001Everyone, I'd like to call the meeting to order. Can we all stand for the pledge of allegiance, please? >> To the flag of the United States of America, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Pause for a moment of silence. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome everyone to our special meeting for Tuesday, August 5th of the Cheraho Regional School District. I hope you are all having a great summer to uh the members here and also to the member members of the public. So, we are here tonight um with an abbreviated agenda um for capital improvement planning for the elementary schools. And what I wanted to to ask the superintendent andor um Mr. Zenyan, the finance director and the director of administration to do is to just give us sort of a highle
002overview of what brought us to this point. um for we've got some new members on our committee this evening and um I think it would be good to just have sort of that 360 degree overview and I know that the necessity for school construction subcommittee met recently which brought us to this point also but maybe if Gina and then if if if Greg has anything to add in the process but I'll I'll turn it over to Gina and we have two items on our agenda this evening. >> Good evening. So KAS has been uh with the district even prior to um my arriving here uh almost six years ago. Wow. And um they have done wonderful work. So own they are our owners project managers for previous um projects that we have put forward um
003to the school building authority. They have been a fabulous partnership. We began with Derek Arman my first year and then um we have Holly uh who's I think yeah she is Holly. Hello Holly. Um and the Kier's proposal it was um myself and Greg we talked about the work that they have done with us. They have been ve very good partners across the board. We met with the necessity for school construction team who also unanimously uh approved moving them forward to the school committee for approval and um they know the the buildings well and our and our work well. So that helps expedite a lot of our projects, but more importantly the collaboration and um the review of the work and to ensure that we have all the tees crossed and eyes dotted for the
004school building authority. As many of you know, it's not an easy to navigate those systems. They change sometimes monthly to weekly and having the background that Kios has has been very beneficial to the district and we've appreciated uh their collaboration. And I did ask Mr. Zenian as someone new to his role being new to Collier to sort of maybe give you a little bit of update about his experience uh within the last eight months. >> So my experience with Collers has been excellent. Um they respond immediately to any concerns or questions. Um someone on this committee asked me you know um do they get back when you leave a voicemail and my response was I don't believe I've ever left a voicemail. They always pick up the phone. Um they have been extremely helpful and
005um um there have been changes at Ride so which has made um some of the paperwork a little more um indepth and a little more bumpy and they have definitely been very supportive and helpful along the way and they're very easy to work with >> and Holly's here if you have any questions as a committee that you'd like to >> please Holly welcome thank you for me. I'm Holly Demer. I'm the director in the Rhode Island Collier's office. Um, yes, I'd be happy to answer any questions about the next stage two process for you. So, um, I am recommending approval of Collier as the owner's project manager to the school committee. >> So, move >> second. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second discussion among the members. >> Larry, >> is Kier
006and Slam two different divisions? They are. >> They're not the same. Are the different companies? >> Different. Okay. They everything's put together with the two. So, I thought they were in the same building. >> Well, because they oversee the project with the office. Okay. >> They're sort of their their eyes and they're the experts to make sure that >> So, can we hire Kers and not hire Slam >> at this time? >> This is just for Collers. >> The motion right now is for Collers. >> Collers. >> Okay. I can't make a restless decision then if I don't have the answer to that question. >> They're separate. They're not >> they're two different contracts, two different companies, >> but >> one has nothing to do with the other. >> Okay. >> So, Larry Kers um
007advises us when we're working with the architect. So, there may be things that um the architect would present that callers would um look at and say, "Look, that's not CHO's best interest or you know, that's not the best possible price you." So, they work um in conjunction with this committee. They don't >> right we're hiring them to >> over there's sidebar conversations going on so one at a time so Greg Larry Pat and if you got if you ladies have something that you want to add just raise your hand and I'll acknowledge you >> so we're hiring this company because we don't have the veritas report is that >> no that's no this is required by law for the school building authority you must have an owners project manager for all your projects Okay. So,
