$255 million in funds for school improvements approved

PROVIDENCE — Hundreds of millions of dollars in funding toward new school construction was approved by the Rhode Island Council of Elementary and Secondary Education during its meeting Tuesday night.

The council voted to allocate $255 million toward the construction of 17 new schools in Woonsocket, West Warwick, North Providence, and West Greenwich.

“The council’s approval of these wide-ranging and transformative school construction projects is an affirmation of my administration’s commitment to improving school facilities and student outcomes statewide,”  Gov. Dan McKee said in a press release. “We look forward to visiting these new and renovated schools where students and educators can thrive.”

According to the Rhode Island Department of Education, the projects will impact 10,516 students.

“The council is proud to approve additional school construction projects that will advance our mission of providing an excellent education to all students, regardless of zip code,” council Chair Patti DiCenso said.  “These upgrades are long-awaited, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact the projects have not only on our students and educators but also our Rhode Island communities.”

Most impacted will be Woonsocket, where seven schools will be impacted. There, the Coleman, Globe Park, and Bernon Heights elementary schools will be consolidated into one. In addition, there will be renovations and repairs to support grade reconfiguration at the several middle and elementary schools as well as district-wide security improvements.

North Providence will get three new elementary schools, an addition to the high school, as well as health and safety at middle schools. The projects will impact 2,671 students.

“Every child and every educator in Rhode Island deserves a safe, modern learning environment,” Rhode Island Senate President Sen. Dominick Ruggierio, a North Providence Democrat, said. “In recent years, we have seen the many benefits of making long-overdue investments in school buildings across our state.

“This latest round of approvals will enable more cities and towns to replace aging and ailing facilities with classrooms and buildings equipped for success in the 21st century, including renovating three elementary schools in my hometown of North Providence: Whelan, Greystone and Centerdale.”

Other projects supported by the funding include: Renovations and a new media center for West Warwick High School and two more media centers in two elementary schools; the demolition and replacement of one new classroom building and repairs to two others at the Greene School, a public charter school in West Greenwich.

Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said the move to consolidate schools and improve facilities is exemplary of the ‘Newer and Fewer’ approach trumpeted by the department’s School Building Authority in a report released last February.

“Investing in state-of-the-art learning environments is more than just constructing buildings; it’s a profound commitment to fostering excellence in Rhode Island education,” Infante-Green said.“The council’s approval paves the way for 21st-century schools where innovation flourishes and students’ potential is unleashed.”