[CREDIT: WP composite] A $350M new high schools project will begin in late 2024.

WARWICK, RI — The $50 million bond supplementing the new high school project’s sports fields failed by 748 votes Tuesday, Feb. 3, forcing work to “significantly reduce” the scope of athletic and activity facilities.

Voters in the Feb. 3 Special Election defeated the bond question with 2,987 votes against, and only 2,239 votes to approve the bond supplementing the $350 million new high school project currently building replacement buildings for Toll Gate High School and Pilgrim High School. The voting 57.16 percent to 42.84 percent, a defeat for the new high school supplement by 14.32 percent of the vote.

‘This outcome may limit opportunities for students and could further contribute to families seeking athletic and extracurricular options outside of Warwick,’ — Supt. William McCaffrey

“The Warwick School Committee respects the outcome of the vote on Question 1 and appreciates the community’s engagement in this important decision,” Committee Chairman Shaun Galligan wrote in a statement Tuesday night following the end, and tallying of, voting on the question.

Warwick Schools Superintendent William McCaffrey issued a similarly timed statement echoing the district’s respect of the voter’s decision.

School Fields Bond Aimed Short-Term Cost to Stem Long-Term Expense

“While the bond was intended to serve as a financial safeguard against rising construction costs and delays beyond our control, its absence will require the City and School Department to reassess the scope of the remaining work at Pilgrim and Toll Gate High Schools.
Without this authorization, outdoor athletic and activity complexes at both schools will need to be substantially reduced. This outcome may limit opportunities for students and could further contribute to families seeking athletic and extracurricular options outside of Warwick,” McCaffrey wrote.

Mayor Frank Picozzi’s office estimated the cost of the bond at $22 per every $100,000 of homeowner’s value, The resulting yearly increase on a $400,000 house would’ve been $88, or $7.33 per month, Galligan pointed out Wednesday.

“The proposed bond was intended to protect the city from escalating construction costs and to ensure that Pilgrim and Toll Gate High Schools could be completed as designed. Without this authorization, the city will need to significantly reduce the scope of remaining work, particularly related to outdoor athletic and activity facilities. These reductions may limit student opportunities and could place Warwick at a disadvantage compared to neighboring communities that offer more robust extracurricular and athletic programs,” Galligan wrote Tuesday night.

‘If students continue to leave the city for better athletic opportunities, this expense would be recurring, and likely rise beyond the $3.2 million it currently is,’ — Committee Chair Shaun Galligan

But the district is already paying to place students in other districts, some of them using state school choice rules. Galligan said the current cost of such placements to the Warwick School District, and thus Warwick taxpayers, is $3.2 million.

“If students continue to leave the city for better athletic opportunities, this expense would be recurring, and likely rise beyond the $3.2 million it currently is,” Galligan said.

Galligan said $13-$18 million of the bond would have been used to ensure the athletic facilities were competitive with other districts, which, “Would have reduced the out of district expense, and retained students in our city, while possibly attracting students from other cities or towns because we have a very robust offering of career and technical programs. There are some students who leave for programs we do not offer, but most leave for programs which we do offer, and of those students, most of not all play a sport.’

“The School Department will continue to work closely with City leadership to complete the projects in a fiscally responsible manner while prioritizing student safety and educational quality. We remain committed to transparency and will keep the community informed as decisions are made regarding next steps,” McCaffrey wrote.

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.

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