Committee to delay middle school conversion, wants Vets' air test

By Tessa Roy
Posted 2/9/17

Even though the School Committee's agreement over delaying the sixth grade transition to middle school was met with relief and approval, committee members found themselves facing heat from parents who continue to be dissatisfied with the

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Committee to delay middle school conversion, wants Vets' air test

Posted

Even though the School Committee’s agreement over delaying the sixth grade transition to middle school was met with relief and approval, committee members found themselves facing heat from parents who continue to be dissatisfied with the atmosphere at Vets at Tuesday’s meeting.

The committee was unable to vote on postponing the conversion of junior high to middle schools as it was listed on the agenda as an “update.” School Committee Chair Beth Furtado moved to have a special 6:00 p.m. meeting on February 14 at Toll Gate to vote on the sixth grade transition to middle school.

In a story published in Tuesday’s Beacon, school finance director Anthony Ferrucci projected the cost of implementing the middle school plan at $2.5 million to $2.8 million in added salary and transportation costs. Postponing it a year would enable the committee to coordinate it with elementary school consolidations for a projected $2.2 million savings.

Later, during the meeting, the committee approved a $6,930 contract for air quality testing in select areas at Vets, which has recently been a topic of contention. Claims of mold, drastic temperature variations and student sickness and other reported issues at the school, specifically the 900 wing, prompted a walkthrough of the building by the State Department of Health. Following the visit, the department released a statement saying it “did not observe any evidence of a significant public health issue in the building.” The statement went on to say no further action was recommended by the department at that time, but “the department will support the district’s independent decision to conduct air quality testing by coordinating with the company they hire and working with the school on next steps, if any are deemed necessary.”

Thornton had also released a statement saying air quality testing at the building would be conducted and making note there is a plan to replace the building’s 62-year-old heating system, which is in “dire need of repair,” as soon as possible.

“We have a professional air quality expert on our team who is following all federal and state guidelines. We meet all federal and state air quality measures,” Thornton’s statement said. “Still, we will be conducting air quality testing in the coming weeks and make those results public as soon as they are available.”

The school committee also approved an emergency contract of $20,000 for emergency heat pump repairs at Vets. Director of building and grounds Steve Gothberg wrote in his request that he and Building and Grounds Heating and Plumbing Mechanics had located “several leaks and the failure of three steam condensate system pumps and motors.”

“These issues did not present themselves during the last inspection of the tunnels three weeks prior,” he wrote in the request. “Because of this we have stepped up our inspection of the tunnels to twice per week to catch any and all issues earlier.”

Parents, some accompanied by their children who are Vets students, continued to complain about school conditions. One emotional parent said her daughter had been to the doctor 15 times in the past six weeks.

“They can’t figure out what’s wrong and she’s curled up in a ball when I get home from work. She’s been in the hospital because they can’t figure out what’s wrong,” she said. “Do you know how petrified I am of her going to that school? When they diagnose and they figure out what this problem is… how do you intend to come up with the money to repair it?”

Others described smelling must and mildew in the building and said their children, too, had been sick.

“My children face struggles every day that you will never know,” another said.

The issue of the $85 million bond, which was tabled by a Council Committee on Monday until the receipt of the state Department of Education report on facilities, also surfaced when a Winman teacher approached the podium holding a dirty rag she said she used to clean a heating vent in her classroom. She also said she cleans black soot off her desk each day.

“This is in Winman, the newest school in the school department. This is a disgrace,” she said. “As a taxpayer, I will not pay or vote for any bond to put improvements in, especially when improvements turn around and keep adding and adding money compared to what they originally were put in for a bid. It’s time to build new schools with new equipment.”

The committee also approved $6,983.08 for emergency plumbing repairs at Vets, $124,005 for LED lighting at the Career and Tech Center, $126,488 for electrical and equipment upgrades to athletic facilities at Toll Gate and Pilgrim, and $76,300 for plumbing projects at those same facilities.

Comments

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  • richardcorrente

    The Taxpayers ALREADY give the School Committee $160,000,000 a year for these very issues.(over a BILLION since 2009)

    Shouldn't we get accountability on THAT money BEFORE we give them more?

    I believe that the root of the problem is a total lack of accountability from the School Committee which they can eliminate by voluntarily allowing an INDEPENDENT audit but when the Taxpayers have to go to court (remember the Ragosta Report?) just to find out what's going on then folks, we have a problem; a serious one.

    I believe giving this dishonest, corrupt organization another penny is insane and I, for one, won't support it. You shouldn't either. We have no guarantee that they will spend the money on repairs and their past performance strongly suggests that they won't!

    Happy snow-day everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor.

    Thursday, February 9, 2017 Report this

  • davet1107

    Mr. Corrente, with all due respect, while I’ve felt the need to often challenge your comments regarding schools, these particular comments are probably the most ridiculous to date. As you evidently do not know, the schools cannot run a deficit and their budget is audited independently every single year and those results are public. Ask for those past audits before you make the charge. Also, neither schools nor municipalities fund capital improvement projects out their operating budgets. As a businessman, I thought you would realize that but I guess not. Your characterization of the School Committee is totally off base and your claim that they won’t spend bond monies on repairs as “their past performance strongly suggests” is ludicrous. Don’t vote for a bond of you don’t want to – that’s your prerogative. But you can then explain to the teachers and students (whom you so often laud in your comments) why they'll have to be stuck in the same classrooms that haven’t been updated in 25 years and why they have to go to buildings that haven’t been updated in that same amount of time. I’d also remind you that in the last 8-9 years of level funding from the city the schools have closed more than 5 buildings and reduced staff to deal with that level funding. And in every school closure debate, more than a couple of Council members would show up insisting that closings were not necessary. Try to square that circle if you please. Respectfully sir, you sound like someone who arrives at the game in the 9th inning thinking that they’ve played the first 8.

