Richmond parents press Chariho committee to replace condemned kindergarten playground, ask for fundraising-policy change

A Richmond parent told the Chariho Regional School Committee that a kindergarten playground at Richmond Elementary has been condemned and asked the district to replace the structure immediately or revise its fundraising policy so the PTO can raise money.

At the April meeting, Thea Brennan, Richmond Elementary PTO president, said the kindergarten section requires "at least $6,000 in repairs" to be safe and argued the playground should be paid from the district budget rather than relying on parent fundraising. "Our children deserve the best schools. They deserve new schools and safe playground equipment," Brennan said during the public-forum portion of the meeting.

Why it matters: Committee members and the superintendent said the playgrounds are a recurring capital priority and that funding choices and statutory reimbursement rules limit immediate action. Superintendent Gina Picard said the district has submitted required paperwork and is pursuing multiple options — from state reimbursement formulas to reusing equipment from other sites — and that the committee will consider funding and policy next month.

Details: Picard told the committee the district resubmitted its Stage 1 bond application and is hoping for Stage 2 approval; bond funds are restricted and cannot be used for elementary playgrounds in the same way, she said. Picard also explained the district may be eligible for up to roughly 61% reimbursement (and possibly 65% with a regional bonus) through the state process if the project qualifies. She said district staff are discussing moving available playground equipment and exploring capital-plan options.

Brennan asked the committee to revise the district fundraising policy, which currently says fundraising should not be used to pay for items that “should be included in the school budget.” She said the PTO would be willing to fundraise if the policy were revised or a waiver granted, and added that she had already contacted town councils for support. Picard said a private donor had approached the district offering roughly the $6,000 needed and she would follow up.

Next steps and limits: Committee members agreed to place the fundraising-policy change on the next meeting agenda for consideration. Picard cautioned that bond funds may be legally constrained and that a formal capital plan and state aid estimate expected in June will better identify what can be funded locally versus reimbursed. Several committee members emphasized they view playground safety as a high priority but noted the district must balance many capital needs.

Context: Committee members cited prior uses of town impact fees (Charlestown’s town council funded a Charlestown playground) and noted the district is managing multiple elementary priorities while preparing for building consolidations tied to the Hope Valley closure.

Ending: Picard and school administration said they will continue to pursue the donor lead Brennan mentioned, examine the capital-plan schedule and state reimbursement rules, and bring a policy item back to the committee to allow PTO participation in fundraising if the committee approves.