WORK SESSION

 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

 

At a JOINT MEETING of the Town Council and School Committee of the Town of South Kingstown, County of Washington, in the State of Rhode Island held at the High School, in and for said Town on the 8^th day of September 2022 at 7:00 PM.

 

            PRESENT:     TOWN COUNCIL

                                    Rory H. McEntee, President

Deborah D. Bergner

Deborah J. Kelso

 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Paula J. Whitford, Chair

Michelle Brousseau, Vice Chair

Melissa A. Boyd

Katherine M. Macinanti

Michael K. Marran

Carol A. Vetter

 

 

1.         PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

 

The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag is given.

 

2.         ROLL CALL

 

Roll Call is taken and four School Committee members are present. Members Marran and Vetter arrive later. Member Fish is absent.

 

Roll Call is taken and three Town Council members are present. Council Vice President Collins and Councilwoman Rose are absent.  

 

Also present: Mark Prince, School Superintendent; and James M. Manni, Town Manager.

 

3.         PRESENTATION BY STUDIO JAED AND DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED STAGE I FUNDING APPLICATION TO RIDE FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS.

 

Mark Prince, School Superintendent introduces the Studio JAED presentation of Stage I of the School Facilities application to the RI Department of Education (RIDE). Mr. Prince explains the process of this meeting will begin with the consultant’s presentation followed by a question and answer period and discussion by the Town Council and School Committee, questions and comments from the public, and further discussion by the Committees. The School Committee will have the options for three motions: (a) to send the Stage I application to RIDE as presented; (b) make changes to the presentation and application; or (c) send the application back to the School Building Committee (SBC) for further review and revisions before being re-presented to the Town.

 

Philip Conte, architect and President of Studio JAED introduces himself and reviews the company profile. Studio JAED is a 30-person architecture and engineering firm that also specializes in facility condition assessments and conducts them nationwide. These assessments are the core of Stage I. The presentation tonight will describe the Stage I in greater detail, discuss the activities completed to date, review the data that has been gathered and summarize that, talk about some of the trending facilities that we’ve identified as well as touch on some of the demographics and enrollment, talk about the submission of Stage I, and then the next steps. Mr. Conte explains that a Stage I application to RIDE is a 2-step process that is required to receive Housing Aid Reimbursement, the rate for which is currently 35% with possible additional incentives. Stage I will identify facility needs and is due on September 15, 2022. It does not recommend a commitment to a particular project nor a commitment to bond, it simply identifies what are the facilities’ needs. The School Building Authority will review this application over several months, and report back to the Town with possible approval to proceed to Stage II.  Stage II is the solution process to determine how to address the needs.

 

Mr. Conte reviews activities completed to date. They began with a data gathering survey of over 650 participants that reflected a divided community, but with support for one common goal. The results are included in the Stage I application. Responses to the first question, is SK appropriately supporting students social and emotional needs in the school system was almost 50/50 yes and no. The next question, is the SK School District engaging students in ways that will keep them interested in school, was split almost 50/50. The last question, is the SK School District preparing students for real world opportunities, was a little bit better at 55/45 yes to no. These questions are not necessarily related to facilities, but their interpretation is that there is a need for some equity and a lot more communication. What they saw in the schools is not getting out to the community. They are very impressed with the quality of the School’s principal, the school leadership, the staff, but clearly that message is not being communicated appropriately. What everyone was united behind was that they thought the facilities were fair or poor, they are safe, warm and dry but they look old, worn and shabby.

 

Studio JAED also conducted a district-wide forum that was moderately attended, and then school-specific forums that were poorly attended. Educator “klatches” conducted at each school were productive. A number of presentations were made to the School Committee on the assessments as they were progressing. The High School could be and should be the flagship school, our academics and sports teams are top-notch, facilities are broken leaving us all feeling broken too.

 

Another survey asked to rank facility guiding principles. There was a tie for first, for facilities to be future ready and schools to be equitable. Number two was warm, safe and inviting followed by small school feel and large school pride. In this age of school choice, SK cannot compete with the updated, modern campuses of our surrounding communities and is losing droves of students as a direct result.

 

Mr. Conte reviews the timeline of the original construction of school buildings, noting there is generally a 20 to 25 year life span before major renovations are needed. The facility needs and cost of needs are discussed. Many upgrades were done in the 1990’s, but we are now due again for additional investments. The facility needs per square foot is a model that allows you to look at what buildings will require the most investment compared to its size, not dollar amount but per square foot. We identified a zone of about $150,000 to $250,000 which would be appropriate, which is where most of your schools fall, but Wakefield Elementary and Curtis Corner Middle School far exceed that need by square foot zone that we would typically expect. The high school requires the most investment by its size, followed by Curtis Corner and then the remaining schools.  The 10-year forecast is that $102.8 million in district-wide improvements will be needed for the buildings that are remaining on line. This does not include any programmatic improvements. These numbers are not uncommon for the age of these buildings. The annual dollars per square foot for deferred maintenance and repair is presented. In 2020 the industry range of spending in dollars per square foot went from zero to $7 per square foot for deferred maintenance and repairs. No institution has no deferred maintenance. The RIDE maintenance mandate that is in effect would put SK around $3.25 per square foot, which is warranted. Historic spending on average was between $0.75 to $1.09 per square foot per year. To catch up in 10 years you’re looking at the $7 to $9 range.

