SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — South Kingstown residents will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether to approve up to $150 million for a new high school and athletic field.

It comes after the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council found South Kingstown saw the steepest decline in student enrollment in the state.

The nonpartisan think tank reported the town saw an 18% decline between 2019 and 2023.

Superintendent Robert Littlefield said they are losing students to other Career and Technical Programs.

"We have 102 students right now attending other schools in Rhode Island that we're paying for," Littlefield said.

He said Tuesday's vote is the most consequential decision the town has made since the original high school was built in the 1950s.

Littlefield said the only building, which is made of concrete, would be harder to adapt to suit 21st-century needs. A big challenge that he noted, is the heating system.

"Our students tell stories of having to wear hats and coats and mittens in some classrooms, but having to strip down to t-shirts in other classrooms on the same day," he said.

Littlefield said the new school would be smaller and energy efficient, with heat and central air.

The vote also comes as the state's bump reimbursement funds for schools are set to expire this year.

But some worry the new school is a bad investment because of the steep declines in enrollment, including Jim O'Neill, a former town council member.

"It's very hard to ask people to cough up more money when this is happening," O'Neill said.

According to projections by the town, the bond will on average cost homeowners $318 a year by fiscal year 2030.

O'Neill notes that that number does not include any other potential increases in the town or school budget.

If the bond passes, Littlefield said, the new school will open in Fall 2027.

Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at four polling locations:

• Districts 1, 3 and 4: Community Recreation Center
• Districts 2, 5 and 6: Elks Club
• Districts 7 and 8: Curtis Corner Middle School
• Districts 9, 10 and 11: New Life Assembly

Find your polling place on the R.I. Secretary of State's website.