008how could I'm I'm We had the Jacobs report before and now we had this company which some reason we can't get a report out of them. So, how are we logically supposed to make a decision without the Veraritoss report saying what the conditions of our buildings are in? >> I'm just trying to >> So, it's the Bureau of Veraritoss is just a reminder of the upcoming product. So, we're not going to have buildings that are better because we we still have significant uh amount of work that has to be done the elementary planning. So, we are required by law to have an 5-year capital improvement plan, which we have gone five years without one, which is why we're only allowed to spend $500,000. So, when everybody's on social media saying where why aren't they putting
009money into the schools? It's because we could only put for the last six years $500,000 into our elementarymentaries because we don't have an approved capital plan. And we keep repeating this process. >> Pat. >> Yeah. I was just going to say they just work as like a general manager of all the subs. It's basically what their job is. If that makes it >> people use like clerks of the work. Is that like the old term like not >> not the same thing? But >> our role as an owner's project manager is to oversee um to protect the owner, right? So whether or not you're doing a new roof or a playground or a new school, we do everything from the request for proposals, reviewing them, helping you set up matrix to score them. We don't
010have we don't score. We don't do any of that. Basically, we're your eyes and ears on the ground to make sure you're getting the best what you should have for the money and what your in your needs. So that anything over a certain amount of money, ride requires an owner's project manager to make sure your needs are met. That's basically what the role is in this particular, you know, there's stage twos, which is an application versus overseeing projects. They're all different. So, we wear lots of hats, but our goal is always to represent you to protect you. That's our role. >> Karen and Jess had her hand up. I was just going to say this this is required by RIDE to have this to have an owner's project manager and to state that in the
011uh necessity for school construction meeting um Greg and Gina both made it very clear that you are very responsive and very quick to answer questions and to help with all of the paperwork and with the ride portal and that you've been essential to the projects that we've done here. >> Thank you. Karen, Jess, did you have something? >> I'm I'm trying to think of how to clarify this for Mr. Phelps who has been through this process before. Um, this agenda item is just for the project manager. So, if you have an issue with SLAM, that's not this agenda item. That's the next agenda item. >> I understand that. >> Okay. Because you asked if you could do one or the other. And you they're two different agenda items. >> Correct. I just wanted to know
012if Never mind. Well, I I I want to make sure you understand because this is an important process and this is the second time that you've been through it as a person on this school committee. >> So, for you to understand it is very important. >> Um, so as has been said, the owners project managers >> 62 years old. I don't need to be talked to like that. Thank you. >> I'm trying to clarify what it is you're looking for, what information you need. >> I figured it out. Don't worry. >> Okay. Sure. >> Okay. So, as part of the materials that were included in our packet tonight, >> um Holly, so you have there's a sort of a scope of services in here that were listed in bulleted points. >> Yes. >> So, just
013for the um edification for the members of the public. So what it says here is as part of your deliverables is facil facilitation of meetings with the regional school district and ride to review the district's capital improvement plan assisting the regional school district in developing the documents required for the stage 2 submission that need to be generated by the school district. Provision of project management services to set deliverable schedules, budget and coordinate workflow to be completed for the stage two submission. Provision of limited commissioning review for projects proposed as required by RIDE. Final assembly and submission to RIDE of stage two documents on or before February 15, 2026. and coordination with ride posts submission in anticipation of the receipt of an MOA. So is this all-encompassing of the deliverables for our district these sort of
014bulleted points or does it is the scope of deliverables more expansive than this? >> No, everything that's outlined there is from soup to nuts for delivering the stage two which is due in February and then as it mentions post. So once you do a stage two, you submit it, there will be things that ride wants later and to review re-review things and all. So then from February till about May, you're going back with RI back and forth with Ride until they approve it in June. So it's soup to nuts for the stage two. Everything that is required by your OPM required from Cheraho for the submission, we would coordinate all of it. >> Okay. Thank you. And my other question was um it says here fee for service stage 2 fee is 185,000 allowables excuse
015me allowable for um allowance for reimburseables 12,000. Um what happens if we don't expend the full 12,000 for reimburseables? We just you just don't spend it. >> Okay. Yeah. All right. And I had another question here. Um there is a portion of the contract if you will that's it's section 5.0 retainer. It says Kier's CPL reserves the right to request a retainer from the client prior to the commencement of services on a project. So is the 197,000 equivalent of the retainer? Is that what the retainer means? >> No, I've never That's a corporate backup. I've never seen a an actual retainer required. We basically as far as the fee being the um the total fee minus the um expenses expenses. We would just be billing per month based on hours spent. So that's it. There's
