Central Falls: High school construction progresses; dual-language PK–8 design resumes

Committee consultants reported ongoing construction progress at Central Falls High School, provided a budget snapshot and outlined next steps for the district’s paused dual-language PreK–8 project.

Architects and the owner's project manager showed photos of on-site work, reporting that the building is "completely vertical" with flooring installed on the fourth floor, curtain wall and glass work in place, elevator installation beginning, and ongoing rough electrical and HVAC work. The media center spans multiple floors and finishing work continues in corridor and common areas. The project team noted that the community wing’s finishes are trailing the academic wing.

The committee heard that casework, light fixtures and other interior finishes are being installed. The district contracted AI3 as the move manager to relocate existing furniture and equipment from the old high school; that move-management scope was reallocated within the project budget at a cost of $28,600.

Project financials presented at the meeting showed an owner construction contingency balance of about $1,300,000. The report said a change order is under review but not yet executed. The construction manager reported a current minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation figure of 13.7 percent, below the stated state minimum of 15 percent; the meeting noted the city had a potential 25 percent goal. Committee members asked the construction manager to work with contractors on comprehensive, updated change-order reporting to better track subcontract participation and its impact on MWBE numbers.

On workforce development, the committee reviewed an apprenticeship utilization report tied to the project's project labor agreement, which requires that 15 percent of on-site labor hours be performed by registered apprentices. The agenda packet included a monthly report through June 30; staff reported regular monthly calls with contractors to address shortfalls and named Peregrine as actively working with contractors to address issues. The report referenced trade-level participation and contractor-specific monitoring; specific per-contractor apprenticeship percentages beyond the packet were not read into the record.

Track-and-field work was presented in three pricing packages: (1) a concession building, (2) track-and-field replacement, and (3) a retaining wall. Final pricing is pending receipt of contractor bids; staff said once all bids are received they will provide a comprehensive cost update to the committee.

The dual-language PreK–8 project team said schematic (stage 3) documents have been submitted for estimating and that the project team has resumed coordination with RIDE (Rhode Island Department of Education). The team noted the project had been paused for roughly two and a half years for cost and budget reasons and that RIDE requested a follow-up in person meeting after updated cost estimates are available; estimates were expected in early August. The architects described roughly 20 RIDE comments from a kickoff meeting on June 23, some of which were incorporated and some of which the design team said did not match the district’s programmatic needs.

Separately, the committee was told the district issued a second bond offering in the amount of $50,500,000 that closed recently; staff said the bond premium was lower than expected due to state parameters but that the bond sale closed and funds are available.

No formal motions were taken on the high school construction budget or the PreK–8 schematic submission at this meeting; staff said outstanding change orders would be brought to future SBC meetings when executed.

The committee asked staff to continue monitoring MWBE participation, apprenticeship hours, change-order reporting and to return with updated contingency and change-order information at a future meeting.