A Brief History

Vision 2020

Middle School 2005

High School 2012/13

JCJ Report 2013

School Redesign Advisory Committee 2014

Engaged Dr. Frank Locker for Strategic Facilities Planning and Studio JAED to develop next level of detail.

Forum for Educators

Forum for Public – August 18, 2015

Forum for Public – September 29, 2015

Planned model vote – October 7, 2015

RIDE: SBA : Major Projects

Step 1 – Letter of Intent (LOI)

• LEA LOI due November 1st

• SBA invitation to submit Stage I

• Meeting with School Building Committee

Step 2 – STAGE I

• Due November 1st

• SBA authorization to proceed to Stage II

• Meeting with School Building Committee

Step 3 – STAGE II

• Submittal schedule agreed upon between

SBA and LEA

• SBA issues preliminary approval

• SBA Advisory makes recommendation

• Commissioner recommends project to

Council of Elementary and Secondary

Education

Step 4 – STAGE III

• RIDE design reviews at SD, DD, and CD

Key Parts of Application

Phase I: Westerly has phase I approval, however, we need to rewrite a letter of intent by October 1 that confirms our general plans.

Commitments: We are required to follow School Construction regulations, Northeast Collaborative for High Performing Schools protocols and all codes and regulations.

Building Capacity: Dr. DaSilva of the SBA reports that efficient use of current building capacity is crucial for attaining school building approval.

21st Century: We must plan for Green considerations, 21st Century learning – “Maker Spaces”, Pre-K., etc.

Consensus:

The School Committee has the final vote of the model we will pursue.

After the vote of the school committee we must still engage RIDE and SBA to prepare for the Council of Elementary and Secondary Schools

The model we choose could still be adjusted by the SBA, architects and engineers as the planning becomes more detailed.

Additionally, after the model is selected a formal District School Building Committee must be finalized by the school committee.

RIDE: School Closing Process

A district must notify RIDE in writing six months prior to

the sale, lease, demolition, or other removal from service

of any school facility in the district’s jurisdiction by

completing the school closing form. In the event of a

proposed closure, a district shall inform neighboring LEAs

of the proposed action in the event that an LEA may wish

to acquire the building for its own use.

If the building has received school construction payments

(housing aid) from RIDE, and has not remained in service

for 50 years, RIDE may recapture at its discretion a

portion of the housing aid reimbursement.

BOND

Keys to success:

Continued public communication

Continued Town Council and School Committee support

School Building Authority guidance

Approval of the Council of Elementary and Secondary Schools

Housing Aid Reimbursement is 35%

Full compliance of all state and local regulations

Full compliance with all SBA and NECHPS recommendations

Green school design

Health and Safety

Sustainability

Comfortable 21st Century learning Environment

District Population Over Time

Closing Bradford Elementary School

Redistribution of Resources

Title I

Title I

Title I Materials

Technology

Staffing

Civil Rights

Performance

$ Bonding

$

$

Springbrook

Dunn’s Corners

$

State Street

Students

Civil Rights

OCR issues arise when

inequities in service and

support occur. Current

elementary school alignment

perpetuates inequity.

Students integrated into

Dunn’s will have better

overall support. Dunn’s will

become a Title I School.

Students

Students are our primary

concern. Moving students

from Bradford to Dunn’s and

our other schools will

increase their learning

opportunities. They will be

part of vibrant learning

communities where, as in

their current school, they are

loved and respected.

$ Increase of .5 reading teacher.

Increase of .3 social worker

and school psychologist.

Approx. 3 Teacher Assistants

added, along with at least 4

classroom teachers.

Staffing

Performance

$

Bonding Technology

Of 93 computers from

former school approx. 50

added to Dunn’s. Two more

smart boards added.

Materials

Redistribution of student

texts, materials and teacher

guides. Library books and

general materials added.

318 increased to about 410.

Most recent results show a

small improvement after four

years of steady decline. Based

on results students

integrated into building will

steadily improve (Research

Based). Redistricted Bradford

area students out-perform

students that remained at

Bradford.

Efficient utilization and

capacity. RIDE estimates

district has 2500 student slots

K-4. WPS uses about 1000 of

those. Under-utilization may

make WPS ineligible for bond

request and for possible

reimbursement from the state.

It makes sense to increase utilization, recharge

materials, tech and position the district for

state funding to improve all schools.

