Proposal to Transform Carl G. Lauro Elementary into Charter School

The vacant Lauro Elementary School, possible site for new charter school facilities.

News Summary

The Providence Ordinance Committee is evaluating a proposal to convert the vacant Carl G. Lauro Elementary School into a charter school and temporary space for Asa Messer Elementary students during renovations. With significant repairs necessary for Lauro, concerns about safety and student welfare have been raised. If approved, Excel Academy would lease part of the building to facilitate renovations, while opinions on the suitability of Lauro as a school remain divided.

Providence – The city’s Ordinance Committee is currently evaluating a proposal that would transform the vacant Carl G. Lauro Elementary School into a charter school facility and temporary swing space for Providence Public Schools. This initiative comes as part of a solution to address the upcoming construction needs at Asa Messer Elementary School, which would require students to be relocated during renovations.

Due to construction at Asa Messer, students would temporarily move to the Lauro building, which has been unoccupied since its closure by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) two years ago due to significant safety concerns and the need for expensive repairs. The estimated cost for repairs needed at Lauro and another elementary school, Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School, reached approximately $95 million, leading to their closure.

Mario Carreno, a representative from RIDE, has emphasized the department’s shift towards investing in modern educational environments rather than pouring funds into repairing aging buildings. Although Lauro has not undergone any renovations since its closure, it remains classified as “unusable” by the district rather than condemned.

The current proposal includes leasing part of Lauro to Excel Academy, a charter school located in North Providence. Should the lease be approved, Excel Academy would dedicate an estimated $14 million towards renovating the Lauro space. Providence Superintendent Javier Montañez has expressed his support for this arrangement, indicating that it could facilitate the renovation project at Asa Messer. Additionally, Mayor Brett Smiley has backed the proposal, suggesting that it would help avoid leaving another building vacant in the city.

However, opinions on the proposal are not universally favorable. Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of relocating students to the Lauro building, considering its prior status and extensive repairs required. One teacher from Asa Messer has voiced apprehensions about the transition, indicating that the site is not suitable for students. As a counter-solution, it has been proposed to conduct significant renovations on Asa Messer and build a new middle school on the Lauro site instead of converting it into a charter school.

The Ordinance Committee is expected to make a decision on the proposed plan by the beginning of summer, weighing the possible uses for the former Lauro building against the need for immediate educational