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Politics & Government

School Committee Considers All-Girls Ice Hockey Team

Members of the NK School Committee discuss budget concerns, girls ice hockey co-op and Interim Superintendent Phil Auger's public vetting.

Members of the North Kingstown School Committee convened Tuesday to discuss, among other things, the mobilization of a girls' ice-hockey cooperative with students from Narragansett and South Kingstown.

So far, approximately 10 young women have expressed interest in joining the team, said NK Athletic Director Jim Marcello during the school committee meeting. 

According to Marcello, the idea for the all-girls hockey team, likely to be called the "Narragansett Storm," began as a grassroots movement and blossomed into a fully funded 501c3 nonprofit organization. 

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Rather than depend on financial assistance from the school district, the group will raise its own money and rely on the generosity of private donors, Marcello said.

"There are no fees to be assessed or athletic department budgets to pay for this team," Marcello said. "The fees are coming from fundraisers and donations," he said.

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Members of the school committee will vote August 23 on whether to approve the interscholastic endeavor. 

Also at last night's meeting, committee members approved hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bids for special projects, academic equipment and faculty expenses, with some committee members expressing apprehension about spending too much of the district's reserve fund. 

"This is going to make our budget for next year even more critical," said NK School Committee Chairwoman Kim Page in reference to last night's spending approvals, adding spending additional resources this year will lead to more difficult budget cuts down the road.

On the issue of former NK Superintendent Dr. Phil Thornton's severance pay, however, committee members decided now isn't the time to tighten their belts. A motion passed 4-2 granting Thornton a $10,000 parting bonus.

Furthermore, Thornton's potential successor, Interim Superintendent Dr. Philip Auger, is scheduled to be publicly vetted when the school committee reconvenes August 15. Those planning to attend are asked to send any questions they may have for Auger to Kim Page at kimberly_page@nksd.net

Finally, Auger will speak about his educational philosophies and field questions from the public Wednesday from6 to 7 p.m. and Friday,  from 1 to 2 p.m. at the , 100 Fairway Drive. 

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