016no upfront fees. There's nothing that you would have to give us to retain us. >> Okay. And my final question on this is have you ever worked with a client that has for whatever reason terminated their agreement with your firm in I would say in the last two years based on school construction projects or stage two applications that you've entered into an agreement on and for whatever reason had to part ways. >> No. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Jess, >> when we did review this in the necessity for school construction subcommittee, I was looking at the fee for service as was just mentioned by the chair. Um, it's the second page. So, the total fee for this time is 197,000. At the bottom of the page, it says these rates are subject to
017an escalation of up to 4% per year. >> I'm curious if since last year, this rate has increased 4%. >> Yes, this is this is current. So these numbers are current through this whole this whole period of time. >> Do you know what we paid last time? >> I'd have to look. >> Yeah, I had asked the meeting as well. I don't know if anyone else was able to find that information. >> The previous contract would have had the same breakdown. So I can get that for you. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Holly. >> I wanted to ask her. >> Yes, Polly. Uh I think one of the concerns is the bureau veritas report report is not going to be ready. How do you feel about that? How like is the Jacobs report that's 10
018years old enough to supplement what needs to be repaired, replaced, refurbished or >> you'd have to dive deep anyway. >> Yeah. There's no, you know, they're very that report was it's Jacobs, I think, was in 2016, I believe, >> and this new one was supposed to be out almost eight months ago. Um, I haven't heard that it's going to give you much that will change it, you know, updated from based on what you've done perhaps, but they, you know, to go, this group was hired by the state to go into every school in the state. So, the depth of that, we'll see. Um, but as far as what you're trying to do in your stage two, as far as establishing cost and what the best use of your what whatever it is your path is
019for your capital plan, you really need someone to really look at the schools and not assume that what's in that report is accurate. I've looked, you know, I've probably have done 12 stage twos over the last 10 years and to you can't count on the Jacob's report even 10 years ago and feel like it was the Bible and it was, you know, good to go. You really do need due diligence. it wouldn't do you any good. >> And who are is Kier stepping in to do that due diligence or is it going to be a team effort? >> So what happens for stage two is you'll hire your architect who then has a whole team of engineers all different, you know, aspects of what's necessary in the stage two, you know, and then they go
020in, we will go in with into the schools with their engineer, with the lead architects and really look at everything, look at your systems, look at everything. So at the end of the day in our stage two, you're going to really understand, you know, what you need in each school. >> So yeah, you don't want to do it by that report. It would not be >> And have you worked with SLAM before? >> Yes. >> So you feel confident in a partnership with them? Easy to work with? Yes. >> Any any concerns? >> No, we did a um a $45 million elementary school maybe in 2020 21. Um and then Johnston Elementary School which is a thou 1100 student school which is twothirds through construction right now on time on budget. Beautiful. >> So now
021we work very well together. Okay. Good. Thank you. Of course. >> Any other questions? Okay. So, we have a motion and a second on the table to approve the contract with Collier as the owner's project managers for ride stage two application for the Cherokee Elementary School 5-year capital improvement plan. All in favor? It is unanimous. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Holly. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um item three on the agenda, approval of the contract with SLAM to prepare a ride stage 2 application for the Cheraho Elementary School 5-year capital improvement plan. >> Dina, did you want to >> We had comment on any of those. >> Two bids that were put forward and uh unanimously the necessity for school construction subcommittee voted to approve SLAM. uh they were both uh good companies
022I think uh based on the the timing the number of times we've had to do it the backgrounds of the schools and the fact that we were uh we have to expedite timelines the um necessity of school construction is recommending and I am recommending with along with Mr. presenting the approval of contract with slam to prepare our rise stage two application for the char elementary school 5-year capital improvement plan in that um in this approval you will uh be finalizing sort of your scope um right now as you saw there there have been um three possibilities put forth when Mr. Zenian worked with uh Mr. Anderson to uh talk with Slam about um interests. So there there is the the um the last project which would just be a cost uh review of if the
