[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6458000,"mediaKeyId","5824378-a8774bfcb8f5947b417846948c085a10","parentId",5824378,"title","Parents tell Chariho school committee repeated classroom disruptions are reducing instruction time; district outlines supports and FERPA limits","audioSeconds",1424,"startMs",1492000,"endMs",2916000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824378-a8774bfcb8f5947b417846948c085a10&start=1492&end=2916","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824378-a8774bfcb8f5947b417846948c085a10/thumbnail_1492000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6458000/Rhode-Island/Parents-tell-Chariho-school-committee-repeated-classroom-disruptions-are-reducing-instruction-time-district-outlines-supports-and-FERPA-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458000-d2d8ad2fd756ea2cddc3cc7a06fd8a72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136731&Signature=d2xT9acNrzM04kX52twwIBSHX9fJYwl0pZTpv9mP64PVC~dwNskQHsrjZeEyvauxlkCvPz6sqvokFW3Q6wKRamDGLwd4MoMA5aNxq1MvFrMNvsgl6KmdqoNKj1tWWZkeWyn1TWw6RXUzA1vOzVXHOuAF~3kpzZbyHj6GnyFTx9om3XA1EuiSBPKzRADkx7-KUwCu-x8wodfCl2qm3hEV9VlubQKGQesdRcY-7zsiRuZ9smcuG8Hq45tRbZ0xAIKPVy05ABkI7UO0zdKO2zpbHZytPMc066UiyI9O8r1tvhoIjzrxVVzsTLmNCxh2fJZDge~-aIUXWENNBE9Lggx4-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chariho","date","2025-09-24T12:49:32.28Z","article","Several parents and residents told the Chariho Regional School Committee on Sept. 23 that repeated classroom disruptions at Charlestown Elementary are reducing instructional time and causing anxiety among students.

Why it matters: parents say disruptions — described as yelling, objects thrown and doorway blockages — have forced classrooms to evacuate and lose up to 30 minutes or more of instruction. They asked the district for clearer, timely notifications to families and stronger behavioral supports.

Multiple speakers described similar concerns. A letter read by Laura Rahm relayed a Charlestown parent’s account that frequent outbursts force classes to stop, cause children to fall behind and leave students feeling \"scared and uneasy.\" Helen Sheehan of Richmond questioned projected repair costs and said taxpayers are concerned about budgets and tax impacts. Britney Morinzoni, a Charlestown parent, described classrooms evacuated for escalations and said parents receive no timely notice from administration; she asked for a short, non‑specific notification protocol when an evacuation occurs so families can support children at home.

\"Parents don't need detailed information about the incident, but a simple notification that the evacuation took place would allow us to address [it] with our children,\" Morinzoni said as she urged a district policy for general notification. Kelly Gillette, another Charlestown parent, recounted two evacuations within a two‑week span that displaced classes and disrupted music or art sessions.

Superintendent Gina Picard acknowledged the concern and described the district’s behavioral and staffing changes this school year: implementation of multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS) Tier 1 and Tier 2 strategies, social workers assigned to every school for the first time and a school psychologist in each building full time. Picard said those staffing increases came from changes in the committee's budget and that principals are equipped with guidance about what they can and cannot share under federal privacy law.

Picard referenced federal privacy protections — commonly called FERPA — to explain limits on what school staff can disclose about other students. \"We cannot violate the law,\" she said, and committed to meeting parents to explain what the district can and cannot share. Picard said administrators have been advised by counsel and that principals receive guidance from the district's legal and student‑services staff on appropriate notification.

District officials also described existing incident-response systems and said the middle and high school already use student assistance counselors and other supports; the district recently approved a contract with RISE (student‑assistance counseling) to provide additional services, particularly at the secondary level. Parents asked that the student‑assistance program allow clearer parent notification when disruptions affect classmates’ learning, while district staff stressed confidentiality rules and the need to protect student privacy.

Parents also urged improved staffing at the elementary level. Picard said the district added social workers and school psychologists to each building for the first time this year and asked parents to raise concerns directly with principals; she offered to meet with concerned parents and the principal to review communication protocols. The district also said it will follow up on building‑level prevention and intervention systems and consider clarifying any parent notification language where legally permitted.

