WESTERLY — The School Building Subcommittee, charged by the School Committee with crafting a scaled back project based on the one that failed in an October referendum, will also study alternative plans put forward by residents.
On Tuesday, the subcommittee discussed a proposed work plan laying out a map that could lead to a project being proposed for a vote in November. "I think this committee has an obligation to at least look at them and come up with criteria and metrics for looking at them," said Justin Hopkins, subcommittee chairman.
The School Committee voted last month to have the subcommittee develop a scaled back plan of the elementary school portion of the $71.4 million project that failed in October. The plan included about $15 million of work at Westerly High School and for district-wide improvements. The project qualified for 35% to 50% reimbursement by the state, including interest on borrowing.
In recent weeks the subcommittee has received proposals from at least four residents. The ideas range from using existing school buildings to building a new school for all of the town's pre-k through Grade 5 students.
Plans that deviate greatly from the one presented to voters in October would require starting the entire development process from the beginning since the October plan was based on education goals approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education.
"The only proposal that can get on the ballot in fall has to be based on the current education plan," said Christine Cooke, subcommittee vice chairwoman.
Assuming the Town Council and School Committee approve submission of a Stage I application to RIDE, Hopkins said the subcommittee would review proposals from Feb. 17 to mid-April and have a final proposal in place by May 1. The tight timeline is driven, in part, by a need to seek special legislation from the General Assembly to get a school project bond question on the November ballot.The State I application is due to RIDE by Feb. 17.
The work plan also includes regular appearances by Hopkins before the Town Council to provide updates on the subcommittee's progress.
The subcommittee voted unanimously to ask the Town Council to approve submitting a Stage I application to RIDE. The application describes the district's need for a building project but does not require a detailed outline of the proposed solution. That type of detail comes in the Stage II application.
Town Council President Christopher Duhamel asked Hopkins to attend the council's upcoming meeting on Monday when the council is expected to vote on whether to approve submitting the Stage I application to RIDE. Duhamel said Hopkins could "explain what the Stage I commitment means and how that can be non-binding."
In the past some council members have questioned the lack of detail in previous Stage I applications but RIDE sets out specific parameters for each application level. Town Councilor Brian McCuin, who is also a member of the building subcommittee, said council members can raise questions about a specific plan further along in the process."This part of it should be a no brainer … you can vote 'no' later," McCuin said.
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Subcommittee to explore scaled back school plan, alternative options - The Westerly Sun
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