[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6466257,"mediaKeyId","5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6","parentId",5824448,"title","Committee agrees to pursue CHIPS water-efficiency bump by switching to ultra-low-flow toilets","audioSeconds",406,"startMs",1329000,"endMs",1735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6&start=1329&end=1735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6/thumbnail_1329000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466257/Middletown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Committee-agrees-to-pursue-CHIPS-water-efficiency-bump-by-switching-to-ultra-low-flow-toilets","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466257-8224eea8a2b09cba3eaf8276051a83ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108962&Signature=EugvH0rJOiLIYLwbg~UysB7WjCJvjXx9MKUueEOB~orZahyyjJO16MIy~VabJfsczg~n7mn3U6gcUmhJtjG-CHMzgMOxpam04UdqhhtlHnHpCuVoJvy~amfJDP1wFyWaeCAcsNj3-HBF-5bCXvbIt0fQKGIgMCGVY8RHJuJYrR-VjgIGOZcl8VCo3AxPzlF7KVRqqYC6b829zAVtAFpCft7MtM9tz4Fmw62nTQQFloM8qiHMCCDhgsvpxumMsxZRY2gqNITrW2VTwjZbFYlDb66Dq9wEh3oqWE1Nb9wCvLrnOF-mle1r-zcJfGPkhB6EQR~PGy-6JyHERm8V2HVJdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Middletown Public Schools Rhode Island","date","2025-09-24T21:52:08.007Z","article","As design documents were finalized, the team reported the middle-high school’s calculated water efficiency fell short of the 30% threshold required for a higher CHIPS reimbursement. The design’s current calculation was about 23% water-efficiency; the design team said changing to ultra-low-flow (1.1 gallons per flush) toilets from the 1.28-gpf fixtures could move the project to meet the 30% target.

\"We asked you what could we do to get from the 23% water efficiency that was calculated to 30%. And they came back and said, well, if we switch to a, ultra low flow toilets, a 1.1 gallon per flush toilet from the 1.28 ... we could just get to the threshold,\" Matt, the architect, told the committee.

Project staff linked that threshold to a roughly 2% additional CHIPS reimbursement. The figure was described in the meeting as about $3.4 million, but staff said that estimate came from Justin and that the team would confirm the exact amount and whether the 2% applied to the high-school portion only. Committee members noted the flow calculations are specific to the middle-high school; staff said the 2% would apply only to the high-school portion and that final numbers would be clarified when the PR/PRC documentation was issued.

Concerns were raised about plumbing hydraulics: the design team reported the building’s outflow velocity is calculated at 2.5 feet per second, above the threshold staff said previously caused clogging problems in other projects. Staff also said the design places hand dryers in multi-user toilet rooms rather than paper towels, and that drain piping will be PVC to reduce clog risk.

The committee gave direction to proceed with preparing and submitting the CHIPS documentation using the ultra-low-flow fixtures, with a formal approval to follow when the PR with final costs is circulated. Committee members asked staff to provide clearer numbers in the PR and to confirm whether post-occupancy monitoring or billing verification would be required; staff said verification is based on the CHIPS scorecard affidavit and architect stamp rather than a year of water bills.

No final procurement decision for fixtures was recorded at the meeting; the committee authorized proceeding with the submission and requested staff supply the finalized cost and scope details for the committee’s formal approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Building Committee Meeting 9/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Middletown project staff said switching the middle-high school’s toilets from 1.28 to 1.1 gallons per flush could lift calculated water efficiency from roughly 23% to the 30% CHIPS threshold, potentially unlocking a roughly 2% reimbursement estimated at about $3.4 million for the high-school portion.","taxTitle","Middletown, School Districts, Rhode Island","taxId",73325,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466259,"Building committee backs Option 1 for Middletown monument sign, asks minor lettering adjustment",612,624000,1236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6&start=624&end=1236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6/thumbnail_624000.jpg","/articles/6466259/Middletown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Building-committee-backs-Option-1-for-Middletown-monument-sign-asks-minor-lettering-adjustment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466259-c45665394c6ae835daa5ddf55a7e3198/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108962&Signature=GPyvDo5-YFp99texJP5TyEdDqNaNLCx3ab8c5gv63rxVgv5toRNbQQHLEMEdtf66PnuSVzq9ZYGKp6w83ddj6kzilmb71Z6Smw9vfGpcpKnu~Rr3UfYRxJ6h67YmeMSTicZBx257wQ4Y4-ZTqERtsc3K0TuJHl1EfT5rpuIDb0rKc-oO8-lyIwQkMkFjSxidnnUPM8HrdGZUH260DEwZyckhzreaPn4iiH6FTD5r2TGZM5x-7SICnOJcN8ywIsqjWNwjIjNV4ZH~KE0qgLWp9KTm-r2-5wQVx~1rCPNDo6huCA50ApV~~n8UtM0KCV7BhI4jLsdhIHrLq1diod-nIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Middletown School Building Committee recommended forwarding Option 1 of the proposed monument sign to the school committee with a change to raise the word \"Middletown\" slightly to provide more breathing room, members said Wednesday.

