Building committee authorizes submission of Forest Avenue Stage 3 schematic to RIDE SBA

The Hilltown School Building Committee on July 15 authorized Colliers to submit the Stage 3 schematic design package for Forest Avenue Elementary to the RIDE School Building Authority portal.

Jerry Haas, middle school principal, told the committee that the Forest Avenue budget was updated from a 2021 facility-condition estimate of roughly $6.2 million to $7,460,000 after schematic-design estimating conducted by the construction manager Bentley and a third-party estimator. Haas said the work covered by the updated estimate includes ADA upgrades, a new elevator, a new HVAC system, new windows, updated sprinklers and flooring. He also noted the memorandum of agreement (MOA) adopted June 25 moves just under $9,800,000 of available funding to Forest Avenue and eliminates funding for Gwinnick Avenue; the MOA’s total value was not changed.

Committee members asked whether delaying the vote until after the RIDE review would change reimbursement or schedule. Haas said delaying would likely lose a month of schedule unless a special meeting were called and emphasized this Stage 3 submission is the first of three submissions (schematic, design development, and 60% construction documents).

Don Warren moved the authorization; the motion was seconded, placed to a voice vote and carried. The committee record shows the building committee approved Colliers’ submission to the SBA portal and will continue design development in subsequent submittals.

Next steps include the July 16 review meeting with RIDE. The Forest Avenue package will proceed to the school committee and then to the town council for additional approvals as required.