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1 week ago

Dr. Caldwell: Medicaid audit largely clean; district readies for state monitoring and IEP redesign Dr. Caldwell told the committee the district's Medicaid audit (50 records) produced no required repayments; the district will submit a corrective action plan for transportation logs, is preparing extended-school-year staffing, is rolling out a Section 504 workflow module in Aspen, and is planning to implement IEP changes prompted by Senate Bill 2526.

Dr. Caldwell announced a clean Medicaid audit for the district, paving the way for exciting changes in special education and compliance with new state requirements!

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1 week ago

Warwick school committee declines action after Budget Commission presents five-year deficit plan The Warwick School Committee heard the Budget Commission's five-year deficit reduction plan on March 24 but did not vote after members raised concerns that the plan relies on one-time funds, undercounts rising costs (health care, special education) and leaves the district legally constrained; the auditor general will decide next steps.

The Warwick School Committee has raised serious concerns over a proposed five-year deficit reduction plan, citing unstable funding assumptions and potential legal constraints.

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1 week ago

Town manager outlines 4.5% budget increase and school deficit plan; council requires quarterly monitoring Coventry's town manager presented a proposed 4.5% rise in the admissible budget and a school deficit-reduction resolution; council members pressed for clarity on tax-rate effects and successfully amended the schools' plan to require quarterly (not annual) monitoring before approving it.

Coventry's town manager has unveiled a bold 4.5% budget increase that could reshape local services and schooling, but can the council balance fiscal responsibility with community needs?

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1 week ago

Council backs state bills on expanded school background checks, approves environmental priority resolutions Coventry officials voted to support state legislation expanding background checks for school employees and vendors and approved a block of state priority environmental project resolutions after staff described several stormwater and sewer items (including Lake Tioga projects).

Coventry's council just took a big step towards safer schools by backing state bills for expanded background checks on employees and vendors while also prioritizing crucial environmental projects!

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2 weeks ago

The Rhode Island Senate has just made a historic move by unanimously passing a groundbreaking package of health and education bills aimed at enhancing student safety and combating lead exposure.

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2 weeks ago

Rhode Island's Rep. DeSimone is taking a bold step towards safer schools with a proposal to introduce metal detectors at events, but concerns about costs and local authority are sparking a heated debate.

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2 weeks ago

A new bill in Rhode Island could transform how congressionally chartered youth organizations connect with students, promising brief, impactful presentations while prioritizing parental choice and school safety.

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2 weeks ago

The Rhode Island House just passed four significant measures, including the game-changing Special Deposits Act and a crucial adjustment to a school district meeting time!

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#RI #InsuranceReform #CivicParticipation #CitizenPortal #RhodeIslandSchools #BankingRegulations

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1 month ago

Building committee approves PCOs including $1.2 million Tollgate demolition change; members warned of further costs The school building committee approved multiple change orders and payments for the Pilgrim and Tollgate projects, including a $1.2 million contract change for Tollgate demolition and abatement; presenters told the committee contingency remains but flagged tariffs, technology upgrades and contaminated‑soil investigations as near‑term risks.

The building committee has greenlit a staggering $1.2 million contract change for Tollgate demolition, raising concerns about future costs amid ongoing environmental investigations.

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1 month ago

Middletown Council delays vote on $530,705 Forest Avenue school design amendment after budget questions Councilors put off a vote to authorize $530,705 in supplemental design work for Forest Avenue Elementary after lengthy debate over a roughly $6 million renovation estimate, reimbursements and the townond fund; staff said the work is eligible for 55% reimbursement and would be designed to meet codes with a target return-to-school date of fall 2028.

The Middletown Town Council is caught in a budget standoff over a crucial $530,705 design amendment for Forest Avenue Elementary, with a $6 million renovation plan hanging in the balance.

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1 month ago

Chariho committee approves resubmission of RIDE Stage 1 application to hold project’s place in queue The school committee unanimously approved resubmitting the Stage 1 application to the Rhode Island Department of Education to preserve the district’s place in the school‑construction queue. Updates included letters of interest, building‑committee membership, and an updated demographic report.

