Central Falls trustees back city bond resolution to help finish new high school

The Central Falls School Board of Trustees voted on March 25 to support a proposed City of Central Falls bond resolution intended to furnish and equip new school facilities, including funding the completion of the district’s new high school.

Board members discussed the proposed resolution near the end of the packet and then voted to support the city bond. The resolution language in the board packet was described as authored by the city and framed as a proposed issuance to fund school facilities; the packet showed a $15,000,000 figure associated with the proposal.

During discussion trustees asked about construction costs and steel-price inflation; staff said the district had projected costs and that the bond amount would allow completion of the new high school. Board members also asked about how closing older buildings (including the Robertson Building) and future school configurations would relate to the new facilities.

A motion to support the resolution was made and seconded (the record shows the second was Board Member Annette Martinez). Trustees voted in favor; the meeting transcript records “All in favor. Aye. Aye. Aye as well.” The board did not attach detailed binding financial covenants in the discussion recorded at the meeting; staff said the city’s language provided context for the bond and that additional details would be resolved as the city bond process moved forward.

Trustees and staff discussed that the city’s proposed issuance would support furnishing and equipping schools and that closing and repurposing older district buildings would be decisions for a later phase. No formal financing agreement or intergovernmental contract was executed at the meeting; the trustees’ vote was a show of support for the city bond resolution as presented in the packet.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the packet referenced $15,000,000 for the proposed bond; staff said that amount would be sufficient to finish the new high school as presented. Board members expressed concern about rising material costs and asked staff to monitor construction pricing and timelines.

The vote recorded in the meeting transcript was a voice vote of “aye”; the motion had a vocal second and trustees indicated unanimous support in the recorded remarks. The board did not record roll-call vote tallies in the transcript excerpt provided.