NEWS

Council vote critical to next step for new high schools

By ALEX MALM
Posted 2/2/22

Update: The Council meeting will be held remotely on Monday. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88448934412#success.

One of two things can happen during the Warwick City Council meeting Monday night. 

The School Department can find themselves one step closer to having a $350 million bond on the ballot in …

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NEWS

Council vote critical to next step for new high schools

Posted

One of two things can happen during the Warwick City Council meeting Monday night. 

The School Department can find themselves one step closer to having a $350 million bond on the ballot in November to approve the building of two new high schools. 

Alternatively, the meeting could end the process all together. Either way it will come down to a Council vote.

In an interview Monday Council President Steve McAllister said the Council would vote on whether or not the Council supports the School Department’s application to build two new high schools. The application needs to be submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Education by Feb. 15. 

“RIDE won’t review their application unless they have something from the City Council stating that we support the application,” said McAllister. 

If the resolution doesn’t receive a majority vote the process is over. 

Monday’s vote won’t determine if the bond measure goes on the ballot. If the Council endorses the application, and RIDE approves it the Council will need to vote on whether or not to ask the General Assembly to give approval for the bond to go on the ballot in November. 

On Tuesday the Warwick School Committee Buildings Committee and the full Committee voted unanimously in favor of the projected cost of the two schools.

“As a parent and taxpayer I’m fully prepared to support it,” said School Committee Vice Chair David Testa. Testa is also chairs the Buildings Committee. 

To this point the financing of the project hasn’t been discussed in detail. McAllister said that should change during the meeting. 

“We need to have a discussion on the financial impact,” said McAllister. 

During the meeting McAllister said that they are expected to hear from the City Administration in respect to the financing of the schools. He said that he asked Finance Director Peder Schaefer to provide a report of what the impact will be on the budget yearly if the bond is approved in November. 

“I think that report is going to carry a lot of weight,” said McAllister. 

Mayor Frank Picozzi on Tuesday said that he thinks the cost and tax impact is going to be a major factor. Picozzi noted he has no formal role in the process. 

“I would love to have new schools but we can’t put residents out of homes with the taxes being too high,” said Picozzi. 

While the report wasn’t finalized on Tuesday, Picozzi said that the bond would mean a tax increase for residents. 

“It's going to result in a significant tax increase, very significant,” said Picozzi. 

McAllister said he also doesn’t think the general public is aware of the plan. He said to date he hasn’t received any comments positive or negative regarding the plan from the public. He said he was surprised by that especially after the School Department presented the proposed design during the last Council meeting. 

“I think education is very important with this,” said McAllister. 

Picozzi noted on Tuesday that he has received some feedback from community members both positive and negative towards the plan.  

Since the resolution wasn’t docketed during the previous meeting McAllister said that it would be heard during unanimous consent meaning that there won’t be a committee hearing on it. He said that at 7 p.m. when the full Council meeting begins he is going to make a request to have the resolution moved to the top of the agenda. 

After the School Department makes their presentation, McAllister expects that Council members will ask questions of both the School Department and the Administration. He said that there would also be public comment. 

McAllister said the plan is to have the meeting in person at the Council Chambers. 

Testa said that he is hopeful that at the very least voters in Warwick will be able to decide in November.

“Ultimately my hope is that it goes to the voters to approve or to reject,” said Testa.

vote, council

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