[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6620736,"mediaKeyId","2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9","parentId",2804452,"title","Cumberland School Committee approves change‑order authority, two policies and Chartwells payment; several purchasing resolutions passed","audioSeconds",423,"startMs",3991000,"endMs",4414000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9&start=3991&end=4414","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9/thumbnail_3991000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6620736/Cumberland/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Cumberland-School-Committee-approves-changeorder-authority-two-policies-and-Chartwells-payment-several-purchasing-resolutions-passed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620736-bc52011b2742e9098d284e4bb6ac8630/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177475&Signature=G1jJNEjZtS~jKAxSYdoK2wIrgB56qvd88cl8Z11upzF8NtW32CLZ45BxGlNTsMUXLwsEAbko~ge7YP~5ctKx1W~U4JVTcLxKdaW-T7sjyLOTOnqiBByZs9SnhxH8rODGBMGpF~l6BwZ6U-Vp6F9G3uiuE02uCOCrdmlpcwTMbpxIHnSoQivZfO8T-THTfzxF9~vSVULfpDhz2l5qJKyHXERgYO0-uQexeesxqAa3jB1~v2448HAURcmJ~1wrNa765MEVnOl71gRZX4eRjrpA4nHA658GGIOT1PVVXFMhPQg1u48BOaNNP31JeXh-iTGA~rMFZDFOBADySmiuMD8VmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cumberland","date","2025-03-28T00:38:31.87Z","article","The Cumberland School Committee voted unanimously Thursday to authorize the superintendent to approve construction change orders of up to $25,000 each through Dec. 31, 2025, adopt two revised policies, approve a transportation resolution intended to increase bus ridership and reduce driver-training burdens, and pay a monthly food‑service invoice to Chartwells.

The committee’s actions formalize recurring administrative authorities and confirm policy updates the district said align with current law and best practices. The superintendent’s change‑order authority is intended to speed routine decisions on ongoing facilities work. The committee also approved the MTSS (multi‑tiered system of supports) policy and a K–8 policy implementing the McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Superintendent Michael Thornton explained the change‑order request was a renewal of authority the committee had granted previously and limited to smaller, budgeted items. “So, that expired last August,” Thornton said. He described the authorization as intended for “small jobs” such as high‑school roof work, the middle‑school entryway and science lab finishes.

Committee members voted 7‑0 on each measure. Mr. McGrath, the district’s finance official, estimated statewide savings from the transportation measure would likely translate to roughly “in the $25,000 to $50,000 range” for Cumberland, acknowledging the estimate is approximate.

The meeting also included approval of multiple purchasing resolutions discussed earlier by the fiscal subcommittee; one listed resolution (SCPR‑2025‑24) was tabled pending additional documentation. The committee approved an off‑cycle payment to Chartwells for $179,596.14 related to school food services, with the company scheduled to present monthly to the fiscal subcommittee going forward.

All motions recorded at the meeting passed unanimously. The committee also voted 7‑0 to seal minutes from prior executive sessions, as recommended by staff.

The committee chair said the superintendent’s recommended budget will be submitted to the mayor and town council, and that several items discussed at the fiscal subcommittee meeting will proceed to the town’s next steps for approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cumberland School Committee 3/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Cumberland School Committee voted unanimously Thursday to grant the superintendent temporary authority to approve construction change orders up to $25,000, adopt two revised district policies and approve an off‑cycle Chartwells payment, among other routine actions.","taxTitle","Cumberland, School Districts, Rhode Island","taxId",73254,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6620721,"Public comment at Cumberland meeting features sharp exchanges over school rankings, conduct and Title IX guidance",603,2848000,3451000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9&start=2848&end=3451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9/thumbnail_2848000.jpg","/articles/6620721/Cumberland/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Public-comment-at-Cumberland-meeting-features-sharp-exchanges-over-school-rankings-conduct-and-Title-IX-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620721-7fb3d2f36a8084ac55eb4d7675fe25ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177475&Signature=ImkkF3YCpjNzXCAT05LFcKFk-b3aT8g8wBNtrfw5q~DA8fBVdC-WT6X9Zm8YNSVBfRDICRPajjv~zMONeH6muwXPhXHLekdgC-0HdKNsH5OZSauSNI5ivO-zhwXoQHwXMnjWiwJ8fX7V2lV0qu90R6YWbFlFjIRVHxk-n6a2py1mB-GYIyy0Qpy21Boccaom8v0D9MS0S29beQyVmHJxKUYds9cnLAmIo5mMC2RJaNHQ5w-SCWKPFa6dkZ9N0MZ5ttYcinjtqoKO6cN5g80ddkUgKbLAuxhHGkho4C4-xCUS~fo7ZX6qXzTE8KG2Ftgb044GPjHyVgUHCD6ibxWnOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cumberland School Committee’s public comment period on March 27 included sharply worded remarks about internal school‑district disputes, accusations aimed at a committee member and calls for policy changes on Title IX and transgender guidance.

