[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6040445,"mediaKeyId","3761777-ebaa9957da2bf191e739eaa73106a991","parentId",3761777,"title","Tiverton officials report HVAC failures, town council approves $100,000 capital blanket; roof diagnostics ordered at THS","audioSeconds",1843,"startMs",471000,"endMs",2314000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3761777-ebaa9957da2bf191e739eaa73106a991&start=471&end=2314","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3761777-ebaa9957da2bf191e739eaa73106a991/thumbnail_471000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6040445/Tiverton/Newport-County/Rhode-Island/Tiverton-officials-report-HVAC-failures-town-council-approves-100000-capital-blanket-roof-diagnostics-ordered-at-THS","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6040445-d4bcd2a1d88c78be422657d6a2a0534e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770808687&Signature=ogprzXY1EgcBtDTW276-nfFk5uKmYjPpr7Lx00VOYqsI0rzYm7e6I23BG6XGh1wH5hgo0YLp2b3TuFjWmXDPNLcMct2sU60DfozmSJaBapElhx2CbhGMVtwCEroGTSU55TzsTDsLz0Zv45s2D5~Achb8Jaig1u3GdXzdocQM4aIxq6ezk0SyP7NP8RMqGZPVrEQvQhL-ec06Nc1zDXBhSNR7jsilyKkKGzeU9vjFkJJDWDz71inMrThj~i1jQUWxvi7M6CGbIGVLplSGlNimijJcboHbYCC~DIlynarPgfDUAWhod1krow-crAanGUOHBOfNvNOrCcEC2fggPRmRtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tiverton, RI","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Tiverton — School and facilities officials told the Tiverton School Committee on Jan. 28 that repeated compressor failures and other heating problems at Tiverton High School are linked to improper installation by a prior vendor, and the Town Council approved a $100,000 capital blanket last night to address district heating repairs.

The issue first surfaced as a failing rooftop compressor that serves parts of the high school front area, including the library and guidance suite. ‘‘The prior failed compressor was improperly installed by the previous vendor, causing the unit to fail much well before the expected useful life,’’ said Mr. Andrade, a school facilities representative. He described the malfunction as ‘‘basically trying to run a car without oil’’ — oil was leaving the compressor and not returning — and said electrical and connection-box issues meant ceiling units were not responding to rooftop controls.

Why it matters: the district is in winter and staff said students must be kept warm while diagnostics, parts procurement and warranty work proceed. The Town Council approved a not-to-exceed $100,000 allocation to cover multiple ongoing heating repairs district‑wide and to reimburse earlier emergency spending. Committee members were told that about $20,000 had already been committed at the high school for the most recent repair and that previous emergency work at Fort Barton and other sites had used additional funds.

Tremco roof diagnostics: At the same meeting facilities staff also reported results of a preliminary roofing inspection and recommended a detailed moisture analysis of the high school administration roof. Mr. Andrade said Tremco found significant ponding in several areas and recommended a comprehensive moisture analysis to locate compromised sections and to support warranty claims. He said the roof is less than seven years old but showed ponding areas that may exceed the guidance standard; in some places he said ponding measured multiple square feet.

Cost and procurement: Committee members were told that the Town Council approved the requests presented to it at its Jan. 27 meeting and that the roofing diagnostic work was submitted as an urgent request. The committee did not take a separate vote on the town’s capital approvals because the council had already acted; the chair described such votes as ‘‘a moot point’’ for items already approved by the council.

Warranty and next steps: Facilities staff said the district had contacted LG’s certified representative and that LG engineering and quality-assurance teams had been involved in reviewing installation and failure modes. Mr. Andrade said the district intends to pursue contract remedies with the original installer and continue warranty repair efforts through the LG vendor. For the roof, Tremco’s recommended moisture analysis will be used to scope repairs under warranty and to guide longer-term planning.

Committee procedure and oversight: Committee members asked for the facilities team to convene the building committee and other community experts to review the diagnostic results and help set priorities for repairs. The chair said the district would schedule that meeting. Officials also agreed to provide updated cost and bid information as work is scoped and quotes are received.

Votes at the meeting: the School Committee recorded routine consent items and acknowledged the Town Council’s capital approvals during the meeting; no additional committee vote was required for council-approved capital items.

