Raimondo outlines proposal for School Building Authority

THE PROPOSED creation of a School Building Authority in Rhode Island will allow the state to direct construction funds to public schools based on prioritized need, according to Gov. Gina M. Raimondo. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
THE PROPOSED creation of a School Building Authority in Rhode Island will allow the state to direct construction funds to public schools based on prioritized need, according to Gov. Gina M. Raimondo. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

NEWPORT – The proposed creation of a School Building Authority in Rhode Island will allow the state to direct construction funds to public schools based on prioritized need, according to Gov. Gina M. Raimondo.
As part of her budget proposal, the governor has advocated lifting the moratorium on state participation in school building projects, and appropriating $90 million in the upcoming fiscal year for school construction. As part of the $90 million, the building authority also would receive a $20 million capital fund for school repairs.
The $70 million portion of that appropriation will go toward reimbursements on already completed projects. Beginning in fiscal 2017, a standing appropriation of $80 million would be made, she said, providing an opportunity for continuing investment.
“It is harder for teachers to teach and children to learn if their buildings are falling apart,” Raimondo said.
The School Building Authority would be within the state Department of Education, and would partner with cities and towns to rebuild schools. The process would start with an independent assessment of current building needs, according to Raimondo. The assessment would create baseline adequacy standards for public schools. Schools would then be prioritized.
“We shouldn’t be doing this on a first-come, first-served basis,” she said, announcing details of the program after touring the Pell School in Newport, the last public school in Rhode Island constructed before the state’s moratorium took effect.
The lifting of the moratorium will allow the state to upgrade aging facilities, making sure all children attend school in buildings that are safe and efficient, she said.
Many children in Rhode Island do not have an opportunity to attend school in facilities such as the Pell School, she noted. The average age of school facilities in the state is 60 years old, according to the governor.
“There are equity gaps,” Raimondo said. “I don’t care where you’re in south Providence or in Westerly, you should be able to go to a school just like this.”
Attending the press conference following the tour were several representatives of the building trades in Rhode Island.
Although the primary reason for the reinvestment in school construction is to improve aging educational facilities, it is important to remember that some of the building trades have unemployment rates approaching 20 percent, Raimondo said.
“We have a very high unemployment rate in our building trades,” she said. “Some of them still have 20 percent unemployment rates in the building trades. It’s not right.”

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