So, the city has been closing schools around town for years because there just aren't enough students anymore. OK. And besides, the old schools have generally been operating under the same maintenance philosophy as the the old Sakonnet Bridge (i.e. none, so they are dilapidated and falling down). OK. So we decide to tear down another school and build a shiny fancy new one. This process takes YEARS as one issue after another is kicked back and forth, from siding choices to how we're going to pay for desks and chairs. Finally it appears as though everything is in place, all the disparate stakeholders have been satisfied, construction is well underway and NOW WE DISCOVER IT"S NOT BIG ENOUGH? Enrollment has been increasing since 2008. The reasons for the increase cited in the article are all things we should have known about. It's not like a spaceship full of kindergarten kids crash landed on Broadway and now we suddenly have to send them to school. Four classrooms is a lot of students (about 100, I guess..?)

I'm sure I'm terribly mistaken, but it seems like somebody didn't do their math very well on that question.

Where are these modular classrooms going to go? There doesn't appear to be a whole lot of extra space next to the building.

We have a surplus of empty schools here on the island, seems like we could of relocated at least the kindergarden class? What pour planing when they ok'ed a new school to have such a blunder on the building size let alone the head-count of projected enrollment? Can't they ever get things rright the first time around.

Everyone should remember the committee asked for 2 schools but the state said NO, now I see no reason to rent modular rooms when we have ample school facilities available in Newport and they all have bathrooms. Make one of the schools a Pre K and Kindergarten this would free up more than the needed rooms.

I cannot believe Kelley even voted on this as he will not be there to pay for them, what is the rush Pat ?????

Was this fancy new school not built to accommodate future growth? Not to mention IMMEDIATE growth - Is it seriously already too small? What a joke.

Just like the road and sewer projects they never seem to get it right the first time around and ends up costing the tax-payers millions?

Why don't we just rent some space in some of the public housing units next door?

Between sending your child to elementary school in Tonomy Hill, to sending your kid to high school at the disaster kn
own as Rogers, why would anyone move their family here, or keep their family here?

Blows my mind we pay all this money but the planners were to dumb to plan for exspantion. BAD PLANNIG! HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WILL THIS COST US?

Folks, I was on the sub-committee...

1. The projections that showed decreasing enrollment were so bad, that if you followed them out to their logical end, Newport ceased to exist within a generation.

2. The school was not designed for any sort of growth. When Pat Kelley recognized that we'd be short classrooms, he was able to get a redesign done so that 2 more classrooms were added. We're still 4 short.

3. The modulars "might" fit. We didn't have time or the expertise to determine where to put them. This is why the backup plan of placing all of kindergarten at Triplet was proposed.

4. We'd have loved to have a Pre-K + K campus. None of the existing schools can handle those numbers. Triplet would only just hold the kindergarteners - and that's at this year's enrollment.

5. Pat pressed the vote because there are at least 2 board members who don't think there is a problem at all. One more who just wants to wait. That makes a 4-3 decision at the December meeting. The new committee member is supposedly tight with the superintendent, and neither of the solutions the sub-committee proposed are to his liking...so...

...continued

My prediction is that in January the new committee will rescind this December decision. Then in March or April a "decision" will be made to place pre-K at Rogers High School and that will go through because there's no other short notice plan that will work.

Anyone who thinks that putting pre-Kindergarteners, who are mostly special needs kids, anywhere close to high school students in a "learning" environment should have no business in an educational setting.

Finally...my last prediction is that unless something changes, the current board will be re-elected in 2014. They are all incumbents as it is, which means Newport chose, and therefore deserves this, leadership for its schools.

Happy to discuss this further.

Michael : if you had something to do with this blunder I'd hide not tell ppl. I was against the new school to begin with. They spent sh*t loads putting new windows in Sullivan school then close it. I actually saw rats in Cranston calverts but they keep that dump open? Then the put the new school In the projects when cogshal has the land and great location. I do get it, they will sell cogshal land because its worth more than the project school. Big question? Why wouldn't we make a centrally located school? Not one almost in Middletown.

Basically because ppl dont research the canidates or they are to old and dont have kids so they dont care. Why not open sullivan back up? Great big empty building with BRAND new windows to keep out the weather. Not to change the subject but im hoping the find a place for Mr. Franko! I have had the displeasure od dealing with other gramar school principals and he Rocked! Great with the kids! Knew all thier names and cared for the well being of them. He wasnt into his own agenda or titles. Great man!

I agree! Mr. Franco is by far the best principal newport has. Why isnt he going to Pell? Who makes that decision anyway? Oh please dont tell me ambrogi! He never makes the right choices about aanything. When is he leaving? Enough already!