When the electricity went off in the “guidance wing” of Veterans Memorial Junior High School, the School Department went all the way to Louisiana to get them back on.
Power problems at the …
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When the electricity went off in the “guidance wing” of Veterans Memorial Junior High School, the School Department went all the way to Louisiana to get them back on.
Power problems at the school are one of a number of complaints ranging from mold at Pilgrim to the lack of lockers that some teachers and students claim have marred the opening of schools.
The power problem at Vets surfaced several days after school opened during a spell of warm weather. In addition to air conditioners, people brought in a number of other personal appliances, including microwave ovens and small refrigerators.
Not only does the school’s electrical system date back to 1957, but the 125-amp circuit breaker controlling that end of the building was probably original. It was 1951 technology.
Stephen Gothberg, school director of buildings and grounds, isn’t surprised the breaker measuring the size of a book failed, causing intermittent power problems elsewhere in the building. It was about time. But finding another circuit breaker wasn’t a matter of stopping in at Salk’s. Gothberg found a never-used replacement in Louisiana and had it shipped. It was installed Saturday, and once again that wing of the school has a dependable source of juice.
“It’s in good shape right now,” Gothberg said.
Superintendent Philip Thornton said the failure of the circuit breaker is illustrative of the city’s aging school infrastructure and why he is pursuing a bond issue he hopes would be on the ballot in a special election next fall. The department is in the process of compiling a list of projects, including boiler and roof replacements, removal of asbestos, improvements to meet American Disabilities Act requirements, paving and a range of other items, for a Phase I submission to the state Department of Education next month. A more refined list would follow with a Phase II submission in the spring.
A total of $250 million in school improvements have been identified, of which about $90 million would be addressed initially should the voters approve the funding. Forty percent of the cost would be covered by the state.
The department spent $3.2 million this summer gearing up for the consolidation of secondary schools. Work done included a makeover of the Pilgrim and Vets auditoriums and entryways, new gym floors at the senior and junior high schools, the tracks at Pilgrim and Toll Gate, and painting of corridors in Pilgrim and Vets, as well as the installation of improved security systems and acquisition of furniture and the Promethean boards, among other items.
On Sept. 6, the School Committee listened to complaints that some of the work had not been fully completed by the time school opened and that problems had been overlooked. Some teachers asked why the money was spent on the “public” venues in the schools – auditoriums and gyms – when the classrooms should have been on top of the list.
Asked what the department has done in response to the issues raised, Thornton said Tuesday, “Everything we get we react to.”
Mold at Pilgrim was one of the concerns raised. Thornton said the department’s environmental coordinator followed up, and what was believed to be mold were water stains on ceiling tiles caused by leaks that were remedied when the school got a new roof. Gothberg said the tiles were dry and have been replaced with new ones.
Other complaints voiced at the Sept. 6 meeting concerned a lack of student tables at Vets; an insufficient number of lockers at Vets and Pilgrim; that interactive white boards (smartboards) had been removed but not replaced with the more advanced Promethean boards as planned; and that students in the robotics program lacked materials.
Thornton said no students are without tables (two-student tables have replaced desks at the junior highs), although some are temporary as the department waits for delivery of new ones. He said lockers have been taken out of Aldrich, which closed this year, and not only are they meeting the need for this year but have enough to plan for sixth-graders when they are integrated into middle schools next year. He said there are sufficient materials for the robotics program.
Teachers were especially critical of the absence of Promethean boards they expected to find in their classrooms. Furthermore, they noted, the older smartboards had been removed and there “wasn’t even chalk.”
In a telephone interview Monday, Warwick Teachers Union President Darlene Netcoh said some Promethean boards were still in boxes while seemingly good smartboards had been taken down.
Thornton compared the Promethean boards, each valued at $2,800, to giant iPads. He said the department has ordered 56 of the boards for Vets and Winman. Installation is proceeding.
As for using smartboards that the schools have, Gothberg said they require extensive wiring and mounting of ceiling projectors. He put the installation cost at $2,700.
Thornton said the department is also in the process of upgrading school security to keep a log of all those using their key cards to enter buildings and limit access to those times people are cleared to enter. Pilgrim, which now has 14 security cameras, will have 81 when work is completed. Also, the department is installing LED lighting at Winman, which Gothberg said would have a payback in less than five years.
“We just spent $3 million,” Gothberg said, “that’s a beginning.”
Referencing all that needs to be done to upgrade Warwick schools, he added, “Give me $300 million over 10 years and I’ll get it done.”
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richardcorrente
$300 million? $300 million??
Since 2009 Warwick taxpayers have given the Warwick School Department over a BILLION DOLLARS and today we have
1. Teachers with no contracts
2. Students with no Chromebooks
3 Buildings that are literally falling down and
4. A Mayor that refuses to get involved. (He states that he has a "hands-off policy),
and Steve Gothberg wants another $300 Million? $300 million?? Are you kidding me?? The taxpayers have been taken advantage of for long enough! I understand that the law that doesn't allow any interference from the Mayor once the $160,000,000 is given to the School Department so my plan is this.