The two categories of trending facility needs are Deferred Maintenance, and Student Centric needs. Those Student Centric needs regarding the facility are ones that focus on Educational Adequacy and Equity amongst your districts at all your schools, facilities that support your program and curriculum. 

 

Enrollment and Demographics: the historic analysis between 2011 and 2021 showed a steady decline in enrollment, according to NESDEC. A projected analysis indicates a continuing decline in enrollment over the next 10 years.

 

South Kingstown High School’s deferred maintenance needs amount to $49.5 million, typical of vintage school buildings in Rhode Island, not including Student Centric and Programmatic improvements. Mr. Conte reviews the needs identified in this category.

 

Broad Rock Middle School’s deferred maintenance needs amount to $14.2 million over the next 10 years, not including Student Centric and Programmatic improvements, with a majority of expenses going for HVAC equipment and minimal interior modifications, but no additions.

 

West Kingston Elementary School’s deferred maintenance needs are $9.6 million, not including Student Centric and Programmatic Needs. Matunuck Elementary School is forecast to need $9.1 million, and Peace Dale Elementary School is forecast to need $15.7 over the next 10 years to meet similar needs.

 

The Stage I application identifies facilities’ needs, and is not a commitment to a project or bond.

 

School Committee members Marran and Vetter arrive at 7:35 PM.

 

Mr. Conte notes that the Town will develop solutions to facility needs through Stage II. The process will include communication, community participation and engagement opportunities.

 

Council President McEntee asks for clarification on Stage I approval. It requires only School Committee action but the Town Council can elect to support it.

 

School Committee member Macinanti notes that they wanted both groups to have a seat at the table. School Committee member Boyd notes that this presentation clarifies the process and findings and provides explanation of next steps.

 

Mr. Conte distributes copies of the School Building Committee’ draft schedule through February of 2023. Mrs. Macinanti notes that there is now an updated portal on the School website for the School Building Committee.  

 

Councilwoman Kelso inquires about review of the Stage I application by the School Building Authority at RIDE.

Mr. Conte notes that the Town should know within a month or so, the School Building Authority may ask questions or for additional information.

 

Discussion ensues relative to the amount of spending required to avoid deferred maintenance.

 

Superintendent Prince opens the floor to comments from the public.

 

Roland Benjamin is present and comments that he agrees we’re starting off on a decent foundation, looking at reasonable expectations, notes that politics have gotten in the way in prior years, increases in per pupil cost, and community responses to the survey.

 

Kevin Sullivan is present and comments on the survey responses and the equality and equity definitions, asks how the need for social/emotional needs fits into a facilities plan, and whether the draft Stage I will be voted on tonight.

 

Mr. Conte explains the seven Guiding Principles in the survey, and the definition of equitable, noting that diverse populations have different needs. The survey sought answers to community concerns, found divisions that need to be addressed. There are only a few items incomplete in the draft.

 

Discussion ensues regarding the date of September 15^th for submission to RIDE, the possibility of having a joint session on September 14^th if needed. Ms. Macinanti clarifies that only the School Committee meets that night, it is their vote to approve the Stage I application, and that edits and typos can be fixed as directed.

 

Daniel Secone is present and comments that deferred maintenance is needs postponed, if we don’t fix them now it will only get worse; we should pass Stage I because we know there’s a need.

 

Gary Chapman is present and comments on HVAC repairs, whether we received federal money, how and if it was spent and if it is still available. Mr. Prince responds that federal monies were spread throughout the schools in various categories, and he cannot provide specifics at this time.

 

Laura Roebuck is present and comments on whether a new School Committee and Town Council will have different strategies for school facilities, politics, community input and putting differences aside.

 

Dorald Beasley is present and comments on the estimated cost of $50 million to fix the High School, then improve the building, projected enrollment in 2031, bonus incentives, and that the money would be better spent on a new high school.

 

Kevin Sullivan speaks in favor of submission of Stage I, hoping for a good plan that addresses needs.

 

Councilwoman Bergner asks how the answer to the Mr. Chapman’s HVAC question will be shared with the public.

 

Discussion ensues regarding ways to make information available to the public. Mr. Prince notes the use of the Town website, and opportunities for the public to review and participate in the process.  

 

School Committee Chair Whitford comments on federal monies given to the schools, noting that ESSER funds are required to go to specific needs for a period of time for student needs.

 

Superintendent Prince explains that the first round of ESSER 1 funding was used for PPE, air purifiers, additional cleaning and sanitizing; ESSER 2 set aside money for intervention and learning loss; ESSER 3 is targeted to social/emotional learning and academic achievement.  

 

Mrs. Macinanti notes that the School’s Budget Subcommittee can hold a public forum and provide more information.

 

School Committee Chair Whitford asks for a motion on the Stage I application.

 

The Town Council UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to adjourn at 8:38 PM.

 

It is noted that the School Committee continued on with their business meeting.

 

 

Susan M. Flynn, CMC

Town Clerk