The clock is ticking.

Barrington School Committee Chairman Patrick McCrann stopped by the Town Council meeting on Monday night, April 3, and offered an update on the school construction project.

McCrann said the district was on a tight deadline — “Over the next five months, Barrington Schools have to turn around a project that receives the approval of voters in Barrington, the taxpayers in Barrington, and your approval as well, and that of the State of Rhode Island,” McCrann said. “That’s no small feat.”

The first step is determining a “not to exceed” price tag for the school construction work, McCrann said. After school and town officials agree on a number, the School Committee will need to submit a proposed resolution to the Rhode Island General Assembly that includes the “not to exceed” number and the general scope of the construction work.

Barrington Town Solicitor Michael Ursillo said officials need to move quickly to get the resolution to the state’s lawmakers. 

“You mention the number 8 to 9 weeks, but in reality we’re going to need that number much, much sooner than that,” Ursillo said. “We’re going to need that number by the May 1 council meeting because the legislature goes out of business at some point in June. Might be the middle of June. Might be the end. No matter what, you don’t want to get a bill in front of the legislature in the last week or two of its deliberations because that won’t go over well.

“I’ll also point out that that resolution has to have a narrative or description of the project in it so when the legislation is adopted, the voters will know what the money’s going to go for, what’s the construction project consist of. That language needs to be in the resolution that needs to be adopted by the council on May 1. 

“So here we are April 3 … I just wanted to get out to the public and out to the council that it’s not 8 or 9 weeks, it’s more like 3 or 4 weeks.”

McCrann said officials also had the option of scheduling a special joint meeting between the Town Council and School Committee, if the May 1 Council meeting date did not work out. 

If the General Assembly passes the resolution, Barrington School officials will continue to develop their plan and then bring it to a vote at the Sept. 5 primary election date. 

Should the vote pass, local officials would submit the plan to the Rhode Island Department of Education for approval. If RIDE officials approve the plan, it would then go before taxpayers at a special financial town meeting. 

McCrann emphasized the numerous opportunities for residents and taxpayers to review and vote on the proposal. School officials, meanwhile continue to iron out the scope of the work. 

In a statement to the Barrington Times, McCrann wrote that there were many reasons why School Committee members voted in January to hold off on submitting a construction plan to RIDE at that time. 

“Despite the tight timeline in front of us, we believe that there is an opportunity to build a better, more inclusive plan with all stakeholders,” McCrann wrote. “At a minimum, this plan will address the baseline infrastructure and security needs at all of our schools. At best, this plan will include new construction to bring our educational facilities in alignment with the caliber of our teaching professionals and the expectations of our community…”

McCrann wrote that the April 20 School Committee meeting will be the first of several forums where the public can contribute information, ask questions about the process and interact with the project leadership. 

“I know Barrington is up to the challenge of meeting this deadline, and believe that together we can capitalize on the available incentives to make a strategically responsible investment that will secure our future as a leading New England community,” McCrann wrote.

Incentives could range from 35 percent to more than 50 percent reimbursement from RIDE for the cost of the project. 

Athletic fields?

Barrington Town Council President Carl Kustell thanked McCrann for offering the update on Monday night. 

“You’ve made an effort to reach out. It was Chair McCrann’s idea to appear before us today. This is part of his effort to really collaborate with the Town Council, so we know where things are going,” Kustell said. “There’s always going to be an overlap whether it’s on issues like fields or traffic flow, that the town and the schools have to work together on…”

The mention of athletic fields on school property drew interest from some other Council members.

Rob Humm told McCrann that the Council has a standing agenda item focused on athletic fields and recreation facilities. He asked that school officials keep in mind the fields and recreational facilities issues as they move forward in the school facilities work. 

McCrann said Barrington School officials had recently discussed fields issues with the state department of education. He said certain new athletic field construction could be eligible for funding reimbursement from the state. He said upgrading a field would likely not be eligible. 

A short time later, Barrington Town Council member Kate Berard asked for further information on the potential reimbursement for athletic field work. 

McCrann said he would go back to RIDE for some additional clarity on the matter. He said the town would not be reimbursed for resurfacing Victory Field at Barrington High School. 

Town Council member Annelise Conway confirmed that information. Conway, who serves as liaison to the Barrington School Committee, said reimbursement would be more likely if the district was to build a new high school and move all its athletic fields. 

Humm later mentioned that the high school track oval needs to be redone. He asked if field work would be eligible for reimbursement if it involved making something bigger or shifting or reconfiguring it. “Where would that fall?” Humm asked. 

McCrann said the educational facilities changes will drive the other changes. He also acknowledged the important role athletics and other extracurriculars play in a student’s overall educational experience.