School Board Faces Difficult Pell Construction Cuts, But Delays Decision

After spending several hours considering no less than on the cost of the new Pell Elementary School Tuesday night, the voted unanimously to ask another group for help. The school committee sent the issue over to the Pell Building Committee to see what they think.

More than 60 parents, teachers and residents packed the to make their own suggestions for how to save money on Pell School construction. Some voiced concern over the haste of the decision making, while others suggested a new school design altogether. The debate stems from the fact that construction bids were about $4 million higher than anticipated.

Possible cuts include removing 20 parking spaces, reducing the upper play area and play structures, eliminating a bridge and changing

The largest cost-cutting measure would be simplifying roof lines, creating $427,290 in savings. The school department could also reduce the amount of remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil (meaning it would dig away and replace less soil) by 50 percent, saving $375,164.

Parents and community members showed frustration throughout the meeting, saying the cost-saving process felt rushed and was drastically altering the original design of the facility.

“No one is more frustrated than I am,” Superintendent John H. Ambrogi said at the end of the meeting. “But at the end of the day we’ll have a new building for the children of Newport.”

Newport Schools will announce the next Pell Building Committee meeting and invite the public to share ideas for cost-saving measures in the construction of the elementary school.