
How do I apply?
To apply, submit an electronic or paper copy of the Dighton Volunteer Application Form outlining your education, work, volunteer and other experiences that are relevant to the positions you believe you satisfy.
Those seeking to fill one of the at-large community positions appointed by the Board of Selectmen or School Committee should identify the appointing authority from whom they are seeking appointment. Applicants should also include a brief explanation of why they would like to join the SBC and how they can support its work. Dighton’s Volunteer Application Form can be found, downloaded and submitted via https://www.dighton-ma.gov/FormCenter/Volunteering-7/Volunteer-Application-Form-48
When is the application deadline?
Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at Dighton Town Hall, 979 Somerset Ave.
What happens after I apply?
All applicants will then be considered for appointment by the Board of Selectmen and/or School Committee as applicable. All members must sign and comply with the Town of Dighton’s Code of Conduct for Board, Commission, and Committee Members.
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