023community was interested in three elementary schools. There is the one elementary school which was the original plan five years ago. So that was uh brought back again. That would have to be um that's a larger part of the of the cost almost a half million. And then um the third was the um the the the renovations um project which is probably the most expensive. Um but those were the three paths that Mr. Zenian worked with. Um if there's diff if there's a difference or questions you have uh then this would be the time to talk talk about different scopes of what it is you want them to put forward because then by October the committee would have to decide the final project to finalize for our stage two application. And just a reminder, your stage
024two application is a rendering. It's not the building you'll actually get. It's to be able to show you um what is available if you do a school that's, you know, one per town or uh one for the entire district or renovation completely. >> So move. >> Okay. Second. >> So we have a motion and a second. Discussion by the committee members. >> Good evening. Good evening. Kathy Ellorpor from Slam Collaborative. I'm the principal in charge of the uh Providence office. Happy to answer any questions you have. >> Thank you for being here. >> Certainly. >> Diane. >> Hi. Yeah. Diane, nice to meet you. >> Um I guess I have a question regarding the um the whole proposal. Um, you know, I and I understood what I'm sorry I forgot your name. >> Kathy had
025stated about the Jacobs report. >> Holly, >> that was Holly. Sorry, Holly. >> Yeah, I pointed over Holly. Um, and that we should not be looking at that. That's like 10 years ago. We should really not be looking at that, right? >> We use it as a piece of information, but you really need to build upon it, >> okay? because it's old and because it was only done to a certain depth of understanding. >> So according to ride an individual at ride um you know because we don't have the var report why madam you know um but it was mentioned that you know well just you know you'll need to take the Jacobs report and add 30% to it. 30%. I I'm I'm confused as to how we could possibly do that. If one person
026is saying you don't want to look at that Jacob's report, it's 10 years old. So, we're kind of in this place where we have an old report recommending to add 30% to that, but then we don't have the new report. And what happens when the new report comes back and maybe we don't need 30% increase in in in what the proposal could be or what they suggest is required for the schools. >> So hold on. I just want to be clear because the architect um that's not um what they would they they would handle. So the bureau the reports that come from the state uh the general assembly back in 2018 put in a law that just like schools have to do their five-year capital improvement plan the state has to have a review right
027>> so what the architects here do for our stage one and stage two of well technically stage two is a much more in-depth report than what you would see from Jacobs or Bureau of Veritas or anyone else that comes to do those because they are a a reviewer right so they're doing every single school and they're giving you a big picture idea like Kathy said it's a it's required by the state general assembly to have that report but it's not the expectation that that's the only thing we do which is why the stage two is we're responsible to know our buildings >> so Riot says we'll give a big picture view here's your big picture idea but that just gives you sort of the minimal right this is minimal what you have to do >>
028and that would veritas report which would give that type >> we actually have we we we're going to have a better job knowing Jason Sullivan is he knows the buildings well, right? >> Based on the the number of workers or buildings, it really is going to be our work in our in our buildings that that that fiveyear because what RIDE does is they're looking at our capital improvement plan or lack thereof. They're seeing what we've invested the money in and what still needs to be done based on the age of the school and ride will say after 50 years you we're already aged out. >> So those reports um they're a big picture review but they're not sort of the beall endall. That's why the stage two is required >> and I I I understand
029that. >> Okay. >> So, do we do we know say okay Jacob's report you know did so many years ago you know what the difference was between what the Jacobs report recommended and what we actually ended up with. >> We haven't done we have made um minimal for elementary school like I said because there has been no fiveyear capital improvement plan since the start of this. We have only been allowed to expend up to $500,000 a year, >> right? >> Because Ride will not allow you to do more than that and get reimbursed. >> So, we're sort of we're we're a little behind the eightball on this one. >> A little bit, huh? Yeah. Um Okay. Well, I guess that's my question. I mean, as far as you know, they are basically the designers and
030the evaluators of the school basically, >> right? We all we saw so far from u well the architect will come in and and share with you based on what you suggest for the what you want them to look into >> um they'll put that show on the road to the community sharing the different proposals or the different options get getting community feedback they'll present and then this committee will decide what they want to move forward for the stage two >> which options we want to look at like the options for the public discussions and such right correct >> so I guess my confusion is is you know are we looking at you know I I I actually saw the conceptual design for a one new prek to four school for 11,000 students >> 1100 I
