School committee approves field trips, FY26 CIP and several routine items

The South Kingstown School Committee approved a series of routine and programmatic actions during its meeting.

Field trips: The committee approved a girls' co‑op hockey trip to a Martha’s Vineyard tournament after coach Tom McCarthy explained the co‑op arrangement and confirmed much of the travel cost is raised privately through team fundraising and a supporting 501(c)(3). Member 2 moved to approve the field trip and the motion carried by voice vote. The committee also approved a proposed high school trip to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City; Member 11 moved and the motion carried by voice vote.

Capital Improvement Program: Matthew Kilpatrick presented the district’s proposed FY2025–26 capital improvement program and described a $1,142,000 ceiling figure that he called the maximum based on available funding. Kilpatrick told the committee his expectation is that the final requested amount will be smaller because available fund balance is limited; he said the town council will next review the submission. Member 2 moved to approve the CIP as presented and the committee voted to forward it to the town council.

Scholarship and personnel actions: The committee approved the Augusta Hazard scholarship application for distribution to students with a corrected school‑year date (changed to 2024–25) after staff noted a cover‑page error. Member 11 moved to accept the application with that correction. The committee also approved the contract renewal for the executive assistant to the superintendent and school committee after a motion by Member 11.

Procedural notes: The committee voted to seal executive session minutes earlier in the meeting and confirmed there were no votes taken in executive session. Public comment was reopened briefly at the end of the meeting and concluded without substantive testimony.