Matt, the project architect, presented two modified sign options and described the changes the committee asked for after an on-site visit. \"We moved the town emblem down on the option number 1 ... The sign got a little bit longer, and, to accommodate that move of the emblem down,\" Matt said during the presentation.

Committee members debated balance and visibility. One committee member said Option 2 felt \"bottom heavy\" and asked that the Middletown lettering be centered higher on both options. After discussion, several members raised hands in support of Option 1. At one point the meeting recorded a hand-count split; members later characterized the recommendation as the committee's record recommendation to the school committee: Option 1 with the Middletown lettering moved up a bit.

Facilities Director Ed Collins and other building representatives cautioned that lowering the town emblem too far could reduce visibility for drivers because landscaping and plantings near grade might obscure a lower emblem. \"If you dropped it down, it might run the risk of not being seen because there will be some plantings around it,\" a project representative said.

The building committee’s recommendation will be transmitted to the full school committee for final review and approval as part of signage and site documents.","The building committee recommended to the school committee proceeding with Option 1 for the Middletown monument sign, asking that the word Middletown be raised slightly for visual balance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466260,"Building committee recommends $1.88 million landscaping award, holds several alternates",168,2175000,2343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6&start=2175&end=2343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6/thumbnail_2175000.jpg","/articles/6466260/Middletown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Building-committee-recommends-188-million-landscaping-award-holds-several-alternates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466260-7529945340d3b92190e3555413a895cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108962&Signature=EE314rb9~QqPHD81f1FisBSC8bJye00ZYeTeRT2dbJv04OM5nazVktkYCLfgRxn0pD0DHNAw2O2MefiOmd1V4oQAE2xQZaDpjWS~cQAEIElUBRgVi7pu~vhIzPfXPcHHGJmMt~i1YxCjI265sJgkshySzocnBHCZJRi5CzOb7P6ewYqB6aVsCWZIjWZ8~pRVrsfK3fXv-wk9iZBcymiU9U3vPMZMDyfmUtGGxNVx5Fage9AAs1CZ8~1UKISg1T-25XFbMx2oEYKzs4TK2II6WS2U2H8N-C6nITWqtrDmbV8b4TTcEdjOQQQ4fK9kN85O9C9TaU1iwNXs9zfdATV~Ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Middletown School Building Committee recommended awarding the site improvements and landscaping contract to Exquisite Landscaping for $1,882,900, the committee heard Wednesday.

The recommendation, moved and seconded at the meeting, also included holding alternates 1, 2 and 3 and voluntary alternates 11, 12 and 13. The committee voted in favor; the motion carried.

The construction program manager said the recommended award price is $1,061,401 above the 60% construction-document budget of $821,499. Colliers and Gilbane, working with the project team, also recommended rejecting alternate 4 (site furnishings) because that item had already been priced by the site-work contractor and yielded a more advantageous value for the project.

Under the recommended action: hold alternate 1 (multipurpose playfield) at $157,306; hold alternate 2 (softball field) at $341,474; hold alternate 3 (North driveway) at $15,604; hold alternate 11 (relocate nine existing trees) at $55,104; hold alternate 12 (irrigation system at multipurpose playfield) at $80,685; and hold alternate 13 (irrigation system at the softball field) at $38,451. Alternates 5 through 10 were described as not applicable to this bid.