031mean I'm sorry uh right those are the options so far that the district has looked into and then the last one was the renovation which was what we heard from the community was people wanted to know what that would look like in comparison to um either three new schools or one new But at this point, the committee can determine if they want that to be changed. That's what you're going to decide today. >> Exactly. >> Y >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> So Kathy, just for my own clarification, and you put together a um one and a half page or so um proposal addressed to Mr. Zenyion on July 7th. It was revised on July 28th. >> In the first paragraph, you basically state that you are going to be charged. SLAM would be
032charged with fully investigating the existing facilities, bring forward options, and design the best educational facilities for Cheraho. That's sort of your overarching goal, >> correct? >> And that this is a two-part process that was requested by I I believe it was the administration, and I appreciate the two-part um process. Um, part one would be creating a presentation that would be shared four times between September 15th and October 15th in all three towns and at a school committee meeting and that we have to decide by October 21st what option we would like to move forward with. Correct? Okay. So part one that was outlined in your proposal was the deliverables for part one of this sort of two-part agreement is a uh including site floor plans and renderings from the previous stage two for the three
033new schools and the following for each existing school and the new central school. conceptual colored site plan, conceptual colored floor plans, one conceptual exterior rendering, and conceptual cost estimates. And then you break that down under conceptual cost estimates. Um and in the second bullet in that area it says since there is not an actual site for a proposed new central prek to4 school we will not be able to do any site investigations to inform the cost estimate. All site costs will be derived using best practice and any information provided by the owner for the land immediately around the central campus. So that's part of your potential part one deliverables. >> Correct. Part two would be taking place after the school committee decided at our October school committee meeting what plan we would want to move
034forward with. Is that right? Okay. I just want to understand that process. And then it also says in your document that we we SLAM have assumed the school department will obtain an updated and this is an abbreviation NESC demographic report to be used to determine the population of each school per ride guidel guidelines. >> That's the enrollment report that's required by ride. >> So when would we and this necessarily isn't a question for Kathy but for Gina and Greg. When would we get a demographic report to guesstimate population? Because this was a question that I asked. >> I we have one, but I would call if this was approved tonight, I would call tomorrow and request a new one. >> So the the most recent one is online. It's under the necessity for school construction
035tab. So that was the one we had just done in the last stage one. And then but every time you do this process, RD requires you to have an updated enrollment. So, we've used NASDAQ, which they all have allowed. Um, previous to my coming, it was Oh my gosh, what was the name of the >> crappon? I know you know it. Um, >> is it Craropper? >> I'm just laughing at the whole scenario. >> No. Um, I I can't think of the name. >> What was it? Was it Craropper? >> No. No. Um, but anyway, the enrollment um Nestic actually is one of the cheapest ways to do the enrollment study. What they do is they look at birth rates, death rates, permits pulled um and an and overall of review for like they'll tell
036you within the five years it's a pretty good rendering and then up to 10 years it's a guesstimate. Um but overall it shows basically what we've seen now like um very small shifts um in enrollment at this point. >> Okay. And >> but we have to do an updated one to make sure. >> Okay. So will the projections be shared with the school committee at some point before we have to make a decision in October? >> Yes. >> Okay. Great. >> If we have them. >> Well, usually if we ask for after the approval tonight, we would be able to move forward with the enrollment. >> Okay. And then Kathy, just um on the last page of your proposal, you have estimated a cost for part one for our consideration, which includes presentation including conceptual
037estimates of three options, $353,550. and then the part two in this um document. So just so I understand when we decide what we want to move forward with as a school committee >> then the pricing for each of these options >> whichever one you pick >> whatever one we pick we will have to obviously pay slam for that fee. >> Correct. Okay. >> You're not paying for all of them. Okay. >> It's one. >> Um great. And then Gina, did you I reim reimbursements. So if we if our stage two application is approved by RIDE, we are reimbursed up to a certain point for this. >> Well, um there are certain portions of the project that are reimburseable. Yes. >> Okay. >> Pretty much Ry sort of breaks it down. Um I don't have it
038off the top of my head. Kathy, you may know better than I know it or even Holly. >> Holly. Um but typically like for example when we just did the main campus bond um all of the work that was done previously was able to be fun was able to be reimbursed by the bond and it was reimbur reimburseable for ride. >> Okay. Cath I mean I'm I'm sorry Holly. >> Yes. The any fees that uh for your stage two whether it's your OPM or your architect is reimburseable once you actually get the award and the projects go forward. So what we typically do is we take the the total fee for any of the contracts at this point and we break them down over the projects. So if you have one school, it would just
