Last Updated: Saturday, October 21, 2006
Bill Mudge; North Kingstown School Committee

Bill Mudge was elected to the North Kingstown School Committee in 2002, and is running for reelection. Not aligned with any major party, Mr. Mudge serves the people of North Kingstown as an Independent.

"I'd like to thank the people of North Kingstown for their expressions of support - support which has now been validated in this election. I pledge my full commitment to the duties and responsibilities of the North Kingstown School Committee. Your trust will be honored."

Bill Mudge has been nothing if not diligent and prolific in his investigations on the present school committee operations, and of management decisions made by the current administration of the North Kingstown school system. A collection of stories from The Standard-Times and North-East Independent newspapers that document these investigations, and their findings, are collected below. In addition to those articles written by Mr. Mudge, there are many other voices that have added their opinions and observations - not all of them sympathetic to the concerns of Bill Mudge. These articles are included in the mix for the benefit of concerned citizens of North Kingstown. Most of the articles listed below are direct scans from the printed page - you will view them exactly as they appeared in the media. Several of the articles are available directly from the web site of The Standard-Times newspaper - these are noted below. We are grateful to Southern Rhode Island Newspapers and RICentral.Com for making this resource available to the public.

 Bill Mudge

Date: Link: Headline: Synopsis:
06 Sep 2006 Read the article Draft comments concerning local town government A letter I wrote in September 2006, sent to all members of the North Kingstown Town Council.
01 Nov 2004 Read the article Bill Mudge Response to Misleading, Inaccurate Newspaper Articles Old letter and issues not resolved today, they remain applicable today and underline why new leadership is required, Municipal and School alike.
28 Sep 2004 Read the article Comments on a letter to the editor published in the Standard Times on 10/21/04 A letter I wrote in October 2004, when I was running for North Kingstown Town Council.
03 Nov 2002 Read the article The contention of a $5 million or $7 million overrun is fiction. A letter I wrote in November 2002, criticizing the performance of the town council during the past several years of Republican leadership.
17 Oct 2002 Read the article Her Dad would do a 'kick butt job' An article by Sue Zile, on why she thinks her father (Bill Mudge) would be the candidate of choice for a seat on the North Kingstown School Committee.
27 Sep 02 Read the article Halley's Rosy Picture of Fishing Cove Exaggerated An article by Sharon and Christopher Schubert, who are not happy with the plans for Fishing Cove School.
26 Sep 2002 Read the article Once again, NK School Committee fails to question finances An article by Bill Mudge, taking the present NK School Committee to task for failing to exercise due diligence in oversight responsibilities for school finances and budget.
19 Sep 2002 Read the article School committee loses two; seven vie for four seats On The Standard-Times web site, an article by reporter Scott Spitler reviewing the current slate of candidates in the race for the four open North Kingstown school committee seats.
29 Aug 2002 Read the article NKHS grounds a big mess An article by Beth and Jim Swanson, expressing their shock and disbelief at the decrepit appearance of the new NKHS campus grounds.
29 Aug 2002 Read the article Halley, school board sitting on $700,000 'slush fund' An article by Bill Mudge, exposing the existance of both a $2.3 million overexpediture and an undocumented $700,000 windfall, unbeknownst to NK taxpayers.
1 Aug 2002 Read the article Bill Mudge asks council for funds to keep Fishing Cove open On The Standard-Times web site, an article by reporter Scott Spitler on Bill Mudge's request that the town council allocate funds to keep the Fishing Cove school open.
18 Jul 2002 See the cartoon Editorial Cartoon A political cartoon by Crawford, with the cutline, "Halley's Reassignment?"
18 Jul 2002 Read the article School vote off to sluggish start On The Standard-Times web site, an article by reporter Scott Spitler detailing testimony given at the state board of education appeal to reverse the vote that closed the Fishing Cove School.
2 Jun 2002 Read the article 'Management of NK schools irresponsible' An article by Bill Mudge, calling for the termination of Dr. James Halley as North Kingstown superintendent of schools.
23 May 2002 See the cartoon Editorial Cartoon A political cartoon by Crawford, giving Dr. Halley's version of The Lord's Prayer, "Our Superintendent, Who Art in Power..."
2 May 2002 Read the article Bartering practices at NKHS? An article by Bill Mudge, examining the potentially illegal use of quid pro pro compensation arrangements between the town and the prime contractor at NKHS.
2 May 2002 See the cartoon Editorial Cartoon A political cartoon by Crawford, with the cutline, "Halley's School Reconfiguration Plan Lost in Space."
25 April 2002 Read the article Superintendent Halley should be replaced An article by Bill Mudge, calling for the immediate removal of Superintendent James Halley from his position in the North Kingstown school system.
18 April 2002 Read the article Halley should be removed as NK's superintendent An article by Bill Mudge, calling for the immediate removal of Superintendent James Halley from his position in the North Kingstown school system.
21 Feb 2002 Read the article High school tab to hit $38 million? An article by Bill Mudge, decrying the outrageous overexpeditures and giving a detailed analysis of spending practices exercised by the town council and school administration.
7 Feb 2002 Read the article NKTO grills Halley over proposed hike at school budget hearing On The Standard-Times web site, an article by reporter Scott Spitler about the $1.9 million spending increase Dr. Halley is proposing in the 2002-2003 school budget. This same article in its "as printed" version is available below.
