6 Of 7 RI School Districts Approve Bonds For School Replacements, Repairs In Election

RHODE ISLAND — The picture of what school bonds will pass has become clearer.

With 100 percent of precincts reported, approving school bonds leads with voters in six out of seven school districts with decisions in Tuesday's election.

North Kingstown is the only school district with the majority of its voters rejecting its proposed school bond, according to unofficial results. It also happened to be the most expensive among the bonds.

Voters there decided whether to approve a $222 million bond. Most of that money would have gone towards consolidating Davisville and Wickford middle schools into one new building. The remaining $55 million would have helped pay for a new public safety complex.

The most narrow of bond decisions so far is in Middletown, where voters are deciding whether to approve up to $190 million to build a combined middle and high school. Approving leads 2046 votes to 1,926 rejecting.

According to unofficial results, approving borrowing up to $150 million for East Greenwich schools leads 1,515-to-667 votes over rejecting it.

Also, with 100 percent of precincts reported in Bristol and Warren, approving an up to $200 million bond to replace Mt. Hope High School, is leading against those who voted to reject the proposal, according to unofficial results.

More unofficial results can be found below.

Votes are still coming in for Tuesday night's elections in three other Rhode Island communities, asking voters whether they want to approve in some cases, hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds for school replacements, repairs, and upgrades.

Public school districts that asked voters to approve school bonds included Barrington, Bristol-Warren, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Lincoln, Middletown, and North Kingstown.

Unofficial RI School Bond Question Results

(Numbers represent vote totals.)

Barrington

100 percent of precincts reported.

Barrington voters will be asked to approve a $250 million bond for repairs and other improvements to the town's high school and elementary schools. Several buildings need repairs, but schools also need more space with enrollment expected to grow, according to school officials.

• Yes: 2,803
• No: 1,641.

Bristol-Warren School District

100 percent of precincts reported

Bristol and Warren will ask voters to approve borrowing up to $200 million to replace Mt. Hope High School. A majority of voters from both towns is needed for the measure to be approved.

• Yes: 3,876
• No: 2,007.

Cumberland

100 percent of precincts reported

Cumberland voters will decide whether to approve a $52 million bond to rebuild B.F. Norton Elementary School.

• Yes: 3,413
• No: 1,574.

East Greenwich

100 percent of precincts reported

East Greenwich voters will decide whether the town borrows up to $150 million to build a new Frenchtown Elementary School, renovate or rebuild Hanaford Elementary School, renovate East Greenwich High School and create a new pre-K and kindergarten learning center at Meadowbrook Elementary School.

• Yes: 1,515
• No: 667.

Lincoln

100 percent of precincts reported

Lincoln voters will decide on two bonds, one of which is for the school district. Voters will be asked to approve a $25 million bond for upgrades at the district's elementary schools. The town is also seeking a $14 million bound to build a centralized rescue station.

$25 Million School Bond

• Yes: 3,141
• No: 948.

$14 Million Centralized Rescue Station Bond

• Yes: 2,918
• No: 1,177.

Middletown

The town's school district is seeking up to $190 million to build a combined middle and high school and make repairs to other schools.

• Yes: 2046
• No: 1,926.

North Kingstown

North Kingstown voters will decide whether to approve a $222 million bond. The majority of that money would go towards consolidating Davisville and Wickford middle schools into one new building. The remaining $55 million would help pay for a new public safety complex.

School Bond

• Yes: 2893
• No: 4,689.

$25 Million Recreation Center/Emergency Shelter Construction

• Yes: 2,685
• No: 4,888

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