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School committee approves Hopkins Hill asbestos abatement and paving, clears bond and impact-fee funds
Summary
The committee approved asbestos tile abatement and floor replacement at Hopkins Hill using school-construction bond funds, and separately authorized ~$32,000 in impact-fee paving and equipment replacement; both motions passed unanimously. The superintendent noted the district may receive 49% reimbursement from the RIDE portal.
The Coventry School Committee voted unanimously to proceed with asbestos tile abatement and floor replacement at Hopkins Hill and separately approved a paving project funded from impact fees.
Superintendent Coward told the committee the Hopkins Hill project addresses old tiles that contain asbestos; the district submitted required materials to the Department of Health and will follow containment and abatement procedures. The floor replacement will be paid from the district’s $25 million school-construction bond; the committee clarified the source and approved the request in a formal motion (vote 6–0).
Separately, the committee approved a paving project at Hopkins Hill to repave the fire lane, replace deteriorated blacktop, convert an underused blacktop area to grass, and replace two basketball backboards and rims. Administration estimated the paving project at about $32,000 and said there are approximately $187,000 in impact-fee funds available; the committee approved using impact fees to expedite the work while students are out for summer (vote 6–0). The superintendent noted the district expects to submit the project to the RIDE portal for reimbursement and said the district typically receives approximately 49% back from that reimbursement process.
Both projects proceeded after committee members said the work was necessary for health, safety, and improved student use of school grounds. The committee also noted the building committee and town council had already considered the abatement as part of the bond process.
Votes at a glance: executive session minutes approval (May 28) — approved unanimously; motion to seal executive session records — approved unanimously; approval of May 28 public minutes — approved unanimously; Hopkins Hill floor replacement (bond funds) — approved 6–0; Hopkins Hill paving (impact fees) — approved 6–0; multiple policy votes (first or second readings) also carried 6–0.
The committee did not allocate additional operating funds at the meeting; next steps include coordination with town fiscal officers and the Department of Health and submission to the RIDE portal for the bond reimbursement process.