Deb Malcolm, principal of Cumberland Hill School, told the committee she needed to respond to comments made at a prior meeting and defended her school’s performance. “Cumberland Hill had the highest scores on NGSA this year out of all the elementary schools in Cumberland,” Malcolm said, and asked the public not to “reclassify schools based on personal criteria.”

Gabrielle Sullivan, a district teacher, delivered a direct rebuke of Committee member Jason Dean’s public statements, calling his conduct “childishly” defensive and saying he had discounted educators’ expertise. Sullivan told the committee she had been “wasting 30 minutes” listening to a recent episode of the member’s podcast and accused him of adding personal opinion to rankings.

Another commenter, Corey Blaze, urged civility and defended the ability to acknowledge differences in school performance without denigrating educators. Blaze cited scores from GreatSchools.org in a call for balanced discussion and encouraged those who disagree to seek dialogue.

Robert Caradeo raised federal and state policy issues relating to sex‑based protections and transgender guidance. He urged the committee to amend the district’s Title IX policy and to reject what he described as RIDE guidance on transgender issues; he also referenced correspondence from a private organization asking the Office for Civil Rights to investigate districts on related matters. Caradeo asked the committee to “protect our girls” and to change policy language to what he described as Title IX’s original intent.

Caleb Minson, also a commenter, framed the debate as part of a broader town divide and urged higher expectations for students while calling for less public rancor. “We can raise the bar and unite this town at the same time,” he said.

The committee did not respond during the comment period, consistent with the public‑comment procedure the chair read at the start of the session. No committee votes on Title IX or related policies were taken at the March 27 meeting.","Several public commenters criticized a committee member’s podcast remarks and urged policy changes on transgender guidance; others defended the member or called for civil dialogue. Speakers raised test‑score and program achievements for Cumberland Hill and pressed the committee on Title IX and RIDE guidance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6620726,"Student‑run recycling and food‑share program expands in Cumberland; district schools top state metrics",273,519000,792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9&start=519&end=792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9/thumbnail_519000.jpg","/articles/6620726/Cumberland/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Studentrun-recycling-and-foodshare-program-expands-in-Cumberland-district-schools-top-state-metrics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620726-c4ddddc2adcee27d6f6426ef1f99643c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177475&Signature=nCE9OGtCa2ptW5Hc3N0ObxdYs9spSauMLR3cxEqfquAU64gBskebDNtRdV4KF5KWJQyQE4G0QyI0CRdRmyKLTc1eKsOyPD5NoA6mk1lFpqqUt68ZHWQ0q1O2S~yEJQQGUCGA2HJK1TV9ROxcSyx1hBQe2n~oUvbOrVO-874ST2pKCOohnk7slV7Oi1syzmMFAdrEr3NVv5qr4qno7K0f1aKKUJeqWAnVSCr686IDj83aTHi0-wFn~wR2Bm0T2NNJZ8QLrWMU1~SnqrQqQ0zkGQC0URiEatGlTsc4-6WCPY-uiUgv02X7Q1HLCXAX6iBSYSJJtq9Gme-9yxox0H86Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from the Rhode Island Schools Recycling Project told the Cumberland School Committee Thursday that student‑run sorting stations and share‑tables at Cumberland Hill and Garvin have sharply reduced cafeteria food waste and provided food to students in need.

Kendra Gay, who presented with Warren Hayman, said the program operates in 48 schools statewide and includes share tables, refrigerated storage for unopened food items, liquid diversion buckets, composting and recycling. Gay said Americans waste 35–40% of food and that schools in Rhode Island generate about 2,500 tons of food waste each year; she said 388 tons of that is “perfectly good food that could be shared with those who are hungry.”

Gay highlighted that Cumberland Hill met an EPA and USDA challenge to decrease food waste per student by 50% by 2030 in roughly six months, with Garvin reaching the target within a year. The presentation said the district’s work equates to an estimated reduction of 16.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide, a figure the presenter likened to eliminating the emissions of driving 41,000 miles in a gasoline car.

