2026-09-08 School Committee Meeting

At the September 8, 2026 Chariho Schools School Committee meeting, the committee approved the Stage 2 application for the unified elementary school campus project, with two members opposed and no abstentions. Approval authorizes submission to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) for the five-year capital improvement plan and advances the project toward state reimbursement and a future community vote on funding. The project is planned for the existing Charlestown Elementary School site, with an estimated authorization of about $116 million; discussion indicated the estimate includes soft costs, furnishings, and IT. Committee members and project representatives from SLAM and Colliers discussed the application, cost estimates, reimbursement and financing scenarios, and outstanding site testing. Final layouts, building systems, transportation planning, materials, and bid documents are to be developed in Stage 3; no construction contract or vendor award was made at this meeting.

Public forum speakers raised concerns about student safety and school administration, the district’s unified elementary school plan, and girls’ sports and Title IX. The committee also voted to close and seal executive-session minutes and disclosed executive-session votes, including a unanimous vote on a home-instruction request. Consent-agenda discussion referenced fire-suppression transfers; the transcript ends as a motion to approve the consent agenda is made, without recording its outcome. No other procurement awards or purchasing decisions were identified.