    David Testa

    Thursday, February 9, 2017 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    The Non-Taxpayer Mayor continues to talk about people paying taxes. He obviously is speaking about everyone other than himself. Here are some facts: This has to do with the Non-Taxpayer Mayor and his delinquent car taxes.

    Fact - His 2009-10 car tax payments - ALL PAID LATE

    Fact - His 2010-11 car tax payments due July 15 2010 not paid until January 25 2012. 18 months late.

    Fact - His 2011-12 car tax payments due July 15 2011 not paid until January 25 2012. 6 months late. (as he was not able to re-register the vehicle)

    Fact - His 2012-13 car tax payments due July 15 2012 not paid until March 3 2013. 8 months late.

    Fact - His 2016-17 car tax payments due July 15 2016 - No payments made as of this date. Late again. Habitually late.

    Then there is the issue of the same time that he wasn't paying his property taxes, mysteriously, his car, although still parked at 177 Grand View Ave, in Warwick, mysteriously came off the tax roles and no taxes at all were paid on it. Most likely because it was unregistered, yet still on the road . So between 2013 - 2016 to what city was he paying a car tax to for the same car that has been in use all this time? Another example of the Non-Taxpayer Mayor's credibility.

    Thursday, February 9, 2017 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Dave1107, Dave Testa,

    All due respect to you but my comments are spot on. The School Committee receives $160,000,000 and they are not accountable to anyone BY LAW! Since you claim that to be "ridiculous" then I assume you will not oppose the repeal of this legislation. True?

    Happy Snow day everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Friday, February 10, 2017 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Rick, calling yourself the taxpayers mayor repeatedly doesn't make it so. People saw through your "cut taxes, cut spending" for the complete lie it was. Its also ironic you continually talk about city/school spending , when you proposed MORE upfront city spending in your campaign.

    Even more rich is the fact that it's been revealed you consistently pay your car taxes late but somehow loaned yourself $30,000 to run for office. Not only do have this false sense of support, but you speak to people as if you think they're idiots. Each time you comment on here you reveal yourself as an empty suit who panders to any and all special interests. You were exposed in your "debate" and more so each time you're asked a specific question.

    If you think the school budget is so bad Rick, would you suggest any salary/benefit reductions from the teachers? If you're for the taxpayers I would think you'd want to tackle the biggest part of the budget, wouldn't you?

    Signed,

    The Taxpayers BS Detector

    Friday, February 10, 2017 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Scal1024,

    I like your new nickname. So let's cut through the "BS".

    My "cut - taxes - cut - spending" was no lie. It is what we need to do to save Warwick. It is what we need to do to attract back some of the 5,899 taxpayers, 4,666 businesses and 10,000+- students that left our city. It is what will increase total tax revenue, just like it did in Cranston! Don't be short-sighted! I did not propose more spending. I propose less. (don't lie.) 13,278 voters voted for me strictly on the merits of my platform, no political "special interests" backing me.

    I did pay my car taxes late and paid more as a result giving greater revenue to the City of Warwick. You're welcome. I didn't loan my campaign $30,000. It was over $38,000. The only money you can legally spend is your own or contributions from others. Unlike my opponent who spent the checks of 237 Political Action Committees that he now owes favors to - big time, I chose to put my money where my mouth is. The fact that you disagree with this defines you. You accuse me of pandering to special interest groups. Scott received 237 checks vs. ZERO accepted by me. ZERO Scal!!! Sounds to me like you're one of those "special interest groups".

    I am only responsible to the taxpayers. Scott is responsible to 237 "special interest groups".

    As far as the School Committee vs. the teachers, be clear Scal, because I am. I am totally opposed to the lack of willingness on the part of the SC to negotiate with the teachers. Taxpayers are paying Bethany Furtado to negotiate, not walk out on negotiations. That HAS improved lately and I gave credit to all (including the Mayor who is now a part of it). Now, if the teachers demand too much money I will oppose that too. If not I will support it, but for now I am strongly supporting their RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE.

    You do too, don't you? You are a strong union guy, aren't you?

    One last thing. Please don't call the School Committee budget "the school budget". You're trying to make it sound like they are one in the same. They are not. Taxpayers are losing $160,000,000 a year to the School Committee, not to the teachers. The School Committee is growing by about 30% a year while the number of teachers are decreasing by the same 30%, so please don't try to paint the wrong picture Scal. That would be a lie...from an empty suit...who doesn't even have the courage to identify himself by his real name.

    Happy Spring everyone.

    Happy Spring Scal1024.

    Rick Corrente

    Spokesperson for the Taxpayers

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    or any other title you want to give me.

    Saturday, February 11, 2017 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Rick, you couldn't identify one single area of spending you would cut, so it's laughable you'd tell me that platform wasn't a lie. Also, you proposed tax rebates for businesses, new home buyers, car tax breaks for the elderly and veterans. Not to mention a pension buyout plan with limited specifics. These things cost money Rick and when you don't identify a cost, nor do you cite specific spending cuts you would make to pay for them, than that really isn't much of a plan at all, is it? It is nothing but empty rhetoric from someone betting on the voters being complete idiots. I would call it a total lie.

    Why wouldn't you be honest with voters during the campaign and tell them you were consistently late paying car taxes? If it isn't a big deal, and you weren't doing anything wrong, why not level with the people you are asking to elect you? If it were due to high taxes, wouldn't that help your case? The fact that you hid this from the voters says alot about you!!! Talking about the burden of taxes while consistently paying late is a slap in the face to everyone who pays on time in this city.

    I'm not even going to address anything you've said about the schools because it is too foolish to even warrant a response.

    Sunday, February 12, 2017 Report this