School committee approves RIDE Stage 2 submittal for five‑year capital plan, including high‑school roof

Westerly — The Westerly School Committee voted on Feb. 5 to approve a Stage 2 submittal to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) for the district’s five‑year capital improvements plan, financing a prioritized list of facilities projects and preserving the district’s eligibility for state reimbursement.

The committee approved the submission — as presented by Downs Construction owner’s project manager Deb Reeding and Brewster Thornton Group architect Nate Ginsberg — after an extended review of updated cost estimates and scope recommendations. The approved total for the Stage 2 package is $34,889,436.60.

Why it matters: A Stage 2 approval creates an inventory of future projects that can qualify for state reimbursement; projects included in the RIDE submission can later be advanced for reimbursement when the district moves to building‑specific design and bidding phases. Committee members emphasized that approval to submit is not a commitment to spend the full amount now.

What the presentation said Representatives from Downs Construction and Brewster Thornton Group described their field assessments and an updated cost estimate. Ginsberg said the Stage 2 estimate is roughly $7.2 million (about 25 percent) higher than the Stage 1 recommendation; the largest single new item identified was an approximately $4.2 million roofing program at Westerly High School that had not been in the Stage 1 submission. The team also included a $250,000 allowance for repair or replacement of the high‑school cupola as a worst‑case estimate, pending further investigation.

Reeding emphasized that adding items to the Stage 2 submission carries no obligation to proceed on every listed project; instead, inclusion preserves the district’s right to seek RIDE reimbursement (the presenters cited a likely minimum reimbursement of 35 percent on eligible work) if and when the district later decides to undertake a project and follows the Stage 3 design/bid approval steps.

Presenters said they completed the Stage 2 documentation on an accelerated timeline because RIDE requires Stage 2 materials by midnight Feb. 15; the consultants reviewed each building’s exterior envelope, roofing, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, security, and other systems and sent cost estimates to an estimator.

Committee discussion and vote Committee members asked about environmental testing, elevator cab replacements versus finish upgrades, and prioritization of roofs and other envelope items. Justin Hopkins, chair of the school building subcommittee, explained how the Stage 2 list will inform the annual municipal capital request and said that inclusion in RIDE’s pipeline could support larger annual expenditures because of state reimbursement.

After discussion, a committee member moved to approve the Stage 2 submittal for $34,889,436.60, a second was recorded, and the committee voted unanimously: all members present voted in favor and the motion carried.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve RIDE Stage 2 submittal for Westerly Public Schools five‑year capital improvement plan, totaling $34,889,436.60. - Outcome: Approved (unanimous vote of members present).

Ending Presenters and the district said they will submit the package to RIDE by the stated deadline and continue to refine project scopes and priority lists; inclusion in the Stage 2 application leaves the district the option to pursue projects later with RIDE reimbursement if and when the school committee and town authorize expenditures.