A Familiar Road: Lindberg's School Renovations

Really? We’re going back down this road again?

Although it wasn’t reported in this week’s Valley Breeze, Stephen Lindberg, the controversial former North Smithfield school #superintendent, attended Monday night’s Town #Council meeting for a discussion of the municipal bond projects. He announced that he would return for discussions specific to the school portion of the voter approved bond projects. I'm assuming he was referring to the joint meeting of the Town Council and School #Committee scheduled for January 30th.

There was significant controversy over his handling of the failed Stage II application in 2015. As the newspaper reported at the time, the former Superintendent submitted an application to the RI Department of #Education that included some $1.6 million in projects never reviewed, discussed or approved by either of the town’s two elected boards. For example, he added in an extra $472,500 to cover the cost for 208 additional parking spaces at North Smithfield Elementary School. While the parking lot was a priority for him, he conveniently left out the cost to demolish #Halliwell School which was a priority of taxpayers. It came as no surprise then that his application was denied since his proposed budget exceeded the bond amount. Former Town Council President #Boucher referred to it as an act of “Sabotage” at the time. Some town officials called for his firing and within months he was replaced.

The new Stage II application for school construction projects appears to suggest that the “project owner” (Town of NS) will employ a full time project representative. Perhaps members of Mr. #Lindberg’s small but vocal group of ardent supporters are maneuvering behind the scenes to secure a job for their good friend.

#towncouncil #schoolcommittee #schooldepartment #nses #northsmithfield #ride #departmentofeducation