[CREDIT: Mayor Solomon's Office] Solomon joined officials including Sarah Theberge, president of the Warwick Council of PTAs, to urge support for Question 4 on the Nov. 4 ballot granting the School Department $40 million for infrastructure upgrades.

WARWICK, RI — Mayor Joseph J. Solomon urged voters approval of a $40 million bond providing several infrastructure improvements throughout the school district.

Solomon joined about 20 people including school officials, Council members and representatives of Warwick’s Parent Teacher Associations and Organizations, including Sarah Theberge, president of the Warwick Council of PTAs.

The bond, if approved, will be allocated as follows: $13,138,637 for mechanical improvements; $11,486,016 for ADA compliance; $9,034,233 for new roofs; $2,352,356 for fire and life safety upgrades; $2,100,000 for “all student access” playgrounds; $1,077,283 for interior upgrades; and $811,476 for asbestos abatement projects.

The bond is the first part of an overall $45 million Warwick Public Schools capital improvement plan. The second part of the plan would call for another $5,215,994 spread among the same priorities.

“I’m pleased that the Mayor has pledged support for the first phase of this very long overdue investment in our school infrastructure. Our students, teachers and community deserve no less,” said David Testa, School Committee member.

“It is our responsibility as elected representatives, school officials and the larger community to ensure that our students not only receive a quality education that will prepare them well for the future, but to ensure that they have safe and healthy environments in which to learn,” Solomon said. “This bond funding will provide for essentially critical improvements at schools throughout the City. I urge all of our residents to cast their vote in approval of this bond.”

The bond question appears on the back of all local ballots as “Question 4: Schools and School Facilities $40,000,000 Bonds and Notes,” after three statewide bond questions related to Rhode Island school buildings, higher education facilities and green economy and clean water initiatives.

In detail, the funding would provide for:

12 fire alarm systems: at Drum Rock (which now houses two programs of the Career and Technical Center as well as students aged 18-21 from Toll Gate and Pilgrim high schools), the Early Learning Center at John Brown Francis, Robertson, Greenwood, Scott, Hoxsie, Sherman, Lippitt, Warwick Neck and Oakland Beach elementary schools and Toll Gage High School.

Interior improvements: 1,189 new doors, locks and hardware at all schools
Asbestos abatement: at Toll Gate High School and Cedar Hill, Hoxsie, Scott, Holliman,Oakland Beach, Sherman, and Wyman elementary schools.

ADA accessibility: at all schools, to include 167 restroom doors, 122 student restrooms, 45 staff restrooms, 136 sinks (non-restroom), 143 interior doors, 595 electric actuator activated doors, and elevator replacements at the Career and Technical Center, Toll Gate and Greenwood Elementary

14 ADA accessible playgrounds: at the Early Learning Center at John Brown Francis as well as Cedar Hill, Hoxsie, Robertson, Greenwood, Scott, Holliman, Lippitt, Norwood, Oakland Beach, Park, Sherman, Warwick Neck and Wyman elementary schools.

Roofs: to include nine full replacements at the Early Learning Center, and Cedar Hill, Hoxsie, Robertson, Greenwood, Lippitt, Norwood, Oakland Beach and Sherman elementary schools.

Mechanical improvements: to include a total HVAC/heating system replacement at Pilgrim High School, heating controls at Drum Rock, and extension of existing equipment at Lippitt Elementary School and Toll Gate High School.

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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