"I care about our students, our teachers, our parents, and our taxpayers. As Mayor I will never hand over $160 million dollars of taxpayers money without some kind of accountability from the School Department". Before inauguration day, it would be a good idea for the School Dept. to sit and at least try to work out a contract with the teachers. If they want $160 million from the taxpayers it would look better if they at least try to make themselves look like they care. At the moment, they don't.
My cousin Caroline is a retired school teacher (of 40+ years) in Orlando Florida. They have the largest school district in the nation with 367,000 students, ONE SUPERINTENDENT, and none of the issues Warwick has. The entire state of Rhode Island has a total of 142,000 students and 38 superintendents. (38!) I wonder how we would function if we only had one superintendent for the whole state. I'm guessing it would be a lot more streamlined.
Happy Autumn everyone.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Thursday, September 22, 2016 Report this
Norm88
Mr. Corrente,
The way you miss quote facts is disturbing, Orlando FL. Schools are part of the Orange County Public Schools in Orange County FL the population is larger than the state of RI. Which is NOT the largest school system in the country it is currently 9th with 187,902 students which means they are not even the largest school system in Florida they are the 4th largest.
Why would anyone vote for you when you cannot even be bothered to do any simple research stop the BS really please? You have been running for office how long now and your plan is junk I have read your web site and well if you truly think that you have a plan I guess that is the problem.
If you’re willing to miss lead the public about meaningless stuff like the size of a school district what else are you miss lead the public about? You seem to think it is okay not to do our leg work.
Friday, September 23, 2016 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Hello Norm88:
You are right to seek to hold this candidate accountable for making false statements. A review of online information shows his statements about the number of students and superintendents in Rhode Island to be false: There are 149,324 students, including those in charter schools, which this candidate would have found by a closer reading of the information listed here: http://infoworks.ride.ri.gov/state/ri
Rhode Island also has 36 school districts, not 38.
And as you say, Norm88, if this candidate can not even get basic facts correct, why should anyone trust him on anything else he says?
Thank you for joining the thousands of voters in Warwick who see through this candidate's attempts to mislead them and who will reject his candidacy on Nov. 8.
Friday, September 23, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Norn88,
You're right. I should have said "one of the top ten school districts". The point is; they have more students than all of Rhode Island does AND they have one superintendent, not 38 (I believe) of them like R.I. does. You will note that I said "I'm guessing it would be a lot more streamlined." I apologize for guessing. Didn't think it would bother you as much as it did. Perhaps in the future you could just decide not to read it. When you pick on the minor stuff Norm, you miss the big picture, like the $300 million that Gothberg wants. Like the $160 million that the School Department gets with virtually no accountability. I think we can agree that those are the big topics.
Assuming you don't want the reader to be distracted from that "big picture" why don't we restrict our comments to reflect the important stuff and not the minutia. What do you think about his $300 million dollar request? What do you think about the $160 million dollar school budget?
Enjoy Autumn.
Richard Corrente
Endorsed Democrat for Mayor
Friday, September 23, 2016 Report this
Norm88
Corrente,
You miss the point, you pay no attention to detail (not a good sign for someone who wants to control a budget), and you should really read the city charter and see what power the mayor of Warwick has.
You have come out and claimed alliance with the current city council (though in a recent search I find that not one of them have publicly supported you) who have all raised our taxes right along with the Mayor but actually reduced the school budget thanks to a surplus for last year of $2049279.00.
As for the bond number that you quote we all know that the $300mil. is a BS number (he actually said $250mil again lack of detail from you), that said there has been deferred maintenance and the schools seem to not be ADA compliant (lawsuit waiting to happen), it is 2016 and the schools still are not asbestos free and not to mention all the roof issues district wide. Do you think these projects can be accomplished with the school operating budget? You claim to be behind with the teachers but you act as though $160 mil. is too high of a number for the school budget and knowing where the largest portion goes it would seem that is just more political pandering.
I know you have no answers just talking points and that is okay because in spite of Warwick needing a change in leadership you’re not it just ask around town ¾ of the population have no idea who you are. You condescend to the public that you want to elect you and say “see my wed site for my plan” if that is your best plan well good luck because you will need it to get more than 2000 votes.
It is political science 101 you give one tax paying voter a reason to not like you they tell 10 people and the 10 people tell 10 people and so on….
Monday, September 26, 2016 Report this
Imhere
The schools look the way they do from pure neglect over the years. The sad thing is that the people who let these buildingsites fail are still on the payroll. It's obvious the maintenence dept has not been through these schools and if they do its to go to the break room. Maybe instead of busting the teachers chops, this incompetent administration holds the useless maintenance dept accountable. It will be hard for the schools to move forward to improve with the brain dead and incompetent Phil Thorton and and the useless school committee. It's time to vote these morons out and get fresh blood in that has the children's best interest at heart, not just a paycheck.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Report this
Okgo-okgo
So they knew this was going to happen, dumped a bunch of kids in the building & opened a school anyways?!?! These people are totally irresponsible. Why did they follow through with a plan that wasn't going to work and they knew it? This stuff never happened at the schools that closed. What a joke!
Wednesday, September 28, 2016 Report this
ThatGuyInRI
When will Corrente, excuse me, Dick stop turning this paper into his own political ad? We are tired of your blathering, go away.
I'm seriously starting to think that Imhere has a latent man-crush on Thornton. He's sounds like a spurned lover, get over it, move on.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 Report this