What’s next: Facilities staff will arrange the Tremco moisture analysis and pursue parts and local vendor scheduling for compressor replacements while the district pursues warranty and contractual recourse with the prior installer. Committee members asked for regular updates as diagnostics and repairs proceed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tiverton School Committee Meeting - January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Tiverton — School and facilities officials told the Tiverton School Committee on Jan. 28 that repeated compressor failures and other heating problems at Tiverton High School are linked to improper installation by a prior vendor, and the Town Council approved a $100,000 capital blanket last night to address district heating repairs.","taxTitle","Tiverton, Newport County, Rhode Island","taxId",79581,"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},6040436,"Tiverton schools project roughly $1.6M FY26 deficit; committee examines staff reductions and potential elementary consolidation",4506,2210000,6716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3761777-ebaa9957da2bf191e739eaa73106a991&start=2210&end=6716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3761777-ebaa9957da2bf191e739eaa73106a991/thumbnail_2210000.jpg","/articles/6040436/Tiverton/Newport-County/Rhode-Island/Tiverton-schools-project-roughly-16M-FY26-deficit-committee-examines-staff-reductions-and-potential-elementary-consolidation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6040436-d242c86d9c0928a07cb1656a1bf40733/orig.mp4?Expires=1770808687&Signature=R8ZpoRn0JkI5TLwk0RdPfft-dqgOubaUzLjkgEEHhSdZg-U~ea~02a240ZuuEXxaozUc~yNfsCv5L8F47ssqYSWA~2RGvR4q04jDgkyTdmKugWNhr~ex~~djv-ZAu39ClXqZiHAgQbBAkByzHFdl5kHL0XqK6NGRQan-0M5loQK0ns00BtSKJXz1BEe1meZ61QV-A6ZMOtZRMbz-~bmAfD8oeMGYVE6bVEl5e-ds2lbWvfIHzlzBOU95p73sUjotigFIPN6IwvN~ZtqaTavHQTOH4FeVp8y4QmXhl62QBApL53Yh7fYiFyw3bV9LF~WrmDD2BjfPpVysYPLzBj9K3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tiverton — The superintendent told the School Committee on Jan. 28 that the district is projecting a fiscal 2026 budget shortfall of roughly $1.6 million and that the core driver is declining enrollment combined with rising mandatory costs such as transportation, special-education services and benefits.

‘‘We’re predicting a deficit of 1.6, almost 1,600,000 and some change,’’ Dr. Sanchione said, laying out a preliminary fiscal forecast built from current-year actuals with assumptions for state aid, contracts and energy. His presentation assumed a $16,000 increase in state aid, a placeholder $313,000 for technology and curriculum requests, and, for planning purposes, an illustrative 4% increase from the town.

Why it matters: Enrollment reductions statewide and in Tiverton have shrunk the student population in recent years. The superintendent and chair presented comparative October 1 enrollment counts showing a multi-year decline that, for Tiverton, amounts to a roughly 17% drop over 10 years and 32% over 20 years. Fewer students reduce state aid and make fixed staffing costs proportionally larger, officials said.

Proposed personnel impacts and consolidation scenarios: District administrators described two scenarios to close the gap: 1) maintain current school configuration (three elementary schools) with cuts that would ‘‘necessitate 12 positions’’ in a mixture of support and instructional roles; or 2) consolidate elementary schools to two buildings, a step that administrators said could require eliminating up to 14 positions overall, primarily teaching roles (the district described 9 elementary teaching positions, 3 at the high school and 2 at the middle school in that consolidation scenario). Officials emphasized these were planning estimates and that the committee would receive detailed personnel-impact charts at the Feb. 11 meeting.

Special education and transportation volatility: Administrators stressed that special-education out-of-district placements, contracted services, and statewide transportation are especially volatile budget drivers. The special-education director showed month‑to‑month swings in out‑of‑district tuition and contracted services, and transportation staff reported bid results and projection increases of 6–7 percent tied to a new RFP cycle.

Process and timeline: The superintendent asked the committee to send data and information requests by Monday, Feb. 3, so staff can compile answers ahead of the Feb. 11 meeting. The chair and the superintendent said the committee will hold a finance subcommittee meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11 and will provide line‑by‑line expense detail for review. The committee also asked town councilors to coordinate early budget meetings; one town councilor, Dave Perry, spoke at the meeting and urged prompt, collaborative work between council and committee.

No final decisions yet: Committee members emphasized the need to protect instructional staff where possible but said difficult choices are unavoidable without additional revenue. The committee voted to refer policy work on board operations to the policy subcommittee in the same meeting and scheduled further budget review meetings in February.

