NORTH SMITHFIELD – From a fully rehabbed high school gymnasium to pods in the elementary school lobby where small groups can gather, North Smithfield public schools are on track to feature some major improvements when students return this fall.
Much of the work is underway at the high school, where, in addition to the gym, the library media center and a computer lab will be refurbished, and the oldest of the student desks replaced with newer models.
“It’s a huge project,” Supt. Michael St. Jean said of the gym, where improvements will include new flooring, paint, high efficiency lighting and new bleachers. “It’s just looking fantastic.”
Just down the hallway in the library media center, original 1960s bookshelves have been sanded down and repainted.
“We can reuse the bookshelves,” St. Jean said during a presentation on the work before the School Committee last month. “They were beaten up. They were in very rough shape.”
New flooring will also be installed in the media center, and windows previously blocked by the old bookshelves will now be left visible.
“It’s just going to open up the library,” said the superintendent. “It’s going to look so much better… more open… brighter.”
Furniture in the media center, which until now has included hand-me-down desks from the town’s public library, will also be replaced.
The oldest of the classroom student desks at the Greenville Road school will also be replaced by the start of the school year, with newer models moved over from the middle school.
“I did not have to look very far to find a desk with rust,” said St. Jean.
At the middle school, the special education program will move into bigger space, and a study now underway could soon add air conditioning.
The water system serving both the high school and middle school is another area where officials are plaining for the future. One well that feeds the system was discovered to contain PFAS – or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances – beyond the allowable standard last year, and now, more of the drinking water comes from a second, less contaminated well on the school property.
St. Jean noted that in the most recent round of testing, the more contaminated Well #2 tested at 82.9 parts per trillion, while Well #1 showed 2.97 ppt. The district has access of to up to $650,000 in federal funds for the remediation of the problem, which he said could include a water filtration system.
“That’s expensive, but we have the big grant for it,” noting that one concern is the cost for yearly maintenance and filter replacement for such a system. Another option, he noted, would be to dig a new well.
“I leave it up to the engineers,” he said. “I leave it up to the Department of Health.”
Another upcoming project that would affect both schools is the proposed expansion of the parking lot by the athletic complex. The district will present plans and bid specs for that project to the Town Council at their meeting on Monday, August 4.
“If everything is approved then we can start construction on this,” St. Jean said. “We’re just hoping for approval.”
At North Smithfield Elementary School, workers are tearing up and replacing ground cover by the secondary playground, with half of the area to be covered with poured rubber, and new apparatus to be installed, a project funded via a recent grant. That school will also get a new generator, and new “huddle pods,” – small, modern-looking workspaces that seat around four students and feature a wall made from whiteboard and individual lighting that can change color.
“The kids are going to love sitting in them,” said St. Jean.
The pods, which were also purchased with a grant, will sit in the lobby of the school as well as other spaces in the building.
The superintendent noted that nearly all of the improvements are eligible for a 30-35 percent reimbursement from the Rhode Island Department of Education, funding that is then used for other school improvements.
The custodial staff, he said, has been working hard, often without air conditioning, through 90 degree days.
“They are exhausted at the end of the day,” said St. Jean. “They’re just doing an amazing job of preparing our buildings for opening.”
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Here is the most interesting fact of the capital spending. I do not see an RFP for any of these improvements on the NS school bids website. Makes you wonder.
Just a fact the Superintendent has raised the budget near the 4% cap every year, has added many administrative positions, and has spent millions of dollars on non educational items. That is the world of finance is called a big spender.
Wow!!! So now you are subtly insinuating impropriety on behalf of the superintendent with your “makes you wonder” comment?
Do you espouse to concoct and throw conspiracy theories at every individual that doesn’t “fit your standard of fiscal responsibility”?
JoshW-It’s coming from someone who probably never played a day or sports in his life, sits in his basement detached from the reality of the day to day challenges of student and staff and only looks at data, reports and studies. It’s sad actually. Sad.
It’s the same cohort who says the town spends to much and labels individuals as BIG SPENDERS. Now the superintendent is in that camp. It’s laughable. Everyone knows the school has a capital improvements/expenditures budget each year. MCC and Bill E want to cut that, make no improvements so we can attain “educational excellence”. Last I check NS is a top 10 school district in this state on a variety of fronts and the main reason why people move to this town.
It’s the same 5 people complaining about everything and anything in this town who distort reality and twist truths for the average person who essentially just “knows enough” with the hope they can sway their vote based upon this broken record rhetoric.
How many kids do you have in the school system “Bill”? Or how long has it been since you had child(ren) in the system Bill? Or are you just an angry crumogeon that complains when the sun comes up?
I just do not like spending money that has no value because spending does not equal quality education. And having a student in the school system has no consequence on wasting of tax dollars. Educational quality has suffered in NS and we keep spending money foolishly with negative results. Why NS fails in math is we do not give homework but when we do give homework the students fail to complete the homework with zero consciences of failing. And the best part is parents complain about too much homework of 1 hour per night in math but two hours practicing some sport is ok.
