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Richmond school committee urges residents to attend SLAM presentation on elementary facilities plan
Summary
Louise Dinsmore, a Richmond resident and chair of the Scharachow School Committee, told the Town Council the district must submit a five‑year elementary facilities plan to the Rhode Island Department of Education and invited the public to a SLAM presentation on Sept. 16 and follow‑up town‑hall meetings.
Louise Dinsmore, chair of the Scharachow School Committee, told the Richmond Town Council that a state‑required elementary facilities plan will be a critical step for the district and urged residents to attend a presentation by SLAM, the architectural firm engaged by the committee.
By law in 2018, school districts in Rhode Island were required to include an elementary facilities component in their five‑year capital plans, Dinsmore said, and the district must submit a stage‑2 application to the Rhode Island Department of Education after the committee identifies an option. She said SLAM will present options on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Middle School auditorium and staff will host additional town‑hall style meetings, including a session at Richmond Elementary School on Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m.
The presentation will outline options that include renovating the three existing elementary schools, building one new elementary school, or building three new elementary schools, Dinsmore said, and stressed public input is “imperative” before the committee selects a path. She asked the town to publicize meeting dates on the town website and Facebook page so residents without children in the district also have an opportunity to comment.
The council confirmed the SLAM presentation will be recorded for members who cannot attend and advised residents to bring questions to the public hearing and subsequent town‑halls. Council members and staff said they will post meeting notices and materials online ahead of the presentation.
Next steps: SLAM’s presentation on Sept. 16 will inform the school committee’s choice of an option for the stage‑2 application to the Rhode Island Department of Education, expected to be submitted in February if the committee advances an option.
