Council Rejects New High Schools Special Election 7-2

The resolution ,PCR-15-25, “Resolution to the General Assembly requesting authorization of a Special Election of the voters of the City of Warwick to revoke authority for further issuances of indebtedness pursuant to the $350 Million authorization for the construction of two new High Schools,” was proposed by Councilman Ed Ladouceur

Ladouceur noted that while others had pointed out there has already been more than $11 million spent on the project which would be lost if the resolution passed, the city stands to spend much more if the project continues given it is projected to exceed its $350 million budget. The new high schools project is expected to cost $23 million more than planned, thanks in part to inflation.

New High Schools cost overrun apparent in summer 2024

School  Committee Chairman Shaun Galligan has said the new high schools overrun began to become apparent during the Aug. 21 meeting, Galligan said, when Pilgrim and Toll Gate designs were estimated to cost $142 million and $147 million respectively. Galligan pointed out at the time that put the total cost $9 million over the $280 million allocated for the work (with $28 million set aside for contingency site costs).

While Chris Spiegel of Left Field Engineering said that was as planned, and would be managed later in the process, Galligan said that didn’t pan out. Part of the reason why was that the site for the new Toll Gate building has a lot of shale, for instance. That’s forced a change in the design from a “U” shape to a backwards “C,” he said.

Numerous changes have been made to limit the scope of the cost overrun.

“This is something hugely, significantly different than what was proposed,” Ladouceur said.

Councilors: Abandoning project makes matters worse, defies voters

Councilman Jeremy Rix referenced some comments to the effect that Warwick once had 20,000 students and one high school, with double sessions, as a justification for continuing with the existing schools.

“I once had to eat Ramen every day. That’s not something to aspire to,” Rix said.

Rix also pointed out that there has always been a recognition that the school designs were likely to change as circumstances demanded.

“I don’t think that having a special election here is particularly appropriate,” Rix said, as an attempt to run through the years-long process deciding on new schools a second time. He also noted that the city would miss out on state matching funds that would make building new high schools even more expensive. He added that there are stories from as far back as the 70s about barrels in the halls of Pilgrim High to catch rain leaking from the roof. Stories that he personally confirmed during his time there in the 2000s, and continues to hear about.

“We have a school that decade after decade has water that is dripping in from the roof. What are we doing? What are we doing? This is madness.”

“I consider it completely outrageous that we are holding this forum tonight,” said Councilman Vinny Gebhart, dragging the people who are supposed to be working on getting the high schools done as efficiently as possible and working on the existing buildings out to their meeting instead to answer questions justifying the work. He reminded his colleagues that the voters have already decided the matter.

“The people have spoken. The horse has left the barn,” Gebhart said.

Councilman Bill Muto said Warwick School Buildings in general are in bad condition according to recent assessments.

“They are all poor, and even one of our elementary schools was basically recommended to be closed,” he said. If the resolution were to pass and the new schools were not built, “We’re still on the hook to repair these two schools for the same amount of money.”

Councilman Sal DeLuise said he owns a business and his own costs have been rising, so he figures knowing whether the new high schools project would be done within the $350 million bond was “a physical impossibility,” an unreasonable ask of school officials.

“It was, ‘figure it out’,” Council President Anthony Sinapi said of the general approach to problems when he was growing up, whereas now, he said, people panic and attempt to give up at the first sign of trouble. Also, “Bond projects are not new, construction costs rising are not new,” Sinapi pointed out.

Sinapi also pointed out that some of the cost overrun came from the delay caused by the council’s due diligence examination of the project, which he said he stands behind as a smart move. Still, “It’s very disingenuous to pretend that we had nothing to do with it,” Sinapi said.

The resolution ultimately failed, with only Ladouceur and Councilman John Kirby voting to advance the measure. pcr-15-25_ga_special_election_revoke_high_school_bonds_authority

Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.