MARBLEHEAD — The Select Board unanimously approved a contract this week with Homer Contracting for the replacement of the Marblehead High School roof and HVAC system, formally advancing a project that came in more than $2.1 million under budget.
The vote followed months of preparation, technical review, and community input, as well as a competitive bidding process that produced significantly lower-than-expected pricing.
The approval came shortly after the School Committee’s Roof Subcommittee voted 7-0 to recommend awarding the contract to Homer, the lowest bidder. The School Committee also voted unanimously last week to endorse the recommendation.
LeftField Senior Project Manager Leena Long told the subcommittee that the general contractor portion of the project, previously projected at just over $11 million, ultimately drew six bids. Homer submitted the low bid at $8.97 million.
“So that’s great news,” Long said at the subcommittee meeting. “We got great bid coverage with six bidders,” she said, adding that the project is “a little over $2.1 million under budget.”
Subcommittee member Ralph Wallace praised the strength of the bids, noting unusually high participation and competitive pricing across the trades. He said HVAC bids, which make up about 70% of the total project cost, were particularly competitive, and roofing bids were also strong.
“This is a very good outcome,” Wallace said. “From a procurement standpoint… this was a good time to take bids.”
A major portion of the subcommittee’s recent work focused on whether to adopt a liquid-applied roofing system rather than the base PVC membrane included in the project. Some residents initially hoped the alternative might generate savings. Instead, the bids revealed sharply higher costs.
Gene Raymond, president of Raymond Design Associates, said the alternative not only failed to reduce costs but, in some submissions, added up to $2 million.
“Even if you accept the liquid applied alternately, you’re still $50,000 over,” Raymond said.
Contractors appeared split in how they viewed the alternative; some priced it as a deduction, while others treated it as a significant addition. Wallace said that irregularity reflected uncertainty and greater perceived liability within the industry.
“When we see dramatically, some people think it’s a deduction; some people think it’s a significant add, that’s the market saying something back to us,” Wallace said. “They’re pricing it differently because they see it as a different job with different liabilities.”
With costs for the alternative far exceeding expectations, no committee members supported paying a premium. Subcommittee Chair Henry Gwazda confirmed that no one favored pursuing the liquid-applied system.
Committee members and consultants ultimately endorsed a long-term approach: installing the PVC roof now and considering a liquid-applied coating midlife to extend the system’s lifespan. Several participants emphasized routine monitoring of seams and maintenance to avoid premature failures like those seen on the existing roof.
Planning Board member Marc Liebman suggested developing an “obsolescence schedule,” so the district could revisit a liquid-applied coating in “15–16 years… before we have problems.” Superintendent John Robidoux agreed, saying the midlife-coating strategy “in the long haul… is the way to go.”
As the project moved to the Select Board, Assistant Superintendent Michael Pfifferling outlined the construction timeline. No work will begin before graduation, ensuring seniors have uninterrupted access to the campus for end-of-year events. Mobilization is expected to begin immediately afterward, with heavy crane work and major roof activities planned for the summer. While some finishing work may continue into September or early October, officials stressed that students’ return to school will not be affected. They expect all major equipment to be removed before classes resume.
The oversight subcommittee, chaired by School Committee member Henry Gwazda and made up of community members with construction and engineering expertise, will continue monitoring the project throughout installation. School and town officials praised the group’s contributions, noting their role in reviewing contracts and identifying improvements.
The Select Board authorized the $8.97 million contract on behalf of the town. The meeting concluded with acknowledgments of the work done by the subcommittee, the project team, and community volunteers.
