The new middle-high school in #MiddletownRI continues to make solid progress, with groundbreaking coming together this spring. The news from the latest Town Council meeting brings excitement and positive energy from area officials and those involved.
SCHOOL PROJECT LOOKING GOOD
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (FEBRUARY 5, 2025) – Groundbreaking on the new middle-high school remains on track for this spring.
At a Town Council meeting Monday night, Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown said the designs for the state-of-the-art new building at 1225 Aquidneck Ave. were nearing the final stage and construction work could be out for bid as soon as next month.
Based on the latest reviews, Brown said there’s about a $1 million difference between the architect’s plans and the builder’s estimates, a relatively small number that can be overcome with additional fine-tuning by the School Building Committee.
This is especially true, Brown said, because contingency funds built into the $190 million school project by the town and its designers haven’t been touched yet.
“We’ve promised a building to our students, staff and community that they can be proud of and that’s what we’re going to deliver on time and on budget,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of work that’s gone into this from Day 1 by our Building Committee and they should be commended for their efforts. I don’t think I’m reaching here when I say they’re the model on how a project like this should be done.”
He also noted that plans to reinvent the existing high school on Valley Road into a Grades 2-5 learning center are “on time and on budget,” important news for the multi-prong educational effort.
Speaking in the council chambers of Town Hall, Brown said the School Building Committee continues to impress and was working closely with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) every step of the way.
He said local, state and federal approvals continue to be ongoing, with the Planning Board set to review work later this month. The state Department of Environmental Management and Rhode Island Department of Transportation have applications for different aspects of the project, with their findings expected this month.
The Federal Aviation Administration has reviewed the plan and Brown said no special exemptions or modifications were required due to the proximity to the Newport State Airpark.
“We are getting close here,” Brown said. “We are moving forward and everything is on track. All the progress is really exciting and we’re going to see shovels in the ground pretty soon here.”
Last June, the town got confirmation RIDE was picking up close to $164 million of the entire effort including interest. That means Middletown taxpayers were responsible for a fraction of the overall cost while getting a state-of-the-art school that’s been needed for years.
Town officials have reiterated in its history, RIDE has never failed to deliver on reimbursements its promised to pay for similar school construction project.
Groundbreaking on the middle-high school at the former Starlight Drive-In site is slated for March or April, although a firm date has not been set yet.
As part of the community’s ongoing transparency efforts, Brown provides an update on the status of the school project at every regular council meeting.
The School Building Committee meets publicly at least twice a month to provide information and data about the school, everything from the layout to traffic management plans, green energy initiatives and more.
For those looking for more information about the project, go to https://mdl.town/SBC online. Large renderings of the building are also available by the back entrances of Town Hall and other municipal buildings.
From the beginning, Town Council and School Building Committee leaders have pledged to construct a flexible school that meets the needs of Middletown students for generations to come and will be a source of pride for the community.
The project is being overseen by Colliers International of Providence, with the Gilbane Building Company of Providence serving as construction managers.
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Good
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
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Matt Sheley
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