What’s next: Picard asked parents to schedule one‑on‑one or group meetings with school-level administrators if they want immediate, local follow-up. Several parents provided written statements, which the committee accepted for the record. The committee did not adopt immediate policy changes during the meeting but directed staff to follow up on the communication and intervention issues raised.

\"We can't imagine being a parent of a child who's had an escalated event,\" Picard said. \"I will speak to the principal about their systems and follow up.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-09-23 School Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Several parents and residents told the Chariho Regional School Committee on Sept. 23 that repeated classroom disruptions at Charlestown Elementary are reducing instructional time and causing anxiety among students.","taxTitle","Chariho, School Districts, Rhode Island","taxId",38790,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6458005,"Chariho committee reviews three elementary-school options and hears community concerns about site, cost and timing",6657,3082000,9739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824378-a8774bfcb8f5947b417846948c085a10&start=3082&end=9739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824378-a8774bfcb8f5947b417846948c085a10/thumbnail_3082000.jpg","/articles/6458005/Rhode-Island/Chariho-committee-reviews-three-elementary-school-options-and-hears-community-concerns-about-site-cost-and-timing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458005-161675ac777eda3eeb001bec51604e05/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136731&Signature=EkcXIL5tg5GCspFeE1lB9fcK2Z9159ILrB2zHTQmgqJUgoMFq~~vsohbq3yWtDp-Vgc9Yf0uQ5-aQteUYwWr4hyF~SymaK~aLl0AwEQzQBraLOLgLBvqtUrlLBMGq89YxXnCuN4goFVDrGytzPbtXaZ1MycLksvuyTshLfHvFFkWOYCnjEXREEoqwYXfMNaVHtmhLo2-aQyG-8zoDGsARBqz0RIkUX85zoRO5nREibYQ91DkHVxoFXisyPbnINuRJQirS9MediqigQKhthDjfttTY2kZaA-eiGt735MsCtJQwMv1D~I8ivdPqXRyp3xqtBrOxTcSui6PY8~ukpfvGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Architects and the district’s owner’s project manager presented three conceptual elementary‑school options to the Chariho Regional School Committee on Sept. 23, outlining construction-cost ranges, reimbursement mechanics and a community engagement timeline as the district prepares a Stage 2 application to the Rhode Island Department of Education.

The options presented by SLAM Collaborative and Colliers were: (1) a single regional elementary school on a new site (estimated site need roughly 27–33 acres) with construction cost range presented at about $87–90 million (construction dollars only, per the presenters’ model); (2) “renovate-to-new” at each existing school with additions (estimated $89–98 million); and (3) three new elementary schools (highest estimated construction cost). The presenters emphasized that the numbers shown were construction-cost comparisons only and that total project cost would include site acquisition, abatement, swing space and other “soft” costs not included in those headline ranges.

Why it matters: the district must decide which approach to advance in its Stage 2 packet to RIDE; the chosen approach will shape which properties are considered, what bonuses or reimbursement the district can pursue and the schedule for community meetings and a future bond question.

\"This is conceptual work to understand opportunities,\" said Mark Rhodes, design principal for SLAM Collaborative. \"We're showing parity across options so the community can compare apples to apples on construction dollars and programmatic outcomes.\" Kathy Ellethorpe of SLAM and Holly Demerson, Colliers' owner’s project manager, joined Rhodes in explaining site constraints, ADA and mechanical implications, and how RIDE’s reimbursement formula drives school size and allowable square footage.

Superintendent Gina Picard told the committee the presentation was not a decision but a chance to refine messaging before community meetings scheduled for Richmond (Sept. 29), Charlestown (Oct. 1) and Ashaway (Oct. 6). \"You're not building the school of five years from now — you're building for the next 50 years,\" Picard said, urging residents to weigh educational program goals alongside cost and location questions.

