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Committee approves FEI fund spending, gets high school construction and track updates
Summary
The Central Falls School Building Committee approved spending remaining FEI 2023 funds on Calcutta building improvements and received an operations manager27s update on high school construction and the track-and-field replacement design documents.
At a Central Falls School Building Committee meeting, members approved using remaining funds from the FEI 2023 award for specific improvements at the Calcutta building and received a progress update on the new high school and a separate track-and-field replacement project.
The committee voted to spend $119,280.32 remaining from FEI 2023 to fund three prioritized scopes at the Calcutta site: replacement windows in the cabin section, completion of stairwell painting, and, if funds remain, air-conditioning for a cluster of third-floor classrooms used by Raices. Rory (committee member) moved the FEI expenditure and Gary (committee member) moved the motion that was recorded for the vote; members voted in favor and the motion carried. Committee members discussed ensuring equitable access to temperature-controlled rooms for programs using the building in summer, but did not adopt additional restrictions when they approved the spending.
Why it matters: The FEI funds were carried over after the primary project closed and can be used for targeted upgrades at a nearby building. The committee27s allocation decision directs leftover grant money to tangible school-site improvements without affecting the high school construction contingency.
Construction and budget updates: A representative of Peregrine (OPM) reported ongoing construction coordination at the high school. Work described as underway includes painting and casework installation in the Education Wing, mechanical installation, stairwell access completion, site grading, roadways and parking work, and near-complete exterior siding. The Peregrine representative said the community wing (auditorium and gymnasium) is slightly behind the academic wing but progressing, and described the CTE law-and-advocacy classroom as a double-height space with sound attenuation.
The update included procurement and budget notes: IT procurement is advancing through an RFP process and the team expects initial purchase orders next month; minority- and women-owned business participation remained about 14 percent; and the committee was told the district had been awarded $3,000,000 in FEI funding for other project scope. The committee was shown an administrative allocation to move $1,300,000 of that FEI award to theatrical equipment; the presenter said that reallocation does not affect the owner27s construction contingency. The presenter also said a first bond reimbursement request will be submitted for $6,116,450.51, and projected the high school construction contingency balance at about $1,400,000.
Track-and-field and revolving fund matters: The Peregrine representative said construction documents are completed for three separate packages on the track-and-field replacement project: the concession building (package 1), the track-and-field surface replacement (package 2), and a retaining wall (package 3). Cost estimates and proposal requests were being prepared; a separate trailer replacement submittal has been sent to Rydam and the team is awaiting that response. The committee also heard that a revolving fund reimbursement request totaling $46,474.68 will be submitted for recent invoices.
Revolving fund committee work and other votes: Committee members reported the revolving fund committee continues to meet but that some decisions are on hold pending final track-and-field budgeting and the committee27s decision about how much revolving fund money will be required. Committee members confirmed the revolving fund group considers playground work and other items in addition to revolving-fund-specific requests so that recommendations returned to the full committee are more complete.
Other formal actions: The committee approved its April 2 meeting minutes by voice vote, tabled agenda item 3 (moved by Anne and seconded; vote carried), approved bundling and paying outstanding invoices as presented (motion moved by Anne and seconded; vote carried), and adjourned after a motion by Carrie and a second by Rory.
Public comments: No public commenters were recorded for this meeting.
What27s next: The committee will continue to receive construction updates and expects further reporting on IT procurement, the bond reimbursement submittal, and cost estimates for the track-and-field packages. The approved FEI spending will be implemented by the district and reported back to the committee when specific scopes and contractors are identified.
