Quidnessett El Repairs May Not Happen Over Summer
Repairs needed at Quidnessett Elementary School may not happen this summer.
From windows to roofs to floors, Suzanne M. Henseler Quidnessett Elementary School is in need of maintenance and repairs. With a slew of approvals from the local level to the state needed beforehand, the window to get the work done this summer is closing.
According to Superintendent Phil Auger, school officials are working to make repairs to the school’s problematic roof over the summer. Most of the repairs will be covered by the roof’s warranty, but Auger says the school department is looking to fund the remainder using a recently passed $6.4 million school repair bond. With the cost of replacing the roof at Davisville Middle School coming in far below projects, Auger says that the money saved could be put toward Quidnessett Elementary.
To use the bond funds for the repairs, the project would need a series of approvals – starting with the school committee and town council and on up to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), which requires a “fully vetted RFP process.” Getting the approvals and bids submitted and approved in time to start and finish the project before school starts up again in the fall may be problematic.
“We’re unsure that we’re going to have the time to do that, to get these approvals and get these bids,” said Auger. “We may be running late, to the point where school wouldn’t be able to start on time.”
According to Director of Administrative Services Mary King, another pivotal issue in the timeline is the property’s water table assessment. School officials would need to ensure that surface water and groundwater in the area won’t penetrate the building.
According to King, the school department has solicited quotes for alternative flooring at the school – ranging from epoxy, polished concrete, tiles and carpeting.
Though the possibility of roof repairs and flooring replacements occurring this summer are still up in the air, the school committee voted to use funds to repair windows at the school. Additionally, Auger said the carpets would receive a “deep cleaning” before the school year begins.
The facilities subcommittee is meeting on July 9 to discuss the matter.
Midlife Momma
9:05 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
The school is officially named the "Suzanne M. Henseler Quidnessett Elementary School" to honor a woman who gave so much to this town. I think the NK Patch should us the entire name of the school to uphold that honor......
MeanE
9:29 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
In lieu of "deep cleaning" the carpets, the carpets should at the very least be removed from the school and the concrete floors beneath them should be cleaned. There is mold in the building and children & teachers are getting sick. A teacher at the school paid for a test of the carpets with her own money and the tests were positive for mold! To not at least remove the carpets, is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I would not allow my child to go back to that school in the fall if the problem is not fixed! The SC & Super are saying that it is not an emergency as their test did not show mold. This is gonna get ugly folks if they don't escalate things and get it under control. How much money would it cost to remove the carpets, clean the concrete?
NK WATCH
12:08 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Patch: please get the correct and full name of the school on this article. on top of that Mrs. Hensler's husband John Hensler just passed away yesterday. very sad for a very giving and honorable family. please fix the school name in this article
Samantha Turner
12:19 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Meant no disrespect. It's been fixed.
Midlife Momma
7:27 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Samantha, I don't see that the title of this article has been fixed. I'm sure it was not done on purpose, but looks like it is still not " Suzanne M Henseler Quidnessett Elementary school.
If the water table is the problem, why hasn't it shown itself sooner? That school has been there since the '70's....
Samantha Turner
9:16 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Midlife Momma,
I fixed it within the body of the article. On first reference, it is customary to use the formal name. On subsequent reference, a shortened version is typically used. As for the headline (which we try to keep brief and concise), I usually use an abbreviated version of the name for all schools (ex. Davisville El, NKHS, etc.) for space and stylistic reasons. Hope that clears it up!
Govstench
9:17 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Carpets are not that expensive. You have too much administration "over-head" in the way and nothing gets done. Summertime is when all of this work should be moving forward. The water issue with the table can be resolved by putting a french drain around the school and drawing down the water level. That is a proven system that is used in private homes. All schools should have this as well. Too bad the planning engineers that design these buildings don't go that far out of the box. Granted this is an old school by today's standards but installing these drains is not that big a deal if these people just roll up their sleeves and make it happen.
Tired of NK antics
9:36 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
French drain systems address surface runoff that seeps around the foundation. They do not address a high water table where water seeps through the slab.