Statewide school construction program has invested more than $2.2 billion in funding to repair or replace over 200 school buildings across 31 districts in Rhode Island

Treasurer Magaziner Celebrates Progress of Historic Investment in Rhode Island Public Schools 

General Treasurer Seth Magaziner celebrated the progress of the historic investment made in Rhode Island schools through a once-in-a-generation plan to repair or replace Rhode Island's public school buildings that provides enhanced state funding for public school districts. As co-chair of the Rhode Island School Building Task Force, Treasurer Magaziner led the development of the statewide school construction program that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2018.   

The Fiscal Year 2023 Budget passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly contains $300 million of funding to extend the statewide school construction program, including a $250 million bond proposal for voters to consider on the 2022 ballot.   

“This year, more Rhode Island students have been able to attend schools that are safe, warm, dry, and equipped for 21st-century learning than ever before,” said General Treasurer Seth Magaziner. “Despite this progress, this work is far from over. Thankfully, Rhode Islanders understand that investing in our schools and our students is how we build a strong economy for the future, and I encourage voters across the state to continue this historic progress by approving a $250 million school construction bond on Tuesday, November 8.”  

Treasurer Magaziner’s statewide school construction program has allocated more than $2.2 billion in funding to date to repair or replace over 200 school buildings across 31 districts in Rhode Island. These schools serve nearly 100,000 students annually and the projects to repair or replace the schools have created more than 36,000 jobs.  

School construction projects substantially completed in recent months for the opening of the 2022/23 school year include, but are not limited to:   

·     Cranston High School West – renovation of the existing main entrance to create secure entry to the school building and replace the fire suppression and fire alarm systems throughout the main high school building, gymnasium, and auditorium totaling $3.5 million. 

 

·     Cranston High School East – replacement of windows and partially replace the school’s existing roof totaling $621,083.  

 

·     Hugh B. Bain Middle School (Cranston) – two gymnasium buildings at the Cranston school received a $25,964 upgrade of their existing wood sports floors.  

 

·     Pell Elementary School (Newport) – the Newport school received a new, $8.4 million, eight-classroom addition.  

 

·     Henry J. Winters School and Elizabeth Baldwin Elementary School (Pawtucket) – new construction of two state-of-the-art elementary schools in Pawtucket totaling $234 million.   

School construction projects expected to be substantially completed for the 2023/24 school year include, but are not limited to:  

·     Garden City Elementary School (Cranston) – new construction of a $53 million, 89,000 square foot school that will serve more than 575 students annually upon completion in 2023. The school will include a new secure entry, an addition that will house learning spaces that promote greater teacher-student collaboration. 

 

·     Western Hills Middle School (Cranston) – $859,395 was invested to replace 48 ventilators to provide students and teachers with fresh, clean, and appropriately tempered ventilation air. 

 

·     Narducci Learning Center (Providence) – $31 million renovation of the Windmill Elementary School in Providence including upgrades that will make the building ADA accessible. Upon its completion, the Narducci Learning Center will provide the Providence Public School Department with the necessary “swing space” that will be vital to the execution of other school construction projects.  

 

·     Hope High School (Providence) – a $13.5 million renovation of the auditorium will transform the facility into a state-of-the-art Performing Arts House. Upgrades will also be made to the lobby, cupola, and a new fire protection system will be installed. 

 

·     D’Abate Elementary School (Providence) – $21 million renovation of the existing two-story school building and construction of three new additions at the Providence school.  

 

·     Frank D. Spaziano Elementary School (Providence) – new construction of a $44 million, three-story, 76,000-square foot school building with the capacity for 684 pre-kindergarten through 5th-grade students.  

School construction projects expected to be substantially completed for the 2024/25 school year include, but are not limited to:  

·     Eden Park Elementary School (Cranston) – $24.5 million renovation includes ADA accessibility upgrades, a new gymnasium, a new library, and expanded learning spaces.   

·     Classical High School (Providence) – $34 million renovation will include a new media center, renovations to classrooms and administrative spaces as well as improvements to the school’s exterior envelope.   

School construction projects expected to be substantially completed for the 2025/26 school year include, but are not limited to:  

·     Gladstone Elementary School (Cranston) – The new, approximately 105,000 square feet school will be designed for the enrollment of 798 kindergarten through 5th-grade students. The school will include a new secure entry, an addition that will house learning spaces, and an expanded gymnasium and cafeteria.  

 

·     William S. Rogers High School (Newport) – The new $98 million, 180,000 square-foot school in Newport will serve approximately 755 students annually and replace the old Rogers High School, which was built in 1957 and its condition made it the worst-rated high school in the 2017 statewide assessment of all 306 public school buildings in Rhode Island.  

 Johnston Elementary School and Johnston High School – 86% of Johnston voters approved a $215 million proposal in April 2022 to finance the most extensive modernization of education facilities in the town’s history. School construction projects include the closure and consolidation of four elementary schools into one new state-of-the-art school with a new gymnasium, media center, and science and technology labs to support art, music, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) education. Major renovations will be made to Johnston High School, a new early childhood center will be constructed and new and expanded career and technical training programming will be made available for high school students.