The Chariho Regional School Committee has taken a crucial step to secure funding for future school construction by resubmitting their Stage 1 application to the Rhode Island Department of Education.

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1 month ago

Chariho school bond debate paused after heated exchange over one‑third cost split The Chariho Regional School Committee discussed updated bond language and a proposed one‑third cost‑sharing requirement for the new unified elementary school. After robust debate and objections—most strongly from Charlestown officials—the committee voted to table amendments and directed bond counsel to return with focused legal and financial options.

The Chariho Regional School Committee's heated debate over a proposed one-third cost split for a new school has sparked strong opposition from Charlestown officials, putting the future of the bond at risk.

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2 months ago

School construction, library work and infrastructure projects move forward, but approvals delay library timeline Council staff reported progress on high‑school and middle‑school steel erection, ongoing elementary‑school redesign, and library GMP pricing near estimates; officials warned state approvals have delayed the library schedule by weeks and listed multiple infrastructure projects funded or under design.

The construction of Middletown's new high school and middle school is making impressive strides, but state approval delays could push the library project's finish date beyond July.

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2 months ago

South Kingstown officials review school CIP, propose town-held fund to capture state reimbursements School leaders presented a CIP listing 61 projects (56 eligible for state reimbursement), outlined a strategy of using fund balance for urgent repairs, and proposed a town-held restricted capital fund to recycle RIDE housing-aid reimbursements into future school facility work.

School officials are pushing for a new town-held fund to capture state reimbursements for essential school projects, ensuring safer and more efficient facilities for students.

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2 months ago

Chariho committee reviews draft bond legislation, debates ‘one‑or‑more’ school language and seeks town council input Bond counsel reviewed draft special legislation authorizing a bond for new elementary construction; the committee debated language allowing either a single unified school or "one or more" elementary schools, asked for clearer voter explanation and moved unanimously to ask the superintendent to seek town‑council feedback on cost‑sharing.

Chariho Regional School District is pushing for a new unified elementary school, but will the bond language be clear enough to win voter support?

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3 months ago

Chariho committee accepts clean fiscal‑2025 audit, hears budget and capital‑plan updates and approves routine motions Auditor Mary Sahadi presented an unmodified fiscal‑2025 audit with no findings; the committee unanimously accepted the audit, approved a bus‑monitor variance, budget transfers and a transportation resolution, and discussed a planned public forum and potential website upgrade for the elementary capital plan.

The Chariho Regional School Committee celebrates a flawless fiscal‑2025 audit, paving the way for exciting budget discussions and a fresh take on the elementary capital plan!

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3 months ago

Hopkinton parents tell Chariho committee a 10-year-old was assaulted; they ask why school handbook procedures weren’t followed A Hopkinton mother told the Chariho Regional School Committee that her 10‑year‑old daughter was physically assaulted on Nov. 25 and that administrators did not notify police or produce an incident report as required by the student handbook; the family requested accountability, documentation and a policy review.

A mother confronts the Chariho Regional School Committee after her 10-year-old daughter was brutally assaulted at school, raising alarming questions about the lack of police notification and missing incident reports.

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4 months ago

Advisers outline $110 million bond plan and reimbursement scenarios; committee delays final language Hilltop Securities presented a conservative financing model for a proposed $110 million Chariho school bond, showing state reimbursement at about 61% (with a 65% sensitivity) and an estimated net annual debt service of roughly $2.5M–$2.8M; the committee agreed to put bond-language approval on the December agenda.

A $110 million bond plan for Chariho schools is under discussion, revealing potential savings through state reimbursement—could this reshape the district's future?

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4 months ago

Chariho committee approves hiring Troutman Pepper LLP for school site work; one abstention The Chariho School Committee authorized Troutman Pepper LLP to provide land‑acquisition legal services for a new unified elementary school at a fixed fee not to exceed $35,000, with the caveat that fees may be adjusted if transactions are complex. The motion passed with one abstention.

