1.       Call to Order

·         The meeting was called to order at 4:33 pm by Vice Chair Bill Nash.  Eight (8) of thirteen (13) voting members were present or represented by an alternate.  Chair Ed Brady joined via Zoom.

2.       Consider and Vote on Meeting Minutes from February 11, 2026

·         MOTION: Tom Welch moved to accept the meeting minutes from January 14, 2026, and Don Morin seconded.

·         DISCUSSION: None

·         VOTE: The motion passed unanimously (8-0).

3.       Architect’s Update

3.1   No Update

4.       Owners Rep Update:

4.1   MSHS Project Update

·         Colin McCarthy shared information from Gilbane’s monthly dashboard report.

·         Safety Update

·         Zero Recordable Injuries.

·         Document Control

·         158 Submittals in review

·         14 RFI’s in review

·         Schedule

·         The severe winter weather in February has had an impact on the schedule.

·         Colliers is working with Gilbane on a recovery schedule to ensure that the project gets back on track for a fall 2027 school year start.

·         Due to the blizzard, six consecutive days went by where no construction took place as the contractor spent time cleaning up and recovering the site.

·         Financial Status

·         Estimated PCO’s: $772,316 

·         Progress Photos

·         Drone Flyover – Due to the weather there was no drone flyover footage from February to share. 

·         Instead, Colin and Justin walked the group through some recent construction photos.           

4.2   Valley Elementary Project Update

·         Colin McCarthy provided the following update on the work at Valley Elementary:

·         New Water Service Design

·         An updated design based on Newport Water’s comments was sent to Newport Water on February 26^th.

·         The design team is awaiting a response.

·         Summer 2026 Preplanning

·         Primary Focus for summer of 2026

·         Nurse’s Suite

·         First Floor Bathrooms

·         Elevator Shaft

·         New water service pending coordination with Newport Water

·         An OAC meeting was held on 2/18/26 (during February vacation) at the school to review safety, logistics, and coordination and finish selections.  Members of the School Administration attended the meeting.

·         The construction team is planning to use the April school vacation to perform some preliminary work specific to locker removal and door replacements in select areas.  

·         All work will be coordinated with both school and town leadership.

4.3   Forest Avenue Elementary Project Update

·         Justin informed the Committee that the Town Council approved the design proposal at their March 2, 2026 meeting.

·         Schematic design is expected around mid-April.

·         A budget following SD estimating and reconciliation and value engineering is targeted for mid-May.

4.4   Master Schedule Update

·         Justin shared a high-level master schedule.  The schedule does not include a delay from the construction time lost in February as Colliers fully expects that Gilbane will have plenty of time to recover from the weather delay.

·         First day of school in the new MS/HS and Valley Elementary are still planned for late August 2027.

·         A beam signing/topping off ceremony is scheduled for March 27^th at 10am at Gaudet Field.  Dignitaries have been invited and all Building Committee members are welcome.  The beam will be ready for signing next week.

4.5   Budget Update

·         Justin shared the following budget update:

·         Project Funding Available: $200,984,308

·         $190,000,000 Bond Funded

·         $484,308 Appropriation from General Fund

·         $4,800,000 Bond Interest (as of February 28, 2026; will continue to grow)

·         $5,700,000 Bond Premium (this number won’t change)

·         Project Budget: $199,800,125

o   Middle/High School: $173,373,200

o   Valley Elementary: 20,182,100

o   Forest Avenue Elementary: $6,244,825 (estimated pre-design budget)

·         Expenditures to Date: $37,225,300

·         Contracted: $170,291,400

·         Total Anticipated Costs (excluding Contingences): $188,504,300

4.6   RI NEVI Phase 2A Community Charging RFA Application Status

·         The NEVI Grant application was submitted on 8/15/2025.

·         An email received from the administrator on December 7th indicated that two final internal signoffs were required. No timetable was provided.

·         An email on 12/29/2025 from the administrator noted that approvals and notifications are targeted for early 2026.

·         An email on 2/11/2026 from the administrator noted that if all approvals and notifications are not finalized in the next few weeks, a status update would be provided no later than March 10, 2026.

·         Justin received an update on March 11, 2026 stating that all letters of approval are now complete and we will be notified on Friday if we will be receiving the grant.

4.7   Four Week Look Ahead

·         All structural steel has been placed except for the final topping off beam which is planned for March 27^th.  The crane has been removed from the site.

·         MS/HS: Roofing, Structural Steel Detailing, Concrete Slab Placements, Interior and Exterior Framing, Spray Fireproofing.

·         Beam Signing / Topping Off Ceremony Planning will continue.

·         Valley Elementary Summer 2026 Preplanning

·         Forest Avenue Elementary School Schematic Design

5.       School Building Committee Update

5.1 Cultural, Historical, Memorial Subcommittee Update

·         Bill Nash informed the Committee that the Cultural, Historical, Memorial Subcommittee will hold its next meeting on April 7^th.

·         A draft policy on school logos and school branding is being developed by the School Committee for a first reading at its next meeting.

·         A time capsule is being planned for the new Middle-High School, and the subcommittee has begun discussions about also doing one for the Valley Elementary and Forest Avenue Schools.

5.2 Four Week Look Ahead

·         The Building Committee is welcome to attend the beam signing / topping off ceremony on March 27^th at 10am.

·         The next Building Committee meeting will be on April 15^th at 4:30pm.

Adjournment:

·         MOTION: Tom Welch moved for the Building Committee to adjourn at 5:13pm and Don Morin seconded. The motion passed unanimously (8-0).

Respectfully Submitted,

Don Morin