West Warwick approves major school construction awards and renames Payan Street School

West Warwick's town council on June 16 approved a package of awards and amendments for the town's school‑building program and read a superintendent's announcement renaming Payan Street School.

A town official told the council the projects “remain on time and on budget,” while flagging a single tight item related to elevator positioning at one school. On multiple motions the council approved third‑party testing contracts for Maisy Quinn ($48,500), the high school ($6,400) and Harding School ($4,100), all recommended to be performed by Briggs Engineering and Testing.

The council also approved guaranteed maximum prices (GMPs) and related awards: a GMP of $8,222,828 for the Maisy Quinn project and $972,196 for the high school construction contract. The council approved a change order for the Payan Street School project increasing the contract by $36,541 above the base award; the presenter said items prompting the change order — including visual display boards and conduit relocation — were discovered as demolition proceeded.

Mark, the presenting town official, described the awards as consistent with prior estimates and stressed oversight by the school building committee. “Our projects remain on time and on budget,” he said.

The town also voted to contract commissioning services for Payan Street School with Catalyst Commissioning Group (Bethlehem, Pa.) for $28,850 and to retain Cropper GIS Consulting for school redistricting and demographic consulting at $82,000 as a reimbursable subconsultant to Tecton.

The superintendent’s press release read at the meeting announced that Payan Street School will be renamed the Jason M. Pasano Academy for Learning and scheduled a ribbon‑cutting ceremony for Aug. 23. The proclamation in the meeting record described Pasano as a lifelong West Warwick resident whose life and achievements the school will honor.

Councilors said the approvals are part of a broader capital program funded in part by state grants, capital budgets and reimbursements. The council did not change the projects’ overall schedule; staff said work will continue toward opening in the upcoming school year.

The school project items were taken on the recommendation of the school building committee and approved by roll call or voice votes as recorded during the meeting. The council did not identify any additional public comment on the awards.

What happens next: contractors can proceed under the approved GMPs and the town will schedule the Payan Street ribbon cutting for Aug. 23.