East Greenwich To Vote On $5 Million School Bond

EAST GREENWICH, RI — The school district is proposing a $5 million bond to make facility improvements at East Greenwich public schools. Residents will vote on the proposal in November. A public meeting regarding the proposal is scheduled for Tuesday.

According to school officials, the bond will enable facility improvements at several schools, with 32 percent of improvements planned at East Greenwich High School and 20 percent of improvements planned at Frenchtown Elementary School. The rest of the facility upgrades would take place at Cole Middle School and Hanaford, Eldredge and Meadowbrook Farms elementary schools.

The majority of the planned upgrades would address health and safety issues, according to school officials. Other upgrades would address site improvements, playground and sports, as well as IT infrastructure and security.

"Proposed projects improve the safety and security of our school buildings, promote high student performance and achievement by creating environments more amenable and conducive to learning," according to the fact sheet relating to the bond, released by the school district.

School officials say that due to available state funding, approval of the bond this year is not expected to impact the local tax rate.

The School Committee will hold a workshop on the proposed bond, and the planned facility improvements, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the library of Cole Middle School, located at 100 Cedar Ave.

Voting on the $5 million bond and other school district referendum questions is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5, at Swift Community Center. For more information or to get involved in the School Facilities Committee, email Alyson Powell, the chairwoman of the committee, at powellegsc@gmail.com.