The Middletown School Building Committee on Nov. 12 unanimously recommended guaranteed maximum price amendments for both the Valley Elementary and the new Middle‑High School and approved related alternates and contracts.

Justin, the owner’s representative, told the joint meeting that the Valley Elementary GMP package includes a base scope of $9,427,171 plus change orders 1 through 9 ($114,394) and add alternates — roofing segments, skylights, a new elevator and hallway revisions — and recommended "a total GMP approval of $14,965,985 for Valley Elementary School." The motion to recommend Bentley’s Valley Elementary GMP (moved by Mr. Morin) passed after a voice vote with members responding "aye."

On the larger project, the committee recommended a base GMP value of $132,301,152 for the Middle‑High School with selected alternates including athletic fields, the softball field, the North Driveway (pending permitting), certain site furnishings and FF&E removal. Justin said, "All in, we're looking at a total GMP value with recommended alternates of $135,821,840." That motion also carried on a unanimous voice vote.

The committee was explicit that these recommendations are approvals to forward; the school committee will vote separately and the town council will consider the GMPs as part of its next steps. Committee members also discussed the permitting implications of the North Driveway, with the owner’s rep noting that work on that alternate will require resubmission to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and may affect sequencing and additional design services.

The owner’s rep presented an overall project funding picture of $194,184,308 (including the $190 million bond, a $484,308 general‑fund appropriation for a generator and gym windows, and $3.7 million of bond interest). He reported a $20,182,100 budget for the elementary projects and $173,373,200 for the middle‑high project and said the current figures show a $629,008 surplus that could be used for renovations at Forest Avenue School pending further approvals and design work.

Committee members also voted to award tree‑transplant work to Northeastern Tree Service for $8,900 to transplant nine trees identified by the tree commission. The contract will be executed under the Rhode Island Master Price Agreement process and the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Members asked several procedural and budget‑control questions during the GMP discussion, including how allowances are tracked (Colliers will track allowances and report at OAC meetings), how unused allowances are handled, and how MBE/WBE participation will be monitored and audited through the project. Justin said allowances are tracked continuously and can be moved into owner's contingency or applied to change orders as needed, and that MB/WBE participation will be audited regularly.

Next steps: the committee's recommendations will be forwarded to the full school committee and the town council for final approvals; the construction managers will continue weekly coordination meetings as the projects move into more active construction phases. A topping‑off ceremony for structural steel was noted as tentatively scheduled for February.

Votes at the meeting included approval of the Oct. 29 meeting minutes, recommendation of Bentley’s Valley Elementary GMP and alternates for $14,965,985, recommendation of Gilbane’s Middle‑High School GMP and alternates for $135,821,840, approval of the Northeastern Tree Service proposal for $8,900, approval of the consent agenda, and adjournment at 6:17 p.m.