School safety reviewed by building committee

By Tessa Roy
Posted 12/1/16

By TESSA ROY The Warwick Public Schools Building Committee met Tuesday night to discuss school safety and hear from members of the public on safety-related issues they'd like to see prioritized in a proposed bond issue to upgrade schools. Educators,

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School safety reviewed by building committee

Posted

The Warwick Public Schools Building Committee met Tuesday night to discuss school safety and hear from members of the public on safety-related issues they’d like to see prioritized in a proposed bond issue to upgrade schools. Educators, parents and students spoke of dysfunctional phone systems, unsafe playgrounds and more parking lots in need of better lighting.

Police Colonel Stephen McCartney and Fire Chief James McLaughlin were on hand to discuss measures they and school resource officers saw as sufficiently safe as well as those needing improvement. These included, for Winman, parking lot lights that have been out for a few years; lighting to be improved at the rear of the building where pickups and dropoffs happen; and external doors that need to be numbered (door numbers provide reference points for first responders who are dispatched to a building) so it follows in accordance with the emergency manual. Pilgrim is also in need of improved lighting, plus McCartney suggested that motion activated lighting would deter vandalism and break-ins at night. He said he plans to have another meeting with officers so that all the schools have been adequately checked. McLaughlin reiterated McCartney’s point on door numbers and said that all schools have working fire alarm systems.

During public comment, Toll Gate teacher Jim Areson brought up the issue of student athletes having to leave campus to drive to another venue or walk across Commonwealth Avenue to get to their practices. It is particularly unsafe for walkers as there are no sidewalks in that area, he said, adding that the $7 million proposed for a new stadium will not address this “dire need throughout the city for a massive upgrade of facilities.

“Just because they’ve been doing it since 1972 does not make it right,” he said.

Another teacher brought up that in some buildings there is an inability to open windows.

“I get nervous that if I have to get the kids out of the safety window, I’m not going to be able to open that window,” she said.

Ferrucci said windows would be addressed as part of a “building envelope” that covers windows, doors and ceilings. He added that $13 million was earmarked just for windows and doors.

A few members of the public, including one Wyman educator, expressed concern about handicap accessibility in buildings. The educator said a Wyman evacuation plan evacuates to a part of St. Peter School that is not handicap accessible. During a drill, she said, she and another teacher had to wait in the parking lot with Wyman’s two students who use wheelchairs because they could not get into the building.

Another teacher asked the committee to look into air quality in the buildings, suggesting that a professional study be done.

“I have lost students to homeschooling due to health concerns this year,” she said.

Ferrucci said that issue would also be addressed as air handling units and circulation of air are major components being looked at by RIDE, which was part of the reason the implementation of the new Vets heating system was delayed. In terms of the accessibility concerns, Ferrucci said the bond currently has $15 million set to address ADA issues. The proposed $90 million bond addressed only a portion of the $250 million in school upgrades identified by a consultant two years ago. The $90 million bond would require City Council and General Assembly approval before it could be placed on the ballot for voter approval. The school administration is hopeful of bringing the issue before voters in a special 2017 election.

The next building committee meetings will be held December 6 and December 13 at 7:30 a.m. at the Greene School Building.

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    We have way too many schools in this district. What we need to do is build one great big warehouse where we can store kids until they are 18. It would save money on building maintenance, administration, and teachers could be replaced with baby sitters.

    Friday, December 2, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Justanidiot,

    Aw, never mind.

    Merry Christmas.

    Rick Corrente

    Friday, December 2, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Sure, just ignore me and my views. Just like everyone else on this flat plane earth.

    Tuesday, December 6, 2016 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Justanidiot,

    Never never, never will I ignore your views or your most-entertaining insight!

    "Flat plane"?? Is that like a glider?

    Merry Christmas Justanidiot.

    I (and I'll bet many others) enjoy your comments more than anyone else, myself included.

    Rick Corrente

    Friday, December 9, 2016 Report this