School committee approves HVAC contract, ESSER reallocation and partnership support for CTE machinist program

The North Kingstown School Committee on Aug. 1 approved several funding and contracting steps intended to shore up facilities and advance a planned CTE machinist program.

Facilities staff recommended awarding a $540,130 contract for HVAC work in Building B to Martone Service Company after a mandatory pre‑bid process; the committee voted to accept the recommendation. Administration said $360,000 had already been set aside from previous sources and requested an additional $150,130 from available reserves to cover the remaining cost.

Separately, administration presented a closeout of ESSER funds: of the $3,957,614 originally received, $3,771,927 had been expensed or encumbered and $185,687 remained. The administration recommended reallocating $155,000 to cover an HVAC overage on a high‑school building and $30,000 to support dual‑enrollment (running‑start) programming at the high school; the committee approved the amendment.

Committee members pressed administration to confirm funding sources and asked whether state or federal grant rules would allow reallocation; administrators said they had discussed the change with RIDE and that lowering indirect costs created re‑obligatable savings. One member asked how indirect costs were calculated; staff replied the allowable indirect rate was about 4.8% and that the district had taken less than the maximum in prior years.

The committee also discussed a proposed partnership with General Dynamics/Electric Boat to support a CTE machinist program. Administration reported Electric Boat had committed $250,000 and had set up accounts for purchases. Several committee members expressed concern about relying on a letter of commitment without a formal memorandum of understanding; administration said Electric Boat had already set up accounts and would pay vendors directly upon delivery under the agreed process. The committee voted to approve the partnership and acceptance of the commitment letter.

The board’s actions clear the way for immediate next steps: administration may proceed with the HVAC contract under standard purchasing procedures and begin using the Electric Boat account for authorized purchases tied to the CTE program. Members asked for follow‑up reporting on the first purchases, procurement documentation and an explicit plan for managing any future year‑two funding needs for the program.

Actions approved at the meeting included the HVAC contract award, the ESSER reallocation amendment, and formal acceptance of the Electric Boat partnership letter. Administration said it will return with implementation details and with funding‑source clarifications where required.