By ANDREW MARTIN

A joint meeting to discuss a proposal for Charlestown to withdraw from the Chariho Regional School District has been tabled until at least November by acting council President James M. Mageau.

This decision came only days after the Charlestown Ad Hoc Withdrawal Update Committee presented its plan to the public on June 25.

Mageau wrote in an e-mail to committee chairman and School Committee member Giancarlo Cicchetti that he was both surprised and disappointed in the committee for releasing the information to the public before a meeting with the council.

“It is no secret that this town council has, on two occasions, voted to support going to referendum on the question of approving a bond issue for Chariho. In light of that I believe that your committee's decision to release its recommendations to the press without town council approval is in contravention of those votes,” Mageau said.

The councilor then cancelled the workshop meeting scheduled for July 11. His reason was that the committee’s decision to go public before consulting the council only confused taxpayers and voters regarding the $25 million Chariho bond issue.

“And because of that, the issue of withdrawal will be tabled until after the November referendum,” Mageau wrote. Legislation for a three-part bond for construction work at Chariho’s Switch Road Campus is currently awaiting Gov. Donald L. Carcieri’s signature.

In response to Mageau’s decision, Cicchetti said a number of committee members have been in contact with the councilor. “We have had some very polite discussions with him and we think it is something we can work out,” Cicchetti said. He continued to say that the committee is still trying to figure out its next steps.

When asked for further comment, Mageau’s only retort was that a meeting on withdrawal will only take place after the referendum in November.

Councilor Harriet A. Allen was not against calling off the meeting, though she had a completely different reason. She would rather see the committee hold a public discussion that would inform residents and councilors alike, rather than have Mageau run the meeting. She commented that he being in charge would impede any open and full public discussion.

“They should have the meeting … and they should do it before November,” Allen said.

She was also bothered by the fact that Mageau cancelled the meeting without informing the rest of the council first. Echoing that same frustration was councilor Katharine H. Waterman.

“Mr. Mageau has made a unilateral policy decision to squelch public discussion on this issue until after the election. Mr. [Bruce] Picard's acquiescence notwithstanding, this is not only high handed but I believe it to be patently illegal,” Waterman said.

She continued to say that Mageau appears to believe he has the authority to circumvent the democratic process. “This should be very alarming to the Charlestown citizens if they anticipate this kind of pre-emptive action for the next five months,” Waterman added.
Calls to councilor Bruce Picard were unsuccessful.

Withdrawal Update Committee’s recommendations

As for the committee’s plan to withdraw from Chariho, the proposal outlined why leaving the district is the town’s best option. There were several issues raised including Hopkinton voters feeling the current funding formula is unfair and how that argument has gone on for decades. No building plans have passed in the district since 1986, when the towns built a new middle school.

The report then stated the following, which the committee saw as its best option for the town:

“This committee concludes that withdrawing from the Chariho District and building schools for preK-12 in Charlestown is the best long-term solution for the town. This option provides an affordable high quality education and removes the threat and possibility of tax equalization. Building a preK-12 district is substantially cheaper for the town than is tax equalization.”

In accordance with Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) requirements, Newport Collaborative Architects, Inc. provided the committee with a rendering for a grade 5 through 12 facility.

A proposed timeline had a vote in 2009 to create the district with construction beginning in 2010. Students would then be able to attend the school in 2011 or 2012. No definite locations have been named for the building, but the report states that there are several viable options.

An estimated $46.9-$49.9 million bond, dependent on building an auditorium, would cover the cost of the school. The bond would add 10 to 12 percent, or $3.3 million, to the town budget for 20 years starting in 2012.

The timeline is based on the idea of “one vote, one plan,” meaning a vote on withdrawal and funding would fall on the same ballot.

According to the proposal, the council’s next steps should be the following:
-Decide an appropriate educational direction for the long-term future of the town
-Authorize the committee to conduct a public survey
-Form an interim Charlestown School Committee, appoint an interim superintendent, and appropriate money to pursue development of a plan that will meet the new RIDE regulations
-Finalize agreements with RIDE and write a letter of intent to RIDE through Joe DaSilva, RIDE School Construction Coordinator/Architectural Design Reviewer
-Bring the school issue to a vote in Charlestown

When and if the committee will have a meeting with the council is currently unknown.