Neglected, Aging Schools Expected to Go Under the Scope Real Soon

How can East Providence repair and upgrade its schools without slamming taxpayers with onerous tax hikes? And without breaking the five-year spending plan put together for the city by the budget commission?

The City Council and the School Committee are expected to sit down together soon to come up with some possible answers to that question. 

Mayor James Briden and School Committee Chairman Joel Monteiro talked Monday evening, July 8, about the need for cooperation and getting on the same page after the council was rapped at the most recent school board meeting for not meeting to talk about the issue.

“I had a great discussion with Joel tonight (Monday, July 8) and have sent our City Manager an email with the relevant questions to research,” said Briden, who was inaccurately reported at that meeting as having voted against getting together with the School Committee.

“I have also asked the City Clerk to circulate dates for a meeting of the School Committee and the City Council,” said Briden, who brushed off the inaccurate report made by a School Committee member.

“That was unfortunate,” said Monteiro. “Jim voting not to meet with us was untrue. He voted with two other members, Tracey Capobianco and Chrissy Rossi, to meet with us.” 

Briden and Monteiro both agree that a comprehensive analysis of the city’s school-repair needs must be done first in concert with City Manager Peter Graczykowski, Superintendent Kim Mercer and Finance Director Malcolm Moore. And when the city’s new state-imposed administrative and finance officer (AFO) comes on board, the AFO would have to get involved as well.

“We need to take an inventory of where we are,” said Briden. “Then we have to plan with priorities." 

“Realistic options are needed,” said Monteiro, especially since it does not appear that a capital-improvement plan for the schools has been figured into the five-year budget plan. 

“We have to determine first if there is cash available in the budget for capital improvements,” said Briden. 

A new “rainy day” fund built into the budget would possibly make some money available, both Briden and Monteiro said. 

“I would like to grab the lion’s share of that if it is available to us," Monteiro said. "This is not a normal situation with aging buildings that have been neglected or ignored.” 

Briden said he had sent emails to Monteiro and Rossi suggesting the need for a “multi-year plan that would include identifying priorities for school building repairs and upgrade."

“We would also evaluate how the budget surplus would eventually factor into the equation,” he said, referring to the rainy day fund. 

Briden also suggested the possibility of exploring "corporate sponsorships" for buildings or facilities, such as the swimming pool or the science labs at the high school.

“This plan will require a comprehensive analysis to determine the best allocation of limited resources,” he said. “Suffice it to say, all of this needs to be accomplished in a way that is consistent with our multi-year budget plan. We need to keep property taxes down.”

Briden said he would look at the School Committee first for its ideas and priorities, such as making the necessary repairs at the high school, which could be a significant factor in keeping its accreditation in five years, according to the superintendent.

“The physical plant needs to be addressed,” Mercer told the School Committee, particularly the science facilities and the school’s lack of compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“We need to take a good look (at the building) in the very near future and address the problems that are there,” she said.

The high school is doing “phenomenal” in teaching and learning, according to the recent five-year review with officials from the New England Association of Schools and College. But the school also needs to provide an education in an acceptable environment. That’s where the primary concern lies, she said.