Chariho School Committee takes a significant step forward in securing land for a new unified elementary school by hiring Troutman Pepper LLP for expert legal support!

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5 months ago

State transportation official urges Chariho to share routes to cut costs; committee seeks details on liability and local impact RIde presented pilots and a three-phase plan to reduce bus costs statewide and offered to analyze Chariho routes; committee members and parents pressed for details on liability, drivers and student responsibility.

Could sharing bus routes with the state save Rhode Island schools over a million dollars?

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5 months ago

Chariho committee backs single unified elementary school for Stage 2 application After hours of public comment and debate over transportation, land and cost, the Chariho Regional School District school committee voted to advance a single unified elementary school as its Stage 2 option to RIDE.

The Chariho School Committee has taken a major step towards a unified elementary school, igniting passionate debates on safety, cost, and community impact.

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5 months ago

Votes at a glance: Chariho School Committee actions Oct. 21, 2025 At its Oct. 21 meeting the Chariho School Committee authorized Stage 2 for a unified elementary-school option, approved the superintendent’s goals and several administrative items including retention of bond and legal counsel and accepted grants and budget transfers.

The Chariho School Committee has taken significant steps towards a unified elementary school, setting the stage for community engagement and future planning.

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5 months ago

Chariho committee selects single unified elementary option for Stage 2; hears statewide transportation pitch The Chariho Regional School District School Committee voted to pursue a single unified elementary school in its Stage 2 application and heard a presentation from Ride on a multi‑phase statewide transportation plan that the vendor says could reduce local bus costs.

The Chariho School Committee has taken a bold step toward a single unified elementary school, aiming for improved safety and efficiency, but is the cost worth it?

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5 months ago

Mount Hope construction moves toward steel erection; PMA cites RIDE MOA and new cash‑flow forecast PMA construction managers updated the Bristol Warren School Committee on Oct. 14: steel erection for the new Mount Hope High School is imminent, a memorandum of agreement from the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) allows the project team to reforecast cash flow, and contingency exposure remains for several change orders including audio‑/A

Steel erection for the new Mount Hope High School is set to begin imminently, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress!

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5 months ago

Council approves third‑party code review, names council member to change‑order task force for high‑school project The council approved a third‑party code‑review contract and appointed a council representative to a change‑order review task force for the new high school project. Officials said the step aims to speed permitting and reduce later change orders as the construction enters major bid and foundation work.

South Kingstown is taking a big step forward in its high school project by hiring a third-party code review firm to streamline the construction process and avoid costly delays!

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6 months ago

Rhode Island School Committee Discusses Construction Costs and Environmental Design Criteria Committee evaluates school construction funding formulas and challenges in cost overruns.

The Chariho School Committee is navigating a complex maze of funding formulas and community expectations as they discuss the urgent need for new school construction in Rhode Island.

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6 months ago

Construction Update Reveals Progress on High School Expansion Project Contractors confirm substantial progress on high school building foundations and site preparation.

Exciting progress is underway in the Bristol Warren Regional School District as construction crews lay foundations for new facilities and enhance environmental safety measures!

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7 months ago

Warren Town Council accelerates DuPont driveway paving following parent complaints DuPont driveway paving starts tomorrow at 7AM to address parent concerns about potholes.

Major improvements are on the way at DuPont School as asphalt work begins tomorrow to tackle dangerous potholes, responding directly to parent concerns!

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7 months ago

School Committee Approves Technology Grant and Cult School Sign Replacement Committee unanimously approves MOA for $124K technology grant and new school sign funding.

The Bristol Warren School Committee just secured a $124,000 grant to supercharge middle school science education and approved a sustainable new sign for Colt School!

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7 months ago

Bristol Warren School District Introduces New Leadership: Swenson, Hubert, and Arsenault Join Team Bristol Warren School District welcomes Derek Swenson, Michael Hubert, and Amy Arsenault to leadership roles.

The Bristol Warren Regional School District has welcomed a powerhouse trio of new leaders, each bringing decades of expertise to enhance educational operations and financial management.

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