$428,140 award for new water heaters at both Ponaganset schools

What happened

The School Committee approved bids to replace water heaters at Ponaganset Middle School and Ponaganset High School, including a $428,140 award to Phalanx, and commissioned a concept-level options evaluation from Alliance Environmental Group. The work follows architectural and engineering fees the committee approved in September 2025 for the water heaters and a middle school boiler, capped at $15,800, $14,500 and $45,000 respectively.

Why it matters to families

Hot water and heat are basic conditions for a school building to open. This is the work being paid for while the operating budget is being cut back to last year's level.

The evidence

The June 22, 2026 approved minutes record the motions approving the bid for the PMS and PHS water heaters and the Phalanx bid in the amount of $428,140, each 9-0, and the approval of Alliance Environmental Group to perform a concept-level options evaluation. The September 15, 2025 minutes record the architectural and engineering fee approvals for the water heaters and boiler.

The source