Cost Analysis:  A breakdown of project costs designed to demonstrate clearly and fully that the proposed project is the best available alternative to meet the projected need based upon the educational program to be housed, total cost effectiveness, and the public interest. Factors to be considered in such an analysis may include:

• direct costs of new construction, such as land acquisition costs, architectural and
  engineering fees, construction costs, and equipment and furnishing costs;

• direct costs of renovations, such as architectural or engineering fees, actual renovation
  costs, and equipment and furnishing costs;

• indirect costs associated with the project such as new sewers or roads, transportation
  costs, and utilities; and

• other costs or benefits to the community such as demolition costs or re-sale of a
  surplused building.

Projects involving new construction must include a consideration of new construction costs versus renovation costs of an existing building should such a building be available. Costs for renovation projects should not exceed costs per square footage of comparable new construction. (Note:  project costs may also include fees associated with issuing bonds and/or short-term financing
changes should the municipality wish to capitalize these costs.)

Deferred Maintenance Project: A capital project required for the maintenance of facilities, that is, to prevent the present level of services, mechanical and utility systems, or equipment from deteriorating or becoming obsolete.

Educational Specifications: A numerical and verbal description of a specific educational program for a specified number of students over a specified period of time, together with the spaces needed to support the program. The educational specifications document should be complete to the degree that an architect may use it as the basic document from which to create the design of the facility. The standards for educational programs and support services should be those established by the Basic Education Program (BEP) guidelines manual. The educational specification for new construction must also provide an estimate of square footage as defined in the guidelines section of this booklet.

Enabling Legislation: Legislation passed by the General Assembly allowing a city or town to issue a bond for a specific dollar amount and purpose(s). In general, enabling legislation is required prior to a bond issue voter referendum unless the city or town charter exempts the city or town from such a requirement or unless the proposed bond issue will not add more than three dollars per thousand to the local tax rate.

Housing Aid: A state aid program which reimburses school districts on the cost of school housing projects over the term of the bond or leases floated to support the project. Interest payments on bonds are also eligible for reimbursement beginning in FY 91 if the bond was issued on or after 7/1/88. Housing aid is based on the district’s ability to pay, with the state share ratio determined annually. As is the case for Operations Aid, the Housing Aid share ratio compares the wealth per student by community to the wealth per student statewide. The minimum state share ratio for Housing Aid set by law is 30%. Housing Aid features incentive bonuses for asbestos abatement, energy conservation, handicapped access and rationalization as well as a debt service adjustment for heavily burdened districts.

Incentive Bonus: An increase in the state’s share ratio for housing aid to a district because a project qualified for an asbestos abatement, energy conservation or handicapped access bonus or because the district is a regional school district. The increase for an asbestos, energy or handicapped project is 4%. Regional school district new construction projects receive a 2% increase for each grade consolidated in the district, and repair and/or renovation projects receive a 4% bonus on top of the 2% per consolidated grade.

For the project to receive an asbestos, energy and/or handicap bonus, the 75% rule must be met.  This rule states that 75% of all project costs must be directly attributable to a combination of the three incentive areas(s).

• Asbestos abatement projects must establish the existence of an asbestos hazard through the technical review of qualified professional staff and demonstrate that the proposed solution provides a satisfactory long-term solution to the hazard.

• Energy conservation projects must establish through a technical review by a qualified professional that as a result of the project the facility(ies) will be more energy efficient to operate. The technical review should include an analysis as appropriate of the efficiency and condition of the roof, building envelope, insulation, windows, heating system and/or other elements which contribute to such energy efficiency.

• Handicapped accessibility projects must establish that the proposed project will ensure handicapped access through review and approval of plans by the Office of Architectural Access, State Building Commission, One Capitol Hill, Administration Building, Providence, RI (401-277-3032).

New Construction: A project which calls for the construction of new square footage either in the form of an addition or a new facility. An application for a new facility must clearly demonstrate the need for the facility as well as fully explore the feasibility of renovating existing school facilities if any and/or of acquiring by purchase, lease or other devise an appropriate building available either within the district or in a surrounding district.

Plan Approval Process: Approval of the necessity of construction application serves as final approval of plans for all repair, renovation, and maintenance projects. For new facility and addition projects, the Department of Education must review plans in terms of educational specifications, square footages and site acreage requirements as appropriate. In addition to this, written notification of all other required plan approvals must be forwarded to the Department of Education prior to the commencement of work. Additional approvals must be obtained, at a minimum, from the following authorities:

A. State Building Commissioner or Local Building Inspector;
B. State Architectural Access Office (State Building Commission);
C. Department of Health;
D. Department of Labor (Division of OSHA); and
E. State Fire Marshall or Local Fire Inspector.