039be part of that one school and it would get reimbursed. So whatever your reimbursement rate is. >> Yeah. Right now it's um it's 61% and the regional bonus if they provide it is another it can be up to an additional five. >> Right. So you'd get that back. Thank you. And then Greg and Gina, we have put money aside for all of this process in the fiscal year 26 budget. Is that right? >> Correct. Yes. >> Thank you. Does anybody else have any questions? >> Good. >> Thank you. Uh Jess, um so it just came up as the bonuses. The the two things that I want to clarify with this point in this process that's been ongoing for multiple years is that the um additional bonuses are out. the ones that we were talking about
040last time that would have gotten us up to threequarters of the project cost 66 76% to 81% that's gone. We're back to our base level. So any of these projects will be reimbured at a lower rate than what was available to us the last time we discussed this. Um and then the other thing is that the regarding the one consolidated elementary school I just want to clarify at many points along this process that that was never voted on. I know I've heard from different people in the community that they that was the people voted that down, but that was presented um back in >> 2020 2021 >> we it was pulled in 2020. >> It was right around the start of that 2021. Um that was one of the ideas that were presented and it
041was never voted on that stage that stage two that stage one never made it to stage two. Last year we made it to stage two and um that project did not make it past the voters. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Um, and I think that, you know, the school committee members here need to make it clear what they will stand for because there were some of you, including the chair, that were opposed to the last proposal for three new schools at 76 to 81% reimbursement. And I think that needs to be made known. And I think it's even more prudent that we hear what you do want and what you will approve because um, >> are you asking me that question right now? >> I'm not asking you right now, but if you'd like
042to answer it, that's fine. It wasn't just you. I said including you. Um, so I'm not trying to put anyone on the spot or be disrespectful, but I think we need that's part of the clarity that we need moving forward. Um, in addition to clarifying that the one consolidated school was never voted on and that the bonuses that were previously available are now gone. So I guess the three points I want to make sure we clarify in this discussion as we move forward. So to respond to that question, I would say that as part of this process in going to the three towns, I think it's important for us to listen to what the voters and the residents of our three towns want and what their feedback is. I think, you know, our partners will
043give us cost estimates and what those things are going to cost. Hold on one second. Um, and I think it's important for us to be able to give information as indepth information as possible on cost estimates for all three projects as possible. Um, to answer your question, Jess, I'm you know, I want to I I'm eager to hear from your due diligence and um assessing the um stage or the state of the three, you know, existing schools. Um, I'm I'm really interested in hearing what it would cost for one new school, what it would cost for renovations and additions, and then if there is a a price adjustment for three new elementary schools based on your work from the last time around. Um, just from a practical standpoint, um, you know, I'm not I'm not
044going to say what what my preference would be, um, as a beall end all right this second, but my personal preference would be for one new elementary school. And that is, you know, just I'm just putting it out there. I just think that from an efficiency standpoint, from um a cost perspective, I think one new school would make sense for a regional school district. But I'm one person and I want to hear what the community has to say about the options that you will, you know, inform us on um hopefully by the October school committee meeting. >> If I may add one thing to that. So, in your October meeting where you discuss and give us a direction and we've heard from your communities before that, we will take all that information in and what
045we show you and what what the renderings and and plans might be at that October meeting. We'll move forward off of that. There might be some things that collectively you've asked us to change. I I don't know what, right? But we'll we'll be able to take that information that we gathered from all three of your communities together and inform what gets placed in front of Ry in February. Um so it'll it still has the opportunity to evolve, I guess, is what I want you to realize from October to February. >> Thank you, Kathy. Craig, did you have a comment? >> Yeah, I'm going to talk about the uh demographic study real quick, but before I do that, uh I just wanted to let people know I was on the building committee when we It wasn't
