Smithfield committee forwards Stage 2 school-renovation plan to RIDE; field complex ribbon cutting, advertising plans highlighted

Smithfield School Committee members said a Stage 2 application for prioritized renovations at Smithville High School and Gallagher Middle School was forwarded to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to meet a September deadline and to enable continued planning with an estimated 35% state reimbursement.

Superintendent (name not specified) told the committee the Stage 2 plan focuses on high‑priority work at the high school over the next five years and would “set the stage for renovations to begin during 2026 with a plan to continue through 2030.”

Why it matters: the committee and the town have pushed to advance long‑deferred building work through coordinated planning and shared funding. If RIDE approves the Stage 2 submission, the district would be eligible for partial state reimbursement for construction and renovation costs.

What the Stage 2 submission covers: committee materials and the superintendent’s report list planned work including seven bathroom renovations at Smithville High School, a roof replacement, and upgrades to the intensive special‑education (ISE) classroom at Gallagher Middle School. The superintendent also noted recent emergency renovation work completed this past summer and the creation of an intensive special‑education classroom located in the library/media center.

Town and school coordination: the superintendent reported that an RIDE workshop and a town council presentation took place the week before the meeting; the application was forwarded to RIDE as part of meeting the agency’s September deadline. He thanked members of the school building committee and others who met repeatedly between April and September to develop the plan. The committee chair confirmed building‑committee meetings ran more than an hour and included school department staff, community members, and representatives from town government.

Athletics complex and facilities operations: the committee also reviewed recent work on the district’s athletic complex. The superintendent and school staff recognized a ribbon cutting held the prior day for the Boyle athletics complex and thanked the director of facilities, Angela Mancucci, for leading the project and finishing punch‑list items such as landscaping and installed works. The district confirmed engraved brick sales remain open via the district website and the business office.

Advertising, scheduling and revenue plans: staff reported that the district’s online master scheduling system for facility reservations is active; administrators who still need training will receive it the following day. The facilities committee is finalizing multi‑year pricing for advertising locations on the new field (inside and outside fenced areas), the scoreboard and digital roadside signage, courts, the concession stand, and the press box. Justin Martin was identified as working with a nearby university to benchmark pricing.

Public engagement and next steps: the superintendent said the project team will provide a draft advertising/pricing schedule for committee review at a future meeting. He also thanked teachers, parents and students for high turnout at recent open houses and noted the completed Culinary Arts Room and other interior improvements as recent facility successes.

Meeting notes: the committee discussed the Stage 2 submission in the regular session and confirmed the application has been sent to RIDE for review. No binding construction contracts were authorized at this meeting; the action reported was the forwarding of the Stage 2 application and related planning work.