Tony, a project staff member with Colliers, presented participation figures tied to the cost-trending log and said the RTA as recommended would result in a forecast of 7.49% WBE and 6.37% MBE participation against the cost-trending total; he said the team planned to use held alternates and subcontractor levers to try to nudge those percentages toward the intended thresholds.

Project staff reported Gilbane reached out to six bidders for the package; only one best-and-final number was received and two additional bidders did not submit final best-and-final bids.

The committee was also shown the program’s current cost-trending log. Project staff said that, as of the September 18 update, the program was trending $7,530,000 under the 60% construction-document budget after incorporating the RTA awarded at the meeting.

The committee’s recommendation will be carried forward with the other contract documents and the draft GMP amendment from Gilbane to the full school committee and town review process.","Middletown building committee recommended awarding the site improvements and landscaping contract to Exquisite Landscaping for $1,882,900, listing alternates to hold or reject and noting minority- and women-owned business participation goals.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466253,"Construction update: GMPs, budget trending under 60% CD, meeting time moved to Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m.",452,2614000,3066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6&start=2614&end=3066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824448-2e47ccc032710f100e098b7d5a4e59e6/thumbnail_2614000.jpg","/articles/6466253/Middletown/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Construction-update-GMPs-budget-trending-under-60-CD-meeting-time-moved-to-Oct-15-at-430-pm","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466253-cab620da5342821e439115a1d58171f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771108962&Signature=dGaOk042~tQ6azoRGBGxsT8UO8QZHGbjywyF1O-22Q17jCILBGmNJ0jTe2Qd5v~8CgTPdfo512aqtIOnKoQTLfqkk7bHCn3i7Rj~Rj-IcL2fTz9dhW9Q1i6ONiJXgm3e4keCZE-rEm9YwJmOgIPJDNMpB2Twlcro3FnOTRpiklJ~5MOBl9BH8gNYmpzX5ldi8TcJw2~M~0qjZwB7AhP8tp-8mnS4Jl~hI8J15wD3oRGKf-xxv-22YVru651tjMCL8uTGk3aT2YlMZqNs2dtTH2aJCXnpzgXslHO689lf~FP1SJc9UWHrmyMfWGHc4FDpEm-yw1w0Vw28TJTtyYARgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Project staff updated the Middletown School Building Committee on construction progress, budget status and near-term scheduling on Wednesday.

Staff reported excavation and soil testing remain active, foundation waterproofing and drainage mat installation has begun, isolated footings were poured and formwork and rebar are being erected for the high wall where the main electrical room will be located. Drone footage and daily site photographs are being uploaded by the project’s construction representative; staff said Colliers’ construction representative Ryan Healy will be introduced at the next meeting.

On budget, project staff said the program remains within the $190,000,000 bond authorization. Expenditures to date were reported as $19,221,000, with contracts to date listed at $157,639,000 and total anticipated costs still just over $178,000,000. Staff also reported the cost-trending log (dated Sept. 18) showed the program trending $7,530,000 under the 60% construction-document budget after the site-landscaping RTA.

Colliers told the committee it had reached out to six bidders for the landscaping package and received a single best-and-final number; two bidders did not submit final best-and-final bids.

The committee also discussed the schedule for alternates and GMP deadlines. Colliers requested moving some alternate deadlines into November; staff said many subcontractors were checking with vendors and that final answers would arrive before the GMP is published. Anchor bolt testing and surveying were scheduled for the coming Monday, staff said.

Because of the timing of submission deadlines the committee voted to change the start time of its Oct. 15 meeting from 5:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the motion carried.

Committee members expressed that parties on-site — architects, OPMs and construction managers — were working collaboratively to resolve issues and keep the schedule moving. Project staff said the concession-stand and elementary-complex GMP actions were expected in the next few weeks and that the CHIPS submission (if approved by the committee after PR) could be filed before the end of the month.","Project managers reported progress on foundation work, waterproofing, and MEP coordination; the program remains under its 60% CD benchmark by about $7.53 million, and the committee voted to change the Oct. 15 meeting start time to 4:30 p.m.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee agrees to pursue CHIPS water-efficiency bump by switching to ultra-low-flow toilets

Building committee backs Option 1 for Middletown monument sign, asks minor lettering adjustment

Building committee recommends $1.88 million landscaping award, holds several alternates

Construction update: GMPs, budget trending under 60% CD, meeting time moved to Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m.