Thankfully you’re only one voice in thousands of registered voters who have different “values” and priorities than you. You sound like you’re really in touch with the community and families of young children there “Bill E”
All we ever see are pictures of “projects.” And periodically, yes we are in need of some upgrades, but dear god, huddle pods with changing lights. Just a month or so ago, the SC was crying over the fact that unless the TC gave them extra money, they would not be able to afford a “resource room teacher.” Rather than seeing the fluff stuff, I would be more interesting in knowing the acceptance rate for all students going on to higher education, etc. More data, less pictures please.
Who says higher education is the path to success? When’s the last time you attempted to hire a plumber, electrician or contractor?? Have you seen what they make? Higher education has been exposed and kids are wising up to no longer leaving college with 200k in debt that needs to be paid in tend years! Your 1980s elitist mentality needs to evolve MCC!
Yes, I believe higher education is a path to success and I also believe in technical training for additional professions. That being said, watch the SC/TC meeting where they are crying that they may have to lay off teachers. You think this money is being spent wisely? I’ll take 5 more teachers any day of the week. I think that it is time Mr. St. Jean is reigned in and forced to improve educational standards!
Amen, JP thinks wasting money on frills is the path to success but it is not. JP also believes that because he/she and a number of other people think spending on anything is good is wrong. Spending should be educationally focused. And yes laying off teachers and then spending on fringe items is not in the best interest of educating our students. I will go a step further and say it might be time to replace Mr. St. Jean as he has only decreased educational performance during his time as superintendent. Let’s review the issues and problems during Mr. St Jeans time, bullying, sexual harassment, lawsuits, book banning, lower school ranking, wasted time and money on parking lot expansion plans, poorly signed athletic complex contract, and more administrative spending. Sounds like everything is fine in the North Smithfield school department.
They received a grant for the huddle pods, I don’t understand where the idea they wasted money on them came from.
“Bill” and “Tom” sound like the “two” most miserable humans. Yes, let’s not repair a damaged floor or do any capital investment in our schools as it’s a “waste of taxpayer monies”….
Your penny pinching rhetoric on anything spending is getting old. Everyone knows who you are. Only one person complains about every penny spent in town!
Mr. St. Jean please keep up the good work running our schools!! As you know, without a top notch school system, the value of our homes erodes.
Amen
NS has spent to date over 2 million dollars on a football field for a team that hardly wins a game. That’s wise spending!!! Second St. Jean has a large administrative staff that adds zero value to education. St. Jean has also taken the NS school rank in RI from 9th when he took over to 15th. So spending and calling the school system top notch when spending has not proven to equal educational success. All that St Jean wants is to hire more union staff for an enrollment that has declined over the past 24 years. Here are some facts enrollment in NS schools was 1,850 in 2000-2001 and is now down to 1,664 in 2023-2024. So the school department enrollment has decreased 10% and spending has tripled during the same time frame with lower test scores and educational quality. Just keep lying to yourself!!!
St Jean needs to be fired. What, exactly, has he done besides spend, spend, spend? He has more administrative staff than the president. We are a small town and this has to stop. He is the shining star of look over there, but don’t look at what I have done. Clown.
More wasted taxpayers money. First there are more cons than pros related to the pods and actually may leave some students behind when they ar falling behind there pod group. Now for the funding the superintendent will want in next years budget to add additional teachers and resources to manage each individual pod.
Now for the second waste on money, the gym that does very little to nothing to improve educational performance. I can remember going to a high school with a 60 year old gym that was functional and classrooms and desks that where very old but the educational quality was exceptional. So the point is you do not need a fancy gym to have excellence in education.
Bill, they’re ‘huddle pods’, meaning they’re used for group work and similar and seat four. There’s no additional resources needed.
So, if the gym is in need of repairs, and the desks are rusty, should we just neglect them? Or properly maintain them?
Well Bill, I believe High school sports are vital for student development, fostering physical health, mental well-being, social skills, discipline, and academic motivation. A nice home court amplifies these benefits by enhancing school pride, encouraging participation, and improving athletic performance. It provides a safe, attractive environment that offers a home court advantage and enriches the fan experience. High-quality facilities also promote community engagement, attract talent, and support educational activities. Overall, they contribute to a positive school culture and community spirit, making high school sports a more enriching and rewarding experience for all. I find it hard to call that wasted taxpayer money.
Sports is just a nice memory but math and reading and writing will be a skill that is needed for the rest of your life and NS is failing. Just look at the test scores. US education is focusing too much on sports and not enough of the reason for the school in the first place, EDUCATION.
Exercising is also a skill that’s needed for the rest of your life. That’s a ridiculous thing to say considering the level of obesity in this country. Kids are less active than ever.