046just one big school. There was like three to five different proposals at the time. But the point is I would say nine out of every 10 people talk to work against it. But talking about the demographic study, I would also recommend that we share that information with with each town uh because you know at the end of the day 20 years from now uh whatever we decide on now they're going to be paid and u says it's based on population and the last proposal uh demographic study which wasn't that long ago and the one before that which wasn't that much longer before that because it seems like every time you do this you have to pay for another demographic study. And the numbers don't change, but it does show all the towns, I mean, it
047shows Charles Town shrinking more and it shows Hington growing more. >> So, >> thank you for that feedback, Jess. >> Um, one of the things I think about in this process regarding renovations is what does renovation mean? So, you can gut and renovate a school. You can fix little things. You can spend 15 million bucks and improve the HVAC and it looks like the same school on the outside from every other perspective. And um so that's kind of to me that's the one that's the most unknown, you know, and that we discussed in the last process. It was pretty um straightforward to say we're going to build a new school from the ground up and here's what's going to happen. But renovation is a lot more tricky. Uh there's a lot more gray area. there's
048a lot more opportunity for unexpected costs. So, I don't have a particular question. If you have some experiences that could speak to that maybe or if other school committee members have uh want to share their ideas of what renovation means to them, what they'd be looking to see, uh I think that would be helpful because I think it is it's very uncertain um that path forward and I'm trying to get some clarification. So, one thing I can share with you is Ride is expecting, and Holly make sure I say this correctly, that when we get done with a major renovation that it's a substantial 50-year building, as if you built a new one, you've done enough renovations to it. If you're calling it a gut renovation to get that level of reimbursement and whatnot, that
049there's a lot you do, right? Um, it may not mean you're moving every wall, but you're probably getting all new mechanical systems, probably upgrading a lot of your plumbing systems, probably getting new roofs, maybe getting all new windows. Like, there's a lot. And we also want to be looking um hard at the programmatic, the educational program for par so that your students are exposed to the same uh curriculum, whether that means everybody gets a gym or not, that those are the discussions to be had. and and some of those discussions may be what we talk about from October to February. Um because we can only get so much done between now and September 15th. Um so we might go too far or not far enough for what you want to present um and and know
050uh all the information you need on for that February submission. So that's probably the one that's has the most uh potential change from October to February because there's so many choices that you could make based on the condition of each school and what does parity mean um when it when we're talking about educational program not just space. >> Um just can I follow up? Is that okay? Well, you this this this would be it because every member has two opportunities to ask questions or make comments, right? >> And you want to enforce that for this meeting? >> I I'm trying to reinforce it for >> it for this meeting. I'm just asking because I I want to if that's the case, I'm probably not going to say this question. I'll wait >> for it for
051this meeting. >> Can you Can you let me answer? >> Yes. >> So, this is your second opportunity to ask her a question. So, go ahead. >> No. Anyone else? Karen, >> my understanding is that if we do a renovation that that means we have to be ADA compliant, right? Like yes, like anything that was grandparented in now has to be fully like a full elevator or >> Yes. The expectation from the state and from the governor's commission on disabilities would be that your building is made as fully fully accessible as possible. There are times when uh you can get an exception to something, but in a major project scale of this would be unusual. >> Okay. >> Thanks, Karen. Anyone else? >> Yes, Greg. >> Kathy, would a major Morano that we're you're speaking
052about um take place with students in school? >> So, that's something that we would need to talk about is whether you have swing space available to you or not. um projects happen with students in them. Is it ideal? No. Everybody would always prefer for teaching and learning to not have construction literally on the other side of the wall or even across a field, right? Sometimes the noise. Um so I don't think I can answer that for you. Um the sites the three existing site well two of the existing sites are fairly constrained. Um, so I you might need to send everybody away. Um, but it's certainly something that needs to be talked about. It's something RIDE will ask you about as part of the February submission. Um, and if swing space is deemed to be
053necessary, I believe Holly, you need to budget for that in the uh in the the full budgets that get presented that you've thought about it, you recognize it if it's needed, and that you've accommodated it. >> Okay. So, seeing no other hands raised, we have a motion and a second. So, all in favor of approval of a contract with SLAM to prepare a ride stage 2 application for Charo Elementary School 5-year capital improvement plan, say I or raise your hand. It is unanimous. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um, are there any other comments by the administration before we adjourn? >> Do we have a motion to adjurnn? So move. >> We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Unanimous. Thank you.