Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Kingstown to move preschool wing to DA; district plans RFP for ABA clinic and playground rebuild
Summary
District staff told CLAC the preschool program will relocate to the DA campus this fall, freeing space for elementary programs at Fishing Cove and allowing the district to issue an RFP for an ABA clinic on-site. Officials also said a playground rebuild is planned and will go through public meetings because it is bond-funded.
Rachel Sanchez, director of student services, and Jackie De Lorenzo, early childhood supervisor, described a planned preschool move and associated facilities work at a CLAC meeting.
Sanchez said the preschool will relocate to the DA campus in September and that the move was approved by the school committee. “By making that move, not only does it get better space for preschool, they have therapy space,” she said. The change will allow the district to move the elementary program currently at DA (called Positive Pathways K) to Fishing Cove and enlarge Compass K and other program spaces.
Sanchez said the relocation creates an opportunity to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) clinic to be part of the site’s programming and to provide office and conference space for staff. She credited facilities staff for quick responses and said some furniture and file cabinets have already been repurposed for the new space.
On playgrounds, staff reported that a rebuild has been approved and a committee will form to oversee design, ground covering, and accessibility. Sanchez said the playground project will be discussed in open meetings: the school committee will review plans and, because the work is bond-funded and will exceed the town’s small-purchase thresholds, it will likely go to the town council unless the cost is under $20,000.
Staff encouraged families to contribute ideas for accessible playground features — surfacing options, accessible equipment and pathways, and input from occupational and physical therapists — so the playground meets the needs of students with disabilities.
Impact and next steps: Preschool families should expect the move in September; the district will form a playground committee, issue an ABA RFP, and present bond-funded plans at upcoming school committee and town council meetings.
