The Martin Middle School renovation project, while still well under way and on time, has hit a bit of a bump in the road after recent exterior excavation at the Brown Street site revealed some potentially hazardous materials that tested above the legal limit set by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

As part of an in-depth update provided to the School Committee regarding on-going projects being done at locations around the district at its April 9 meeting, the body was informed of the need to temporarily halt some work in the rear of the existing building while more evaluation is conducted.

District Building Committee co-chairman Joel Monteiro, the former School Committee At-Large member and chairman, and Anne DaSilva, in role as owner project manager from the Peregrine Group, gave that information and more to the full School Committee.

On Martin specifically, a public meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday, April 15, in the new administration building auditorium on the high school campus. The forum included abutters of the MMS property as well as experts who revealws some findings as well as offer up any recommendations of how the district should proceed on the $117-plus million project.

Monteiro did note that even though a portion of the effort has stopped for the moment, contractors are "busy."

"They're working everywhere they can and there's plenty of work to do inside," he continued, referring to demolition and abatement being done to interior of the 47-year-old building.

On other aspects of the project, DaSilva said the district has received some permits necessary for the project to continue. As well, she said the endeavor is on target to exceed participation of Minority and Women-owned Business (M/WBE). The current forecast is to reach 17.2%, 7.3 minority and 9.9% women.

Looking back and ahead, demolition of the old administration offices section of the building is complete. The installation of a new water line is ongoing, and an added layer of weather protection material has been put into place for the existing building that will remain. And procurement of materials needed for the effort is 80% done.

After last Tuesday's meeting Manny Vinhateiro, the former superintendent of schools and current co-chair with Monteiro of the Building group, said the district is doing its due dilligence. SAGE Environmental of Providence has been hired to act on behalf of the district. Vinhateiro said it was likely the area with contaminated soil will need to be remediated.

For those unaware, Martin was built on the site of a former farm. The location was also used at various times as an unofficial dumping ground and Vinhateiro noted as well it was legal decades ago to openly burn garbage, making the location an environmental concern in modern times for any construction, but especially that of a school.

By attempting to get ahead of the matter, Vinhateiro said the hope is there won't be any meaningful delays with the pouring of foundations for the new three-story structure on the parcel when the contaminants were found.

New EPHS

Monteiro told the full board the new East Providence High School project remains open as monies from the original $189.5 million outlay are still available.

The Building Committee is taking suggestions from Principal Bill Black and District Facilities Director Chris Murphy on where to spend the cash. The most recent was installing vinyl wall protections into the third and fourth floors as has been done already in the lower levels. And initial maintenance contracts for the EPHS athletic fields have been extended.

In addition, Monteiro said the district continues to coordinate with state officials over the installation of an extended mast for the traffic light in front of the school. He said installation of the longer arm will hopefully happen whole a new water pipe is also installed on Pawtucket Avenue.

As well, Monteiro said upon the suggestion of Director of Technology Alfred Villeneuve what was still useful technology from old high school brought into the new at the time of the transition now almost four years later is already dated and should be replaced. And security cameras could be installed in the new admin/old vocational building on campus.

"The project will close out under budget, but we're just trying to maximize what is still available," Monteiro explained. "At the end of the day, in general, we'll be in the black on this project, no questions asked."

He continued, "But there are still things to be done...We're trying to dig in every possible area to use those funds for the school. We remain in the black, but we want to maximize those funds absolutely."

Waddington/RMS projects

DaSilva followed up on the $17-plus million Waddington Elementary School project, noting construction of the main elements of the effort are still scheduled to be done during the summers of 2024 and 2025.

As for the $3.9 Riverside Middle School, contractors ran into a hiccup in one of the four Science classrooms being renovated. They needed to work through three layers of concrete and also found the need for some additional abatement in the location. Other elements of the project, like framing new doorways and soffits, roughing in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) components, continue.