Dunn’s Corners

Likely Scenario

District Map

Location of Elementary Schools and

1500’ Criteria

Springbrook

State Street

Bradford

Dunn’s Corners

Tower Street School

Locations of elementary students and multi-

family dwellings in 2015

Elementary students and school boundaries Yellow = Dunn’s Corners School Red= Springbrook School

Green = State St School Blue = Bradford School

Multi-family dwellings (draft Comprehensive Plan data 2015)

Redesign Evolving

Consideration of closing schools

More information gathered:

JCJ

Redesign Committee

Facilities Planner

Many options explored

Final phase strategies being developed through public

dialogue

October 7 a vote is planned

Phased Construction vs Fix Everything at

once?

Original guidelines were “to make sure all schools 21st century”

WHS 21st

WMS 21st

Springbrook 1995 most modern

Dunns 1967, still functional and has been maintained

State St outdated and past useful life 1954

Bradford 1925 and 1980s-smallest school on smallest site

Many Options that have been considered

and have not been recommended

Single very large school (1200)

Using secondary school space

Large school (600)

District wide equity of facilities has been introduced

Springbrook more than 20 years ago

Other Options Considered by Redesign Advisory Group

Pre-School: How do we plan? Enrollment, past, present, and future: Current: 94

Would double if we attempted to cover whole cohort

Pros and cons of adding pre school seats:

Pros:

Supports lower-income students

All students prepared in similar manner

Daily nutrition can be positively impacted

Many states already have universal pre-school: New Jersey, Oklahoma, Georgia, etc.

Research: University of Chicago: Preschool, in general, can lead to higher IQs, better self-esteem, and fewer behavior issues.

Cons:

Many states have not provided analysis of actual impact

Increased costs

Issues with government intrusion

Debate about play time

Bright Stars! Quality Frameworks: minimum staffing, maximum group staffing, assessment, continuous improvement, learning environment, inclusive practices.

What is the number of seats for which we need to plan?

K-4 Additions + Renovations at

2 Existing Sites

Pros

• Aligns with educator ideal

school size

• 2 ESs more efficient to operate

Cons

• Not evenly distributed in

district

Scenario B.3 presented to School Committee 19th August

• Dunn’s K-4 530 students 38,400 SF addition $22,2M

• Springbrook K-4 530 students 38,300 SF addition $21.9M

• Bradford PK 170 students whole bldg reno $10.2M

Additions + Renovations at 3 Existing Sites

Pros

• Evenly distributed in District

• Includes state mandated renovation

Cons

• Does not include educational

renovation

• Does not align with educator ideal

school size

• 3 ESs less efficient to operate

New Scenarios C.1a and C.1b

• Dunn’s K-4 353 students 25,600 SF addition $10.3M

• Springbrook K-4 353 students 18,600 SF addition $10.3M

• New at State St site 353 students 61,300 SF new $25.8M

• Bradford PK 90 students minimal CR reno $.025M

or Babcock PK 90 students minimal CR reno $ .09M

Additions + Renovations at 2 Existing Sites

Pros

• Aligns with educator ideal school size

• 2 ESs more efficient to operate

• Includes state mandated reno

Cons

• Not evenly distributed in District

• Does not include educational

renovation

New Scenarios B.3a and B.3b

• Dunn’s K-4 530 students 38,400 SF addition $19.4M

• Springbrook K-4 530 students 38,300 SF addition $19.2M

• Bradford PK 90 students minimal CR reno $.025M

• or Babcock PK 90 students minimal CR reno $ .09M

Dunn’s Corner

Springbrook

State Street

Tower Street

K-4 Additions + Renovations at

2 Existing Sites New Scenarios

B.3a and B.3b

• Dunn’s

• 530 students

• Springbrook

• 530 students

• B.3a Bradford

• PK 90 students

or

• B.3b Babcock PK

• PK 90 students

+ misc costs

$40.0M-$40.1M

New Scenarios

C.1a and BC1b

• Dunn’s

• 353 students

• Springbrook

• 353 students

• New at State

• 352 students

• B.3b Bradford PK

• PK 90 students

or

• B.3b Babcock PK

• PK 90 students

• + misc costs

$47.7M-$47.9M

Scenario

B.3 (Aug 2015)

• Dunn’s

• 530 students

• Springbrook

• 530 students

• Bradford

• PK 170 students

+ misc costs

$55.6M

Phased Steps Toward Construction

What does it look like?

Create a three school configuration without

major construction

Seek bonding for new build and remodel.

What does new construction mean for other

schools?

How do we validate EQUITY?

OPEN