By JAMES MADDEN
WOOD RIVER JCT. – Less than two weeks away, on Nov. 6, voters will decide whether or not to approve spending $26 million on improvements and renovations to the Chariho School District’s Switch Road Campus.
The plan to upgrade the high school and replace the temporary classrooms is called Campus 2010 – the project was named after the estimated finish date.
The Chariho Building Committee, which was formed to oversee development of Campus 2010, recently distributed an informational flyer with the following project numbers:
The Pros and Cons Chariho School Supt. Barry Ricci has said the interest rate used to project costs is a “worst case scenario” number, and that if the interest rate were established now it be closer to 4.5 percent.
The original charge by the Tri-Town Council Subcommittee, made to the school district in the summer of 2006, was to eliminate portable classrooms, improve the main campus within a budget of $15 to $25 million, and create additional space.
Although the plan will provide 15,000 square feet in additional space at the high school, “Most of the additional 15,000 square feet will go towards the new library,” said Ricci.
With bond passage, the school district’s operating budget would be reduced by $296,552 per year by eliminating leasing of temporary classrooms. This equals approximately one-third the annual cost of Campus 2010 for the towns.
Along with saving money through the elimination of the portable classrooms, Ricci has said that if the bond passes $1 million will be able to be allocated to the elementary schools.
The other major incentive to passing the bond is that state reimbursement rates for construction (56 percent for new construction and 60 percent for renovations) are at a high, and will likely decrease due to the state’s deficit.
“Just from people I’ve talked to, there’s every indication those percentages will go down,” said Ricci.
Hopkinton resident Bill Felkner has been the only member of the Chariho School Committee who has publicly come out against the bond.
Felkner has three major objections to the bond. (1) The school district shouldn’t be supporting the RYSE program. (2) Prior to any bond passing, the school district should resolve the grade configuration issue, and explore the option of bring fifth and sixth graders back to the local level. (3) He thinks most of what is addressed in the bond should have been paid for over the years through the school district’s annual budget.
Right now the rate by which taxes can be raised annually is five percent. Last year it was 5.25 percent, and the rate will continue to decrease until it’s at an even four percent.
Felkner has said that every year between three and 3.5 percent of the tax rate increase has gone toward personnel costs – bottom line, as far as Felkner is concerned, too much money has gone to personnel and not enough has gone towards school infrastructure, and before any bond passes this problem needs to be fixed.
“I’m philosophically against it,” said Felkner on RYSE. “The RYSE program, while it provides services legally, I don’t think it’s our place to do it.”
Campus 2010
High School
The Chariho High School was built in 1960 for students in grades 7-12. With previous expansions, there are more than 1,200 students crowded in a facility with a failing infrastructure. At the high school, Campus 2010 will address the following:
-Bring the building into compliance with all fire codes and Americans Disability Act (ADA) requirements -Replace heating and ventilation systems with new, more efficient equipment and upgrade electrical, plumbing and lighting systems -Refurbish the gymnasium, locker rooms, corridors, and bathrooms -Replace interior doors to meet new fire codes -Install new lockers, intercom, clocks, and windows -Add approximately 15,000 square feet of space for a new library, new agricultural science and general classrooms, band/chorus rooms, and an expanded kitchen
Middle School
The Chariho Middle School was built in 1989 for students in grades 5-8. There’s a current lack of space for three classrooms of students.
At the middle school, Campus 2010 will address the following:
-Replace the fire alarm system -Renovate the middle school auditorium (install new air conditioning) for greater community use -Replace three classroom trailers with three permanent classrooms
RYSE The RYSE building houses the district’s alternative and clinical programs. The annual cost for leasing this space is $219,860; annual payments on a new building would be significantly less.
Campus 2010 cost breakdown:
High School additions and renovations - $15,445,750 Middle School addition and renovations - $2,953,000 The RYSE School - $3,928,000 Campus projects - $2,018,000 Owner’s Costs (Management, Legal, Contingency, etc.) - $1,655,250
Campus 2010
Project Cost (not to exceed) - $26 million Interest (over 20 years at 4.95 percent) – $15,550,178 Total Project Cost - $41,550,178 Minus total cost by State Construction Aid (56 percent) - $23,268,100 Net cost to taxpayers over 20 years - $18,282,078
Cost to each town (one-third split) - $6,094,026
Annual cost to each town (one-third split) - $304,701
The projected tax impact (impact per thousand for each town):
Charlestown - $0.12 Hopkinton - $0.32 Richmond - $0.39
Schedule of informational meetings:
Saturday, Oct. 27 at 10:00 a.m. at the Chariho High School Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m. at the Charlestown Town Hall
Polling:
Polling times will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The polling places will be:
Charlestown Police Station at 4901 Old Post Road and Town Hall at 4540 South County Trail Richmond: H.L. Arnold Fire and Safety Complex on Rt. 112
Hopkinton: Town Hall at 1 Town House Road
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