Chariho committee approves Colliers and SLAM contracts to prepare RIDE Stage 2 for elementary capital plan

The Chariho Regional School District School Committee on Aug. 5 unanimously approved two contracts to move the district’s elementary capital planning to RIDE Stage 2: Colliers as the owner’s project manager (OPM) and SLAM Collaborative to prepare the Stage 2 architectural documents and community presentations.

The contracts clear the first formal administrative steps toward a five‑year capital improvement plan for the district’s elementary schools and set a timeline that includes community presentations in September–October and a Stage 2 submission to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) by Feb. 15, 2026.

Gina (name in meeting packet), a district administrator, told the committee that Colliers has worked with the district for years and was recommended by the Necessity for School Construction subcommittee. “They have been a fabulous partnership,” she said, noting Colliers’ prior role as the district’s owner’s project manager and their familiarity with the buildings and RIDE processes.

Greg Zenyan, the district finance director, who said he is new to the role, described Colliers’ responsiveness: “My experience with Colliers has been excellent. They respond immediately to any concerns or questions… I don't believe I've ever left a voice mail. They always pick up the phone.”

The Colliers contract covers Stage 2 OPM services and lists a Stage 2 fee of $185,000, an allowance for reimbursables of $12,000 and a total contract figure identified in meeting materials as $197,000. Colliers’ scope in the packet includes facilitating RIDE and district meetings, assisting with Stage 2 documents, coordinating schedules and budgets, limited commissioning review where required, final assembly and submission of Stage 2 documents on or before 02/15/2026, and post‑submission coordination in anticipation of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with RIDE.

Board members asked procedural and cost questions before approving the Colliers contract. Committee members were told there is no upfront retainer and Colliers bills monthly based on hours. The packet also notes that the fee schedule is subject to escalation (up to 4% per year) and that Colliers has not had recent client terminations on similar projects, per the firm's representative.

The committee then considered and unanimously approved a contract with SLAM Collaborative to develop Stage 1/Stage 2 concept materials and public presentations. Cathy Ella Thorpe, principal in charge of SLAM’s Providence office, summarized SLAM’s two‑part approach: Part 1 (conceptual work and public presentations) and Part 2 (detailed Stage 2 work after the committee selects an option in October). Thorpe said SLAM will “fully investigate the existing facilities, bring forward options, and design the best educational facilities for Chariho.”

SLAM’s proposal in the packet estimates Part 1 (presentations and conceptual estimates of three options) at $353,550. The firm noted that because there is no confirmed site for a single consolidated elementary option, site costs for that scenario would be derived from best practices and owner‑provided land information rather than site investigations. SLAM also said the district should provide an updated enrollment/demographic study to inform school‑by‑school population estimates for RIDE’s standards.

On the question of available background reports, SLAM and Colliers staff advised the committee that older studies (the meeting referenced a Jacobs report from around 2016 and a Bureau Veritas state review that has not been received) can inform planning but should not substitute for the site‑specific due diligence that architects and engineers will perform as part of Stage 2. As Cathy Ella Thorpe put it, “We use it as a piece of information, but you really need to build upon it.”

Members discussed reimbursement and budgeting. Holly Demeris, director in Colliers’ Rhode Island office, and others said Stage 2 fees (OPM and architect) are typically reimbursable by RIDE once a project receives an award. Holly and district staff said the current base reimbursement rate is 61%, with a possible regional bonus of up to 5 percentage points. District staff confirmed funds for the Stage 2 process are included in the fiscal year 2026 budget.

Committee members also reviewed procedural next steps and community engagement: SLAM has proposed up to four public presentations across the three towns between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15, the committee is expected to choose a preferred option by the Oct. 21 meeting, and the selected scope will be refined toward the February 2026 Stage 2 submission. Committee members raised concerns about relying solely on older reports, about the scope and cost differences among options (three new schools, one new centralized school, or major renovations), and about accessibility and swing‑space needs should a renovation proceed.

Votes at a glance

- Approve Colliers as owner’s project manager for RIDE Stage 2 (Colliers CPL): approved unanimously. Contract total in packet listed as $197,000; reimbursable allowance $12,000; Stage 2 fee line item $185,000. Scope includes Stage 2 coordination and submission by 02/15/2026.

- Approve SLAM Collaborative to prepare RIDE Stage 2 application and community presentations: approved unanimously. Part 1 estimate in packet $353,550 (concepts and presentations); Part 2 fees depend on the option selected (one new school, three new schools, or renovation options).

The meeting closed with staff directed to proceed with the contracted work, request an updated enrollment/demographic study for use in planning, and schedule the proposed community presentations. The committee will review the community feedback and direct which option SLAM should carry forward into the Stage 2 submission at its October meeting.