What’s next: Administration will provide personnel‑impact tables and expense details at Feb. 11; the committee will use that information to develop recommendations for the town budget process ahead of the town’s March deadlines.","Superintendent presented an updated FY26 outlook showing a projected deficit of about $1.6 million tied to enrollment declines and rising transportation and special-education costs; administrators outlined staffing impacts and asked the committee to submit questions by Feb. 3 for a Feb. 11 follow-up.",{"_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},6040441,"Tiverton High School unveils new plant-science CTE track and expands public-safety academy partnerships",765,1183000,1948000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3761777-ebaa9957da2bf191e739eaa73106a991&start=1183&end=1948","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3761777-ebaa9957da2bf191e739eaa73106a991/thumbnail_1183000.jpg","/articles/6040441/Tiverton/Newport-County/Rhode-Island/Tiverton-High-School-unveils-new-plant-science-CTE-track-and-expands-public-safety-academy-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6040441-d0160b879e1982faef46a2f7ad1404f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770808687&Signature=gaRFcjCXnUmgB7CYUp887Jwq4GxfOHURrNZ1pCuNg-0wQ5Lzm203NONh~P~WvVV47bsdmAJuHyppNSo5kvCcxZbsJm7ewqGKYjKcGLsGCXmmFID1VEImI0PWvsVEX10oPXR83ZgfX~~dbYcxME1J0YAWYGyeozSTLLBL3vVNyw-fvxggcadxRsBABGk0WekBGjUnj2Ef94AHeAinytsSStXHmsnlnmfbrfh9qiwsmZpJTsDCX36TZT8zNMwoGYXuT~dnAaz90Vj-PV1JQOBa3rfhJ5uCE4If7z7mhiDQZMwNGrGIpvD6TBKMrTEUsE-Mx4trZ30vVxmNla1tQgauOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tiverton — The school committee heard on Jan. 28 that Tiverton High School will launch a new career and technical education (CTE) pathway in plant science, landscaping and groundskeeping and is expanding public‑safety programming in partnership with local law enforcement.

What was presented: Lee Cusimano, identified in the meeting as the school’s CTE coordinator, described a multi-course, multi-year pathway that includes an introduction to landscaping and groundskeeping, greenhouse operations and management, and a choice between AP Environmental Science or Environmental Science and Sustainability. Cusimano said students who complete the four‑year sequence will be eligible for OSHA-10 certification, industrial credits via the NOCTE exam, preparation for the University of Rhode Island pesticide safety exam and the Rhode Island DEM Pesticide Applications License, plus four CCRI credits for a Soil Science online course.

‘‘This particular program is very unique because only very few of these exist in the state, and particularly on this side of the state,’’ Cusimano said, adding that the program will expand opportunities for students who lack nearby access to such training. The district plans to house a portable greenhouse for hands‑on instruction and to sequence credentialing and coursework so students can earn marketable credentials while still in high school.

Staffing and partners: The committee was told that Stephen Weatherall is a new hire who will lead the plant‑science program and that the science department will coordinate greenhouse instruction. Cusimano listed local partners that will support the program, including nurseries, Master Gardeners and URI outreach, and said the middle and elementary schools would be invited to participate in K‑12 STEAM events tied to plant science.

Public-safety pathway: The committee also heard that the district expanded a public-safety and law-enforcement pathway during the current school year. Cusimano credited Lieutenant Leduc, Officer Smalldome and Andy Gachuk (spelling as presented in committee materials) for working with the school to adapt Citizens Police Academy content for classroom delivery so public‑safety students receive academy-style instruction during the school day. The pathway includes visits to the police and fire stations, animal control, crisis‑response demonstrations and integrated forensics and report‑writing modules.

Why it matters: Committee members noted that these CTE offerings provide credentialing, college credits and direct workforce pathways without forcing students to choose between college and career preparation. Officials said the new programs will help raise the school's profile and offer alternatives that may attract families considering other districts.

Logistics and outreach: Cusimano announced a CTE open house scheduled for the week following the meeting; she invited committee members and community partners to attend and to participate in scheduling and work‑study placements.

No vote required: Committee members and administrators said CTE program approvals follow state CTE procedures and that the presentation was intended to inform the committee rather than seek a formal vote.

Upcoming: District staff said they will return to the committee with enrollment planning and further implementation steps, including equipment and partnership agreements, as the program develops.","Tiverton High School presented a new plant science, landscaping and groundskeeping CTE pathway and expanded public-safety and Citizens Police Academy partnerships that will give students industry credentials and college credits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tiverton officials report HVAC failures, town council approves $100,000 capital blanket; roof diagnostics ordered at THS

Tiverton schools project roughly $1.6M FY26 deficit; committee examines staff reductions and potential elementary consolidation

Tiverton High School unveils new plant-science CTE track and expands public-safety academy partnerships