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Superintendent: RIDE approves Stage‑2 school construction application; district highlights grants and bus safety upgrades
Summary
Superintendent Duva told the committee RIDE approved the district's Stage‑2 application for $136.27 million in eligible school construction costs and said the expected state reimbursement is 35% of eligible costs (about $47 million); the administration cautioned that reimbursement depends on project completion and eligible costs. The report also covered Feinstein grants, bus camera/GPS installation and a $60,000 USDOT grant for stop‑arm cameras.
Superintendent Duva updated the North Kingstown School Committee Jan. 13 on a cluster of district facility, safety and program items, saying the state approved the district's Stage‑2 school construction application and that the approved eligible cost was $136,271,138.
"They approved our necessity of school construction application for a $136,271,138," Duva said. "We will be reimbursed with the state share ratio of 35%" — an amount she noted is the expected share for eligible costs (roughly $47 million) but is contingent on completing eligible projects and submitting reimbursement requests to the state.
Committee members pressed administration to avoid presenting the $47 million figure as guaranteed revenue. An unnamed committee member noted that not every cost is eligible and that the final reimbursement depends on what projects are completed and submitted; Duva agreed, saying eligibility and completion determine the actual reimbursement received.
On district grants and programs, Duva reported that Davisville Middle School received Feinstein grant funding used to expand hot breakfast options and after‑school offerings such as 3‑D printing, coding and ELA workshops. She thanked contractors, school building committee members and town partners for supporting the effort.
Duva also briefed the committee on transportation safety upgrades: internal cameras and GPS systems are being installed on large buses (with mini‑bus installations under way). She said the town council approved a $60,000 United States Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to install school bus stop‑arm cameras on all district buses.
The committee asked for follow‑up details on project eligibility, funding codes for consent items tied to the operating budget, and more precise reimbursement estimates as projects proceed. Administration said they will provide clarifications and follow up at subsequent meetings.
