Tiverton school leaders ask town council to reallocate surplus door funds to condenser, cameras and equipment

The Tiverton School Committee unanimously approved a request on Aug. 28 to forward to the town council a reallocation of surplus funds originally set aside for door replacements so the district can address immediate facilities needs.

Superintendent Doctor Cinquioni told the committee that the town council had allocated $255,000 for door replacement at three schools, but the actual bids for that work came in much lower — about $86,000 — leaving a balance the district proposed to use for four projects totaling roughly $127,000: a condenser at the middle school ($45,000), air‑purification and shelving/equipment for the locker‑room fitness center ($40,000), security cameras at the high school ($12,000), and two floor scrubbers for school cleaning ($30,000).

Cinquinoni said the middle‑school condenser is urgent because, without replacement, that section of the building would lose heat and remained without full climate control. He also noted the locker‑room/fitness center project depended on state reimbursement that will arrive with a lag, and the district is seeking to use casino funds temporarily to bridge cash‑flow timing until reimbursements arrive.

Committee members asked for clarification about donated fitness equipment and whether cameras were part of the bid; Cinquioni and facilities staff confirmed the equipment donation went to the middle school and cameras were not included in the doors bid. Facilities staff described the scrubbers as cost‑effective long‑term investments that would save custodial man‑hours.

Outcome and next steps: the committee voted unanimously to submit the reallocation request to the town council for formal approval and to pursue use of casino funds as a temporary financing measure pending state reimbursements.