7 Feb 2002 Read the article NKTO grills Halley over proposed hike at school budget hearing This article by Standard-Times reporter Scott Spitler examines the $1.9 million spending increase Dr. Halley is proposing in the 2002-2003 school budget.
7 Feb 2002 Read the article Answers not forthcoming on diversion An article by Bill Mudge, castigating the school committee's lack of oversight and the school administration's ineptitude over the "diversion" of over $1.6M of operation and maintenance funding over the past five years.
17 Jan 2002 Read the article 'No one acted deceptively' An article by Richard Pastore, a member of the North Kingstown High School Building Committee, taking issue with Bill Mudge's "near libelous" viewpoints.
17 Jan 2002 Read the article Principals' Departures Not Staff's Fault An article by Jan Freeborn, a kindergarten teacher at Fishing Cove School.
10 Jan 2002 Read the article NK Finally Wakes Up to Cost Overruns An article by Bill Mudge, delineating the repeated malfeasance and indiscretions by the town council, the school committee and school system administration on budgetary reporting, contracts for services, misappropriation of funds, and more.
6 Dec 2001 Read the article 'High School cost $2M over budget' An article by Bill Mudge, wondering why the new NKHS construction budget had ballooned beyond everyone's expectations.
6 Dec 2001 Read the article Dismayed over NKHS workmanship An article by Jim Anderson, who is not happy with the quality of construction for the new high school.
15 Nov 2001 Read the article NKHS cost over-runs need answers An article by Bill Mudge, wondering why the new NKHS construction budget had ballooned beyond everyone's expectations.
8 Nov 2001 Read the article 'Sky is falling' tactic at NKHS An article by Bill Mudge, questioning the justification offered for inflated estimates of repairs to current facilities.
1 Nov 2001 Read the article More 'deceptive' information on NKHS An article by Bill Mudge, taking Richard Pastore to task for his recent comments and disparaging remarks on Mudge's efforts to investigate costs associated with the new NKHS.
25 Oct 2001 Read the article NK Taxpayers: You Got Ripped Off An article by Ryan C. Arruda, a NKHS Senior, who is less than pleased with his new high school.
25 Oct 2001 Read the article NK's New School a 'symbol of goodness' An article by Superintendent of Schools James Halley, on his vision for the new high school.
11 Oct 2001 Read the article In Spite of Whiners, NK Has Great School An article by Richard Pastore, a member of the North Kingstown High School Building Committee, who was unhappy with those who were critical of the construction process.
11 Oct 2001 Read the article NK Numbers Still Don't Add Up An article by Bill Mudge, documenting unbudgeted and undocumented expenditures at the new NKHS.
4 Oct 2001 Read the article Building Space is 'Missing' An article by Bill Mudge, noting that the taxpayers have paid for over 290,000 sq. ft. of NKHS facilities, yet only received 240,000 sq. ft. of space - 50,000 sq. ft. of space is "missing."
27 Sep 2001 Read the article Past reveals high school woes An article by Bill Mudge, exploring the history of factual errors, misinterpretation of data, deception, dishonesty, or deceit that led to the ballooning costs of the new NKHS.
27 Sep 2001 Read the article Facts, figures still don't add up in new high school project. An article by Bill Mudge, exploring the history of factual errors, misinterpretation of data, deception, dishonesty, or deceit that led to the ballooning costs of the new NKHS.
13 Sep 2001 Read the article High School Built Upon 'DDD' An article by Bill Mudge, excoriating the NK school system administration and other officials for their deception, dishonesty, and/or deceit on budget submissions and estimates submitted to the state and the voters of North Kingstown.
6 Sep 2001 Read the article Delay 'A' building demolition An article by Bill Mudge, calling for a halt - or at least a delay - to plans to demolish the 'A' Building of the NKHS complex.
30 Aug 2001 Read the article More questions about the high school An article by Bill Mudge, pressing the case for contingency plans to be put into effect to accomodate the expected late opening of the new NKHS.
23 Aug 2001 Read the article Change orders a flimflam? An article by Bill Mudge, critical of Town Manager Richard Kerbel's statements that the addition of $1.9 million in change orders still kept the costs of the new NKHS under the original contract bid.
3 Aug 2001 Read the article Smoke, mirrors surround new school An article by Bill Mudge, critical of Town Manager Richard Kerbel's statements that the addition of $1.9 million in change orders still kept the costs of the new NKHS under the original contract bid.
26 Jul 2001 Read the article 'Improper Actions' of officials have been referred to AG's office An article by Bill Mudge, expressing his disappointment and outrage at deficiencies in the planning and design processes for the new high school.
26 Jul 2001 Read the article Destroying Building A a big mistake An article by Bill Mudge, expressing his disappointment and outrage at deficiencies in the planning and design processes for the new high school.
7 Jun 2001 Read the article High school 'A' Building: is NK trashing an asset? This front-page article by Standard-Times reporter David Kurowski examines the controversy surrounding the planned demolition of Building 'A' in the old NKHS campus.
2 May 2001 Read the article Town confirms that NKHS 'A' building cannot be saved This article by Standard-Times reporter Amanda Roberge, detailing the rebuff by the Town Council on Bill Mudge's call to reconsider the destruction of the 'A' building on the old NKHS campus.
Undated Read the article Where were the critics 4 years ago? An article by Richard Dunne, a member of the North Kingstown High School Building committee, carping on the barrage of criticisms on the expense, quality, and design of the new high school.

Comments, questions or requests for this web page? Send email to Bill at bill@billmudge.com