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Upon learning that the reimbursement rate for state bonds could drop drastically this summer, the School Committee voted to push for legislation permitting a vote on a split-bond proposal.
The school district is hoping to receive about $26 million total through three separate bonds for repair work at the high school, middle school, and RYSE school. The towns in the district would cover one-third of the costs respectively. This is a change from the original plan that was rejected by Hopkinton voters in November 2007, because there are three separate bonds. The costs and plans remain the same.
By ANDREW MARTIN
Upon learning that the reimbursement rate for state bonds could drop drastically this summer, the School Committee voted to push for legislation permitting a vote on a split-bond proposal.
The school district is hoping to receive about $26 million total through three separate bonds for repair work at the high school, middle school, and RYSE school. The towns in the district would cover one-third of the costs respectively. This is a change from the original plan that was rejected by Hopkinton voters in November 2007, because there are three separate bonds. The costs and plans remain the same.
To ensure the current reimbursement rate of 56 percent from the state, however, the plans for the work must be submitted to the state legislature before June 30, 2008. On that date, the rate could decrease to 30 percent, according to proposed changes in regional education aid from Gov. Donald Carcieri.
The bonds —$17.8 million, $4.4 million, $2.7 million— would go toward repairs and upgrades at the Chariho Regional High School and the Switch Road Campus, the RYSE school facility, and the Chariho Regional Middle School, respectively. The repair project, dubbed 2010 Campus, is named after the estimated completion date.
School Committee Chairman William Day stressed the importance of getting the plans submitted sooner rather than later. “I think we need to take advantage of this while we still may be able to,” he said.
Pushing that point home was Supt. Barry J Ricci. “I hope you support this project and authorize me to have legislation made,” he said.
The School Committee voted 8-1, William Felkner against, in support of putting the legislation for the bond before the state General Assembly as soon as possible. Ricci said he plans to have the drafted legislation prepared for the next School Committee meeting.
The State Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education has already approved the bond plan. If the General Assembly authorizes the vote, the bond will again be up to the voters. The date of the vote depends on when the state authorizes the Ricci’s legislation.
Of the three communities, Richmond was the first to back the school district on the bond issue. Town Council President B. Joseph Reddish III signed three resolutions stating Richmond would bear one-third of the cost of improvements. Ricci said Charlestown will discuss the bond at its town council meeting in April. Hopkinton’s position on the bond is currently unknown, though in the past councilors have expressed no interest in a re-vote on a split bond.
New elective coming to high school
The School Committee voted unanimously to approve a new elective course that would teach high school students about biotechnology in relation to agriculture.
Topics will range from cloning to the process of artificial insemination and the advantages and disadvantages of both of those, according to high school science chairwoman Martha Dion. She explained that she has worked with other teachers as well as information received from international biotechnology company Amgen, to develop the course.
Although a teacher has not been officially chosen, agriculture teacher John Del Deo attended the meeting and expressed interest in teaching the course.
Interested students, who must first take and pass Biology, will now have the chance to enroll in the course that starts September 2008.
School Committee members Giancarlo Cicchetti and Andrew Polouski were not in attendance.
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