Kristin Marshall, a reading specialist and the program’s school champion at Cumberland Hill, described student engagement and project‑based learning that trains “student rangers” to staff sorting stations. Fifth‑grade student Andrew Sarsen told the committee the program made him proud that his school is doing its part to keep the town cleaner.

School leaders said the district received a separate foam‑reduction grant and that remaining funds, combined with local fundraising, may support expansion to an additional school this year. The committee thanked the presenters and invited officials to arrange lunchtime visits for members who wished to see sorting stations in operation.","Rhode Island Schools Recycling representatives and local school staff updated the committee on cafeteria sorting stations, composting and share‑table programs at Cumberland Hill and Garvin, saying the schools met EPA/USDA targets and reduced food waste substantially.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6620731,"Cumberland officials present BF Norton elementary design; construction to begin this summer with opening slated for fall 2027",979,1621000,2600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9&start=1621&end=2600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2804452-e8dc0fcdf0ce1177ea09848adcb5b8d9/thumbnail_1621000.jpg","/articles/6620731/Cumberland/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Cumberland-officials-present-BF-Norton-elementary-design-construction-to-begin-this-summer-with-opening-slated-for-fall-2027","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620731-71b37948de8254ab688101cc61406ac2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771177475&Signature=PhkVZSQP9TINpH0x0CzEOW7UQ-YJsjVC~rDpf9ke7kpEmELMh6D9uW6wyQvI3ZG39KT1yIiSOpajxh7~MQhH0nFDP6bHDgB~f9uTRWxzUiLCX9nwdFaR2hyl8BBVM6d1TqLAPMdTF94Uv6NoU4HzQxNa5s5J9eVccYussl-8NapbNakWBlxlJqx8URiXzgjCFZsRynMgsfBAPvRonJMh~EKUDfsHn0zrBYRSQcFfbFahdNGZL87Y7KZgpCWL-GAiPg~clp~ljEds0dYE4mgf9qTPed11vS7pSTxGkZLPm5XpCiKUY8tp8LEUognEompQiUcFtRHM6O-RO6bJVAMK1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Design and construction teams updated the Cumberland School Committee on plans for the new BF Norton Elementary School on Thursday, saying the project has received design‑development approval from the Rhode Island Department of Education and will move into construction‑document work this spring.

Anne Marie Andrade, senior project manager at Colliers, said the district expects to start construction “earlier this summer” and to open the new school in fall 2027. AI3 Architects showed floor plans the team said emphasize natural light, a central learning commons, flexible special‑education suites and a public‑facing gym and dining area that open to expanded green space.

The site plan moves the building farther south on the lot, the presentation said, shifting most parking to the south and east to create a larger secure playground to the north that can open to the public after hours. Renderings include three stories with classrooms wrapped around a double‑height media center and learning commons.

Construction manager Suzette Joseph of Consigli Construction described safety and mitigation plans for working adjacent to an occupied school: the project team will maintain fencing around the active construction perimeter, conduct vibration monitoring around the property line, deploy dust and noise controls, use blackout/work‑on‑weekend periods to limit disruption during critical student testing, and phase a pick‑up/drop‑off loop that will be introduced during construction.

“We do monitor the sound on‑site, and we will come up with a plan for this site specifically,” Joseph said, adding that weekend work is planned “to mitigate any sound issues.” Committee member Jason Dean asked whether the current BF Norton building would remain occupied during construction; the team said yes and reiterated plans to coordinate closely with school staff.

Thornton said Colliers and the design team have heard positive feedback from RIDE and quoted RIDE leadership as praising the district’s learning‑suite approach. The presentation showed the design’s intent to provide daylight to classrooms, specialized art and music spaces, and direct access from the gym to outdoor fields to help separate extracurricular events from daily school operations.

No final construction contract vote was taken at the meeting; the committee heard the update and asked questions about phasing, noise mitigation and communication during construction.","Design team and construction manager presented updated site plans and renderings for the new BF Norton Elementary School; RIDE approved design development and the project will enter construction documents with a planned summer 2025 start and fall 2027 opening. Committee asked about noise and mitigation while the existing school remains occupied.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cumberland School Committee approves change‑order authority, two policies and Chartwells payment; several purchasing resolutions passed

Public comment at Cumberland meeting features sharp exchanges over school rankings, conduct and Title IX guidance

Student‑run recycling and food‑share program expands in Cumberland; district schools top state metrics

Cumberland officials present BF Norton elementary design; construction to begin this summer with opening slated for fall 2027