Chariho 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan
The Chariho School District has created an 18 page FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document explaining in detail the proposal to build three new elementary schools in each one of the Chariho towns (Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton). The document explains that “renovation of existing schools would cost the district the same, if not more, and that the outcomes would not be equivalent to what new construction could provide.” The state has created an incentivized program to offset capital costs for new construction.
Read The Full Chariho School District FAQ
March 19, 2024 @ 4:26 pm
This is ridiculous. The schools we have can be renovated for less than the cost of building new.
Thanks to older out of staters buying up homes in the area, driving up the cost of real estate, younger families can no longer afford to buy in the area.
Also thanks to those out of staters wanting new police stations, new firehouse, new beach pavilions, expansions of ninegret park they’re also driving up our taxes, making the area even more unaffordable.
The yuppies tried this a few years ago when they wanted to create the “Charlestown school district”. Thank God they were not successful. We would have been stuck with an expensive millstone around our necks.
Stop with the lies. Newer s books will need far more maintenance In 5 years. Newer materials, and methods do not have the endurance or longevity the materials and methods that were used in our older buildings.
What our current school suffers from is neglect. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the schools we have.
I have worked in commercial construction for 45 years. Never in my experience has a capital project, state, federal, or municipal ever come in on time or within budget.
How much more was the police station? $20 million?
How much more were the beach pavilions we didn’t need?? $3 million each?
How much more were the firehouses we didn’t need???
If the new comers are not happy with what is here, don’t move here.
January 24, 2024 @ 5:25 pm
Thanks Ruth and to all of CCA for keeping informed eyes on this proposal. I get the sense that the residents of each of the 3 towns would like to keep its elementary schools local rather than consolidate them into one big Chariho elementary school.
January 24, 2024 @ 9:42 am
What would be the reasoning to build new verses renovating, especially with the continuing decline in enrollment.
January 24, 2024 @ 9:59 am
The state pays 81% reimbursement on principal and interest to build new rather than repair. There are currently 4 schools, so this would be one fewer school. It will cost the three towns $1.8 million per year to maintain the schools and $2.3 million per year to build 3 new schools. This also includes retiring some debt that the state pays a smaller reimbursement on. If the schools continue to be maintained they will eventually need replacement at a higher cost and perhaps no or smaller state reimbursement. Also the Charlestown Town Council just potentially doubled the eventual buildout by allowing a second dwelling unit on nearly every lot, so the enrollment may not continue to decline.
January 24, 2024 @ 4:31 pm
81% is not a guarantee. It’s up to 81%, and can be as low as only 61%. Additionally, any unfinished work the falls outside of the 5yr plan becomes the responsibility of the school district to fund and is not eligible for reimbursement, meaning it falls on the taxpayers to pay for. Make sure you tell the whole truth next time and not just the part that sounds good, next time a resident asks for info.
Thus is just a ploy to drive more money to the unions who would be building these structures. Our leaders in providence have pockets lined with union dollars.