Construction contract signed for rebuilding four Barrington schools

What happened

The School Committee approved the construction contract with Shawmut on February 26, 2026 for the programme covering Barrington High School, Nayatt School, Sowams School and Primrose Hill School. The contract sets a completion date for each school with a 30-day grace period, after which the builder pays the district $5,000 for every day late, and earns $5,000 a day if it finishes early. The plan presented in September 2025 had construction starting in 2026 and finishing in August 2028.

Why it matters to families

This is the biggest thing happening to Barrington's school buildings in a generation, and children will be learning in and around the work for the next two years.

The evidence

The February 26, 2026 approved minutes record a 3-0 vote approving the Shawmut construction contract, describe the liquidated damages provision at $5,000 per day after a 30-day grace period on each school's substantial completion date, and record approval of four project requests to award. The September 30, 2025 joint minutes with the Town Council record the construction sequence starting in 2026 and finishing August 2028 across the high school, Nayatt, Sowams and Primrose. The contract and the guaranteed maximum price documents were not filed with the minutes.

The source