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Chariho building vote set for Nov. 4

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, July 23, 2008

RICHMOND –– On Nov. 4 voters will have their say on the Chariho Regional School District’s latest building proposal.

The School Committee voted 6-0 on Monday night to set the date.

District officials noted that tying the referendum to the general election on Nov. 4 would save the towns the cost of holding a special election.

Present at the meeting were William Day, chair, Andrew Polouski, vice chair, George Abbott, Holly Eaves, Andrew McQuaide, and Ronald Preuhs.

The district proposes to spend up to $25 million to eliminate portable classrooms that cost the district $296,000 a year and bring the district’s main campus up to code.

The three member towns — Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton — would split the costs equally.

Chariho voters last approved a construction plan in 1986, when it became a K-12 district.

Hopkinton rejected a similar building proposal last November.

(Under the Chariho Act, voters in all three towns must approve construction proposals.)

This time around, the $25-million building plan –– the price tag is being revised to account for work that is being completed under the district’s capital plan –– splits the project into three questions, as originally requested by Hopkinton.

Under the proposal, voters will be asked whether the district should spend:

• $17.8 million for construction and upgrades at the high school and the Switch Road campus.

• $4.4 million to build a permanent RYSE School (Reaching Youths through Support and Education, an alternative learning program).

• $2.7 million for upgrades at the middle school.

The Hopkinton Town Council has objected to the latest proposal, saying it would not support a “re-vote” until “progress is made toward establishing a uniform school tax rate.”