BURRILLVILLE – Members of the Burrillville School Committee approved creation of a new subcommittee this month tasked with looking for “bold,” ways to save money, including the potential for consolidation of the town’s aging public schools.
School board members voted unanimously to form the “Subcommittee for Creation of Space Needs,” with the mission of finding creative ways to address the district’s ongoing budget concerns amid years of declining enrollment.
“The population that we have right now, in my opinion, would fit into smaller spaces than we’re utilizing,” said member Donison Allen in making his case for the initiative after putting it on the board’s agenda on Tuesday, Jan. 14 for discussion. “We don’t want to be cutting into education, and that’s where we’re finding ourselves right now with the budget – is cutting teachers and staff, and it doesn’t look to me like that’s something that’s going to be fixed in the near future.”
While discussion of the precise scope and makeup of the subcommittee is still in the early stages, several school board members said that they themselves would like to serve on it, along with members of the Town Council, the superintendent, school principals, Director of Facilities Bill Robinson, Business Manager Robin Kimatian and the community at large.
“I think everyone would have some comment as to what they feel would be the best for us moving forward,” said Allen, noting that the group could analyze facilities and find out if there is a way to save money that “in some ways is, perhaps bolder than what we’re doing now.”
“I personally think it’s a great idea that we form some kind of committee,” said school board Chairperson Terri Lacey. “I think with our decline in enrollment and our aging schools – we’re spending a lot of money fixing older schools.”
“Just open the door and let’s start discussing what our options are,” Lacey added.
Committee Clerk David Landry said he also thought it was a great idea – but that the subcommittee should receive more focused direction.
“Are we talking about fixing the schools we already have?” asked Landry. “Are we talking about consolidating (into) one big school? Are we talking about just getting creative and looking at different efficiencies that we haven’t looked at? It’s such a huge, broad thing.”
With five schools ranging from nearly a century to just a few decades old, the subcommittee will have much to analyze. According to recent student enrollment numbers, most are well underutilized, with both the middle school and high school at less than half capacity. Of the town’s three elementary schools, the two-story brick building now known as Callahan Elementary School is the oldest, built in 1938 – and all have at least some space available.
Supt. Michael Sollitto suggested hiring an outside company for a space needs study as a good way to start the process, noting the firm will look into it birth rates, enrollment rates, real estate sales and more for a price that is typically around $25,000.
“It also gives you an objective opinion,” said Sollitto. “They’ll give several options and what the projected cost of those options are.”
“That’s a good starting point,” agreed Lacey.
Sollitto said he plans to look into companies that offer the service and bring the information back to the committee.
