Wednesday, 05 November 2008

By ANDREW MARTIN

The losing streak for Chariho Regional School District bonds has
officially come to an end as voters passed two of three parts of a $25
million bond aimed to improve the district’s Switch Road campus.

Unlike last November, when the bond failed by 47 votes in Hopkinton, the
Chariho supporters were able to tackle most of the dissenting voters in
the three towns – the bonds for the high school and middle school both
passed while the bond for a new Reaching Youth through Support and
Education (RYSE) School building failed in Hopkinton by 78 votes.

The first portion, $17.8 million, is reserved for work at the high school
that will cover adding a new library and new agricultural science and
general classrooms. Other changes include replacing the track and
upgrading the heating and ventilation systems, among other improvements.
Richmond approved this part by 62.5 percent, Charlestown by 66.2 percent,
and Hopkinton by 51.2 percent.

As for the middle school part of the bond, $2.7 million, that money is
reserved for a new auditorium and three permanent classrooms. Richmond
approved this portion by 60.9 percent, Charlestown by 65.3 percent, and
Hopkinton by 51.1 percent.

The sole failing portion was $4.4 million for the RYSE School. That money
would have been used to replace the temporary leased trailers with a
permanent building. Although Richmond, with 59.3 percent, and Charlestown,
with 63.4 percent, both approved this bond, it was Hopkinton’s 51.1
percent against that took this piece down.

The bond had been the main topic of discussion at numerous council
meetings by the three sister towns. Charlestown and Richmond typically
argued that Hopkinton needed to step up to the plate and support the bond.
But Hopkinton remained steadfast in its opposition, though one councilor,
Beverly Kenney, equally did not waver from her support of the bond.

As expected, the Chariho Regional School Committee also dedicated time to
discussing the bond. The members even voted to express their views, which
resulted in a 10-1 vote with William Felkner as the sole dissenter.

Supt. Barry Ricci said, “We are very pleased that the high school and
middle school bonds passed. It’s a giant step forward for the district.”
He added that he was dissappointed that the RYSE bond did not pass.

The next step is a Building Committee meeting on Nov. 25 to issue a
request for architectural services bids.