NKSC falsfies $13.5 school bond submission to Dept of Education

Regarding the proposed $27 million town/school bond, during the Oct 29 Town Council meeting, I asked the question “who was the school building committee”. Town Council President Welch responded unequivocally “the Town Council”.

Assuming this is correct, I find it highly intriguing that the Town Council’s School Building Committee has never held a public hearing or given a presentation regarding the need, justification and prioritization of the school departments $13.5 bond request, despite the Town Council approving of the project in April 2018.

Following the trail of documentation submittals sent to the Department of Education, will reveal the disingenuous, deceit and dishonesty of our Town Council President, Town Manager, Superintendent of Schools and School Committee Chairman, in other elected official and administrators.

Let me explain.

In a June 21, 2017 letter to the Department of Education signed by Superintendent Auger and School Committee Chairman Blasbalg they write the “district hereby acknowledges and agrees that, before [emphasis] the Council of Elementary and Secondary Education grant final approval of a project the district must submit documentation[emphasis] of community support, including city/town council and school committee approvals, vote to authorized and appropriate the full amount of funding for the proposed project that is necessary to meet total projected budget”. This submittal was unethical and fraudulent because it did not include requisite town council signatures in its application to RIDE. Say it ain’t true, Chairman Blasbalg”

In an October 16, 2017 letter to the Department of Education regarding the School Building Committee, Superintendent Auger unethically writes “the committee was formed in accordance with provisions of all applicable statutes, local charter, bylaws and agreements of the North Kingstown school department, committee members are listed on the attached documents”. Obviously, this is patently untrue as confirmed by Town Council President Welch who said the “school building committee is the Town Council”, yet the names included on Auger’s application listed, yes of course, Mr. Welch, “Say it ain’t true Dickie boy”

In a February 1, 2018 letter to the Department of Education Superintendent Auger, Chairman Blasbalg and Town Manager Ralph Mollis write “The Town of North Kingstown supports the North Kingstown’s Necessity of School Construction application”. Again, another unethical application submission to the Department of Education because the Town Council had not approved of this bond proposal at that time, and in addition the Town Manager had no authority to sign the letter of support.

Finally, one should ask the question “why didn’t Mr. Welch, Mollis, Auger and Blasbalg or the School Building Committee(T/C) reveal the fact that RIDE, under the incorrect assumption that NK’s application was legitimate, trim the $13.5M to $11.8M on May 15, 2018. Answer -Disingenuous, Deceit and Dishonesty,

Again, this bond approval should be held in abeyance for a year, until people who the taxpayers can trust, have had an opportunity to opine on this unscrupulous proposal.

Bill Mudge