School building renovations could get a boost in East Providence

Facilities director outlines upgrades planned during summer recess

By Mike Rego
Posted 6/13/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — While the proposed construction of a new East Providence High School has taken up much of the oxygen recently, the school department’s need to renovate several of the …

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School building renovations could get a boost in East Providence

Facilities director outlines upgrades planned during summer recess

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — While the proposed construction of a new East Providence High School has taken up much of the oxygen recently, the school department’s need to renovate several of the district’s other eight buildings received a potential boost last week.
At the urging of East Providence Facilities Director Anthony Feola and Finance Director Craig Enos, the Rhode Island Department of Education gave tentative approval to shifting some $2.6 million in funding originally earmarked for the existing EPHS structure towards "life safety" remedies at several other buildings throughout the city.
Mr. Feola told the School Committee of the developments during his monthly report to the body at its meeting Tuesday night, June 12. He and Mr. Enos made a visit to RIDE headquarters in Providence to submit their proposal. Mr. Feola said the monies would be redirected to other structures that are in violation of either fire or building codes.
Of added significance, because some of the proposed projects are needed to make the buildings ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compatible, the district could be reimbursed by RIDE as much as four-to-nine percent more than usual. East Providence receives state backing at a rate of 54.5 percent. That could increase to between 58.5-to-63.5 if all requirements are met.
Of the efforts of Messrs. Feola and Enos to approach RIDE with their proposal, Superintendent Kathryn Crowley said, “They did a great job with that.”
Under the plan, the following life safety projects would be undertaken by the district in short order: Installation of sprinklers at Kent Heights, Orlo Avenue and Silver Spring elementary schools to correct fire code violations; Replacement of gym/cafeteria floors at Kent Heights, Hennessey and Francis elementary schools; replace the elevator and hand rails in stairwells at Martin Middle School; Replacement of the roof at Francis.
“If everything gets approved, that transfer of money will allow us to fix those things at all of those schools,” Mr. Feola added.
More Facilities notes
Also in his report to the committee, Director Feola said his department has compiled a list of items at buildings needed to be replaced or upgraded during the summer recess, including the installation of LED (light-emitting diode) fixtures at Orlo Avenue.
Updating the sidewalks project at Riverside Middle School, Mr. Feola told the committee the pathways are almost level, the pitch (angle) is “way down. He noted, however, what’s left of the project will be delayed until the round-about driveway has been repaired. He said at that point, adjustments to the sidewalks will likely be needed to be made. One other aspect being corrected during construction is the drainage in the area.
The window project at Martin Middle School, long in the offing, should be concluded on or about June 22, the director said last week. Mr. Feola said he anticipates going over the final details, the so-called “Punch List,” with contractors that day.
“It looks really good,” Mr. Feola said about the aesthetics at Martin. “We hope to have it done by mid-week (June 20).”
Another more recent concern at Martin was the air conditioning system there. Mr. Feola said a “power spike” caused damage to interior and exterior components. It was estimated $40,000 in equipment needs to be replaced, not including labor. Mr. Feola said seven compressors on the roof were ruined during the incident. Only portions of the building were affected. Summer programs planned at Martin, he added, will continue in rooms with working AC.
Of note as well, Mr. Feola said some $200,000-worth of asphalt repairs in coordination with the city are scheduled to be completed over the summer. The plan includes the following work: Repaving of the RMS circle and teacher parking lot /dumpster area; the Oldham teachers lot and a little over half of the remaining asphalt; the Waddington teachers and public lots, entire bus road and a portion of grassy area near the Kindergarten classroom; the Silver Spring top and lower parking lots, sidewalks and the construction of an entirely new lot as well as specific handicap, visitor and principal parking spaces; and the creation of a handicap entrance to the Orlo Avenue building from the front parking lot.
Building Committee update
Per the proposed new East Providence High School, Superintendent Crowley and the Building sub-group chaired by Ward 3 Committeeman Nate Cahoon will be interviewing firms seeking to be the project Construction Managers at Risk.
The interviews were planned for Monday and Tuesday, June 18 and 19, at Martin Middle School. Four potential firms — Shawmut, DiMeo, Gilbane and Bacon-Agostini — are expected to make presentations, two at a time spread over the two evenings.
The Building Committee will then meet and agree to recommend the winning firm, the result of which will be presented to the full School Committee at a special session of the body scheduled for Tuesday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Superintendent’s report
Superintendent Crowley told the committee during her report last week her plan to hire two new School Resource Officers to cover elementary schools has been met with approval from East Providence Police Chief Chris Parella. The chief said he already has a list of potential officers to fill the roles. The department can pay for the cost of training ($14,000). The district would have to pick up the other costs associated with the officers, estimated to be approximately $100,000, according to the superintendent.
Mrs. Crowley said she is moving ahead with the approval of the committee, she is moving ahead with a decision to add a third dean of discipline to the administration at East Providence High School. She said Principal Shani Wallace is in agreement, noting the “number of incidents have decreased” at EPHS since Alex Butler was installed in the then-temporary position early in the current 2017-18 term. The full-time position was to be posted for applicants on Wednesday, June 13.
HR report
The committee approved the following requests from the district’s Human Resources Department:
Appointments: Eileen Wayland, Boston Kindergarten Curriculum Specialist, Effective 2018-2019 school year; Tara Sczerbinski, Social Worker – District, Effective 2018-2019 school year; Katie Kenahan, Math Department Coordinator – RMS, Effective 2018-2019 school year; Robert Hanlon, Social Studies Department Coordinator-MMS, Effective 2018-2019 school year; Tracy Bradley, Health Occupation Teacher – CTC, Effective 2018-2019 school year.
Resignations: Sharon Cabral, Kindergarten Teacher – Oldham, Effective end of 2017-2018 school year; Mary Cabral, Business Teacher–MMS (currently on leave), Effective 5/14/2018; Jillian Gesualdi, Special Ed. Teacher – EPHS, Effective 5/31/2018; Laura Messore, Special Ed. Teacher – Silver Spring, Effective 6/20/2018; Emily Furtado, Para Professional – Whiteknact, Effective June 1, 2018; Jaime Kuehl, Para Professional – EPHS, Effective end of the 2017-2018 school year; Alyshia Tkacs, Para Professional – Francis, Effective end of the 2017-2018 school year; Ashley Spokis, Para Professional – Whiteknact, Effective 6/5/2018; Robert Hanlon, Sophomore Class Advisor – EPHS, Effective end of the 2017-2018 school year; Nina Voccio, Sophomore Class Advisor – EPHS, Effective end of the 2017-2018 school year.
Retirements: Joan O’Halloran, Science Teacher – RMS, Effective end of 2017-2018 school year; Karen Weber, Speech Pathologist – Waddington School, Effective end of the 2017-2018 school year.

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Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.