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Committee tables Davisville Academy preschool playground purchase after accessibility concerns
Summary
The School Committee voted to table approval of a proposed preschool playground for Davisville Academy after parents and committee members raised concerns that the planned equipment and surfacing were not sufficiently inclusive for children with physical disabilities.
The North Kingstown School Committee on June 17 voted to table a $48,000 playground purchase for the Davisville Academy preschool, after parents and committee members said the vendor proposal lacked inclusive equipment and recommended further parent consultation.
Parent Mary Lau Presti urged the committee to “invite parents to provide input on the kind of playground equipment which would meet their child's needs,” and warned that the current quote contained only a single adaptive swing and mostly equipment not accessible to children with physical disabilities. Presti said parents can provide usable guidance and asked the committee to “hold off on making a final purchase decision so that a more inclusive consultation process can take place.”
Committee members and facilities staff discussed alternatives. Chris Murphy, director of facilities, told the committee he had asked the vendor about a poured‑rubber surface and that the vendor’s estimate raised the total cost by about $60,000: “It would be an additional $60,000,” Murphy said. Committee members noted the preschool population will include many students with special needs and that an inclusive playground can be used by all students, while noninclusive equipment excludes children with disabilities.
Committee members asked administration to seek additional input from anticipated preschool families, to solicit more inclusive options from the vendor and to investigate long‑term plans for Davisville’s use so funds are spent sustainably. With those steps requested, a motion to table the purchase carried.
The committee also discussed the surface choice: engineered wood fiber (mulch) was in the original quote, and administration was asked to obtain poured‑rubber estimates and to report back. The playground is funded from capital funds; the committee emphasized any revised recommendation should include outreach to parents of children with disabilities.
The tabled vote pauses immediate purchase and leaves time for administration to solicit parental input, get additional vendor options and return to the committee with a revised, more inclusive plan.
