Central Falls school building committee hears construction update; approves $119,280.32 in FEI carryover

The Central Falls School Building Committee received detailed construction and budget updates from the district's Owner’s Project Management team and approved a $119,280.32 expenditure of leftover FEI 2023 funds for targeted facility improvements.

Unidentified Speaker 3, the project presenter from the Peregrine team, told the committee that “construction coordination, progress is continuing at the high school,” and described visible exterior siding work and interior casework installation, especially on the third floor. He said the double-height CTE law and advocacy classroom is taking shape and stairwells are now accessible for safe circulation.

The presenter also described ongoing site work, saying grading of roadways and parking areas and completion of a basketball court near the RIBA building are nearing finish. On procurement, Speaker 3 said the IT department is working through an RFP and the team expects to report on initial purchase orders next month. He noted minority business enterprise and women-owned business participation remains “about 14%.”

On budget items, Speaker 3 said the district had been awarded $3,000,000 in FEI funding; an administrative allocation of $1,300,000 is proposed for theatrical equipment and, he said, “is included in the new contract value but does not impact the construction contingency.” He reported a projected construction contingency balance of roughly $1,400,000 and said the team will submit a bond reimbursement request of $6,116,450.51 covering work by A I 3, Peregrine and project consultants.

The committee heard a separate update that track-and-field design documents for three construction packages (concession building, field replacement and a retaining wall) are complete and cost estimates are being prepared. Speaker 3 said the track package has been submitted to Ryland and the team will seek a revolving-fund reimbursement of $46,474.68 for invoices from Peregrine and A I 3.

When the committee reviewed the school building committee revolving fund, Speaker 2 said FEI 2023 closed with about $119,000 remaining and that Ryde agreed to extend use of those funds for work at Calcutt. Speaker 2 proposed amending Martone’s contract to keep Martone as the general contractor for that work and identified three prioritized uses: windows in the administration wing, finishing painting in stairwells, and any remaining funds for air-conditioning third-floor classrooms used by Raices. Speaker 2 summarized the leftover amount as “approximately $119,280.32.”

One member urged equitable distribution of temperature-controlled space, noting concern about conditioning only the rooms used by one program. The committee discussed prioritization; the principal and committee members favored windows first, then painting, then cooling if funds remained.

Speaker 1 moved to approve the expenditure of $119,280.32 from the remaining FEI 2023 funds in accordance with applicable regulations. After a second, the committee voted in favor and the motion carried.

Later in the meeting, Speaker 3 recommended bundling outstanding invoices for payment. Following a motion and second, the committee voted to approve payment of all presented bills. The committee tabled an absent agenda item at the chair's request and adjourned following a motion to end the meeting.

The committee did not record detailed roll-call vote counts on the record; votes were taken verbally and recorded as carried by the chair. Next steps include the district's planned submission of the bond reimbursement request and follow-up reports on IT purchasing and contract amendments tied to the FEI allocation.