Presenters walked the committee through programmatic elements the district requested: classrooms sized to current RIDE expectations, upgraded specialty spaces (DaVinci/STEAM-type labs), full kitchens and larger cafeterias and gyms to achieve parity across schools. SLAM said a unified regional school allows operational efficiencies — one kitchen, one large gym — and the potential for shared specialized programs; it also requires significant land acquisition and adds transportation considerations. The renovate‑to‑new option would retain and upgrade existing buildings where feasible but could require substantial selective demolition, elevated remediation and costly mechanical upgrades; SLAM warned that RIDE can be strict when determining whether a project qualifies as \"renovate to new.\" Three new schools carries the highest construction-price tag because it duplicates major building systems across three sites.

Committee members and residents asked detailed questions about reimbursement and escalation. Colliers’ Holly Demerson explained RIDE’s formula: construction reimbursement is driven by the per‑square‑foot allowance tied to the student population the district submits; Colliers said the currently published construction benchmark is $564 per eligible square foot for elementary work and that RIDE sometimes updates that figure (the team estimated a plausible $15/ft2 increase to account for escalation when the application is reviewed). The presenters repeatedly stressed that RIDE funds construction and many eligible soft costs but does not reimburse every discretionary feature; items that the district wants above RIDE standards would require local funding.

Residents pressed the committee about location and equity across the three towns. Simon Manlove (Hopkinton) asked the presentation to more clearly flag that the worksheet costs were construction dollars only and did not reflect total project cost. Tracy Sylvia (Richmond) asked when bonuses for energy or security could be considered; presenters said bonuses are evaluated as part of Stage 2 and must meet specific programmatic thresholds (for example, a security bonus requires a high percentage of project cost devoted to security work). Multiple speakers asked whether land-acquisition costs would be eligible for RIDE reimbursement; the presenters and Colliers said land, when approved and appraised as part of a project, can be eligible for reimbursement under the same reimbursement rate.

Transportation and swing‑space questions were frequent. SLAM and Colliers said a unified school typically requires 27–33 acres and a letter of intent for a site during Stage 2; they cautioned that land negotiations must protect the district (for example, land offers should include terms that allow the district to withdraw if a bond fails). Committee members noted Chariho spans three towns (Richmond, Charlestown, Hopkinton) and asked whether voters in towns farther from a consolidated site would approve a single regional school; committee members flagged long-standing political concerns about tax distribution and local identity.

Picard and the architects said the design team will refine the slides and add clarifying language (page numbers and explicit labels for \"renovation\" vs. \"new construction\" slides were among requests from the committee). SLAM also said Stage 2 will include site feasibility steps (topography, ledge, wetlands, septic, environmental testing) that will be done if the committee chooses a path forward.

What's next: the committee will accept community feedback at the three neighborhood meetings and is expected to decide at its October meeting which plan to advance in the Stage 2 application. Picard reminded the public that Stage 2 is required by law for RIDE reimbursement and that the district will continue to refine cost estimates and identify possible bonuses and incentives with Colliers.

\"This is a public conversation,\" Picard said. \"We need to hear what people are worried about and what they want to protect so we can design a plan that fits our community.\"","Architects and the district’s owner’s project manager presented three conceptual elementary‑school options to the Chariho Regional School Committee on Sept. 23, outlining construction-cost ranges, reimbursement mechanics and a community engagement timeline as the district prepares a Stage 2 application to the Rhode Island Department of Education.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6457994,"At a glance: Chariho school committee actions on Sept. 23 — contracts, policies and budget transfers approved",10215,405000,10620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824378-a8774bfcb8f5947b417846948c085a10&start=405&end=10620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824378-a8774bfcb8f5947b417846948c085a10/thumbnail_405000.jpg","/articles/6457994/Rhode-Island/At-a-glance-Chariho-school-committee-actions-on-Sept-23-contracts-policies-and-budget-transfers-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457994-baa564f0b3a51f685037bc5091ca9d06/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136731&Signature=HuMvoLxfqSMLu3nHub6rUnPHGOuaN8-uSdh8AxX0AyjNKYGN6YX0TssEbsfJAkmUzbM6uwifPx-iR4C8lwN4jAFkdNd~xeV3Ez88Dp6uCBMw0E-ptlPbB0N35vEfreAxA~9Eh6lV71~28YzFM-ZsI9MUppfKnqihfG5T5R5O9994HxoRR8py6jAdcrWiiIDl2IzRmbXA6ixmoo1BABYv0uwS3bt0mH7mkc4EE3j-lK7pZU-XAVrfvB4TjNkKdGY8wzdFZP5fO0pPznSqyiAvDsi93c0XnnhqLRnvyxd-g4JY4j0vTkK6psmeTe14i8g~2rpKHF14SKHUEx7na-BpUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chariho Regional School Committee took a series of formal actions on Sept. 23, most by unanimous vote. Key approvals covered labor contract language, policy housekeeping, counseling services, and budget transfers.

