South Kingstown project team says new high school on time and $2 million under GMP; Curtis Corner to be demolished, fields rebuilt

The South Kingstown School Committee heard a construction update that described steady progress on the district’s new high school and detailed a separate plan to demolish Curtis Corner Middle School and rebuild on-site athletic facilities.

Chris Spiegel, a project presenter, told the committee the high‑school project “is currently on time and under budget,” and that the town recently signed the guaranteed maximum price, which the presenter said is about $2,000,000 lower than anticipated. Spiegel said foundations and underground drainage are complete, steel erection has begun, inspections are ongoing and winter‑condition allowances and a snow‑removal budget are in place to limit weather impacts.

The committee then reviewed a separate Curtis Corner scope that Spiegel said was kept outside the main GMP to seek cost savings through direct management. He outlined a working budget that holds $3,000,000 for demolition and abatement, roughly $5,000,000 for field construction, $2,000,000 for site work and $1,000,000 in contingency. Spiegel said RIDE reimbursement can be triggered for components that are substantially complete by the state’s June 30 deadline and reminded members that RIDE reimburses interest on bonds as part of its program.

On the athletic design, presenters recommended the field remain at Curtis Corner, raised and fitted with new ground improvements and layered drainage to address stormwater. The rendering shown to the committee included new lighting, bleachers with under‑seat storage and fencing. Track recommendations favored a sandwich‑system track made with virgin EPDM granules over asphalt and a 13‑millimeter depth for the wearing surface; life expectancy was described as roughly 10–12 years with routine maintenance. For the field, the stakeholder group recommended a synthetic turf hybrid‑fiber system with an EPDM‑and‑sand infill and a shock pad; presenters estimated the turf would last about 10–12 years and carry a 15–20% premium over a fully redone grass field.

Presenters flagged operational tradeoffs: maintenance contracts and grooming are required for synthetic systems, manufacturers generally advise against mechanical snow‑plowing, and districts should expect routine maintenance costs (a referenced peer project budgeted about $35,000 per year for combined track/field upkeep). Committee members asked about parking, community access and whether the fields would remain school property; presenters said the fields will remain under district administration even if the Curtis Corner school building is demolished and that Parks & Recreation commonly partners on mowing under a paid arrangement.

The committee did not take formal votes on design choices at the meeting. Presenters proposed quarterly updates and a site tour for committee members once weather permits.