School committee approves submission of schematic for partial demolition at Curtis Corner Middle School to RIDE

The South Kingstown School Committee voted to submit schematic designs to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) that would approve a partial demolition of Curtis Corner Middle School as part of a larger athletic-field and site plan.

Phil Conte, a project representative on the Curtis Corner design team, presented the schematic concept and explained the plan is to demolish most of the existing building while retaining an L-shaped portion that project staff say has “good bones” and could later accommodate a weight room, training space and locker rooms. Conte said the retained portion will be made safe, closed back in and held for future improvements contingent on funding.

Conte said a preliminary demolition start date is around February 2026 and that athletic-field work could begin in the summer of 2026. He said the project team is coordinating site logistics, hazardous abatement and contractor sequencing so occupied school buildings and nearby administration spaces remain safe during demolition.

Committee members asked whether utilities (electrical, water, HVAC) are serviceable in the portion proposed to be retained and whether retaining that portion creates demonstrable savings. Conte said some major electrical and mechanical equipment is located in the portion being retained, which informed the proposed cut line, and that any realized savings from not rebuilding the retained portion would be clearer with later design estimates. He said major interior renovations to the retained portion would likely require additional funding.

The committee discussed funding and reimbursements. Conte and committee members reiterated that the project is part of the district’s overall bond program and that demolition costs are expected to be reimbursable through RIDE; the committee emphasized that decisions about reallocating savings would be made by elected officials, not the project team. Conte said the Curtis Corner athletic-fields budget is separate from the new high school budget but that the district could seek adjustments with RIDE if savings occur on the high school project.

A motion to submit the Curtis Corner partial-demolition schematic to RIDE for approval was made and seconded; the committee voted in favor of the submission.

Committee members said they will return for future presentations on site design, potential parking impacts during demolition and options for future field‑house work.