What the committee approved (summary with outcomes):

- Closure and sealing of executive session minutes (motion recommended by superintendent). Outcome: approved unanimously in open session.

- Disclosure of executive‑session votes (vice chair Laura Chapman reported six votes taken in executive session). Among the items disclosed: approval of executive session minutes from Aug. 19 (one abstention: Polly Hopkins); approval of a pulled homeschool instruction request (Polly Hopkins abstained); approval of homeschool instructor requests A through O (unanimous except noted abstention); approval of homeschool rescissions (unanimous); approval of a previously pulled motion (A2A) (unanimous); vote to end executive session and reconvene (unanimous). Outcome: disclosed; transcript records abstentions as noted.

- Graduation policy cleanup (renewal/clarification aligning language to current regulations). Motion moved, seconded, discussion waived. Outcome: unanimous approval.

- NEA certified final tentative agreement (three‑year agreement with district educators). The negotiation subcommittee and union representatives were thanked during discussion; Diane Tefft reported the union would be ratifying. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: unanimous approval.

- RISE student‑assistance counseling contract (annual contract for counseling services). Motion moved and seconded; board discussion clarified insurance language and opt‑in/opt‑out procedures as they relate to district policy and state law; outcome: unanimous approval.

- Virtual learning day plan (district plan to meet state requirements for distance instruction when needed). Outcome: unanimous approval.

- Out‑of‑state field trips (routine approvals for recurring trips). Outcome: approved as a group, unanimous.

- MOA for categorical funding and related grant agreements (annual, programmatic allocations). Outcome: approved unanimously.

- Budget transfers (detailed transfers presented by the business office). Outcome: approved unanimously; finance update provided showing year‑to‑date changes.

- Consent agenda (minutes from Aug. 5 special meeting and a slate of donations). Outcome: approved unanimously; district acknowledged backpack and school supplies donations and other gifts.

Votes and attribution: the meeting record shows motions were typically moved and seconded by committee members and recorded by the clerk. Where transcript lists vote tallies, this summary reflects the clerk’s record (most motions passed unanimously). Where individual abstentions were reported, the minutes show Polly Hopkins recorded as abstaining on specific executive‑session homeschool votes; the public roll call for most open‑session votes indicates unanimous approval.

What the votes mean: the NEA tentative agreement initiates a three‑year contract process that will next require union ratification (reported as forthcoming). The graduation policy cleanup was framed as a crosswalk to align district language with current state regulations (administrative cleanup rather than a policy overhaul). The RISE contract brings student‑assistance counseling services back into the district annually and was approved after committee questions about confidentiality, insurance limits and opt‑in/opt‑out processes. Budget transfers will be reflected in the district financial records and were presented by the business manager.

No items were tabled for later action during the section covered by votes and consent. The committee took no action on the elementary school planning presentation during this meeting; that topic remains for committee decision following community meetings.

For detail and record: the clerk’s minutes and posted meeting packet contain itemized transfer amounts, the full NEA tentative agreement, the RISE contract language, the revised graduation policy text and copies of gifts and donations accepted by the committee.

The committee adjourned following approval of consent items.","The Chariho Regional School Committee approved multiple routine and substantive items on Sept. 23, including a NEA tentative agreement, a graduation policy cleanup, the RISE counseling contract, a virtual learning-day plan, budget transfers, and several consent items. Executive‑session votes on homeschool requests were disclosed by the vice chair.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents tell Chariho school committee repeated classroom disruptions are reducing instruction time; district outlines supports and FERPA limits

Chariho committee reviews three elementary-school options and hears community concerns about site, cost and timing

At a glance: Chariho school committee actions on Sept. 23 — contracts, policies and budget transfers approved