Barrington Middle School closed Wednesday due to leaky roof

Barrington Middle School will be closed Wednesday due to several roof leaks.

Parents told NBC 10 News that they received a robo-call about the news Tuesday around 9:15 p.m.

“Due to multiple roof leaks on the second floor of the middle school, involving classrooms, the library and the gymnasium, the middle school will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, March 15,” Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore said.

Messore went on to say that custodians are working on repairing the roof, while a professional remediation company is assisting during the clean-up process.

“We will keep you informed as the status of the clean-up,” Messore said.

In November, voters approved a referendum to lift the tax cap to fund a $68.4 million project, which would be used to construct a new school.

On Thursday, a special Financial Town Meeting will be held to seek final approval for the funding that’s required.

“Last month, the Town Council unanimously approved a resolution to seek approval from the State to exceed the 4 percent cap on the increase in the Town’s total tax levy in order to finance the project through a 25-year municipal bond, and scheduled the special meeting,” a press release noted. “School officials estimate that up to 39 percent of allowable project costs (up to $18.1 million) will be reimbursed by the Rhode Island Department of Education.”

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Barrington High School Auditorium.

“The public vote at the special meeting represents the final step in preparing the middle school project to go out to bid in the fall of 2017, with construction estimated to begin January 2018,” the release noted. “If the project remains on schedule, the school will open in the fall of 2019, followed by demolition of the existing facility and reconstruction of site amenities.”