What will the future of public schools look like in Barrington?

A Jan. 31 community workshop will discuss that exact topic. 

A team of officials including representatives from the architecture firm Kaestle Boos Associates will provide a presentation of the Barrington Schools facilities and educational data. It will be followed by a question and answer session.

The presentation will highlight a recent facilities study that showed the need for significant changes in the district: possible renovations to the town’s elementary schools or the replacement of schools. (One plan even called for the elimination of Nayatt and Sowams schools and rebuilds for Hampden Meadows School and Primrose Hill.)

“This is the first of many opportunities for the community to be able to ask questions and provide feedback,” said Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore. 

“Please join us in moving our public schools into the future and giving our students the best possible education.”

In Sept. 2021, officials submitted the Stage 1 application (“Identification of Need”) to the RI Department of Education. The submission process is required for Barrington to receive reimbursement from the state at a base rate of 35 percent for any repair work and construction. Additional incentives could allow Barrington to receive up to 52.5 percent reimbursement.

The Stage 1 application was successful and allowed officials to work with an architectural and engineering team to propose solutions to the issues identified in the facilities study. 

Included in the Stage 1 submission was facility assessment data collected by architects, engineers and educational planners including existing conditions, costs for repairing the schools, and educational goals. Tours of all schools and meetings with each school principal was also completed during the Summer of 2021. 

Since that submission, Kaestle Boos Associates has been working towards a Stage 2 submission which will occur in the fall of 2022. 

Student and staff surveys were completed to understand the challenges and goals. The team conducted “visioning sessions” with staff and students at the elementary schools, middle school, and high school. 

“These sessions have provided data which will be used to inform decisions regarding the direction of the project,” Mr. Messore wrote. 

The workshop will be held Monday, Jan. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Zoom link to attend is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81932190448

Immediate needs

The school facilities report details some of the “priority 1 and 2” deficiencies at local schools: 

• The roof at the high school and the BHS electrical systems 

• Mechanical systems, plumbing, interior millwork and casework, and technology systems at Hampden Meadows School

• Fire and life safety, mechanical systems, electrical systems, interior mill work and casework, technology, and ADA accessibility at Nayatt School

• Mechanical systems, ADA accessibility and other issues at Primrose Hill School and Sowams School

Here are the options

Following is a list of the new construction and renovation options included in the facilities report:

• Option 1: “Asset Protection” — Neighborhood school district lines and grade configuration remains unchanged; cost to repair work in exact configuration to “like new” condition; cost: $60-$70 million; cost to district with 35 percent reimbursement: $39-$45.5 million

• Option 2: “Program alignment” — Creates additions to each school to provide space for missing or undersized program spaces; renovations do not account for undersized classroom spaces; does not align with long-term educational vision; cost: $100-$110 million; cost to district with 45 percent reimbursement: $55-$60.5 million

• Option 3A: “Grades 1-5 schools, Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten at Sowams” — Creates additions to each school to provide space for missing or undersized programs; creates pre-kindergarten/kindergarten at Sowams School; renovations do not account for undersized classroom spaces; does not align with district’s long-term educational vision; cost: $100-$110 million; cost to district with 45 percent reimbursement: $55-$60.5 million

• Option 3B: “Grade K-5 schools, Pre-kindergarten at Primrose Hill” — Removes transition by creating K-5 schools; pre-kindergarten remains at Primrose Hill School; renovations do not account for undersized classroom spaces; does not align with long-term educational vision; cost: $105-$115 million; cost to district with 45 percent reimbursement: $58-$63 million

• Option 4: “Consolidation, close Nayatt School” — Neighborhood school district lines and grade configuration are updated; removes transition by creating K-5 schools, pre-kindergarten at Primrose Hill School; cost includes Nayatt demolition but not costs for rebuilding fields and park space there; renovations do not account for undersized classroom spaces; does not align with long-term educational vision; cost: $100-$110 million; cost to district with 52.5 percent reimbursement: $47.5-$52 million

• Option 5: “Targeted grade configuration” — Pre-kindergarten to Grade 2 at Sowams and Primrose Hill schools; Grades 3 to 5 at Hampden Meadows School and Nayatt School; aligns with district grade configuration goals; partially aligns with long-term educational vision; cost: $110-$120 million; cost to district with 45 percent reimbursement: $60.5-$66 million

• Option 6: “Newer and fewer” — Demolish all four elementary schools; new prekindergarten to Grade 2 at Primrose Hill site; new Grades 3 to 5 school at Hampden Meadows School site; most equitable solution as all children have the same experience regardless of their neighborhood; partially aligns with long-term education vision; cost: $120-$140 million; cost to district with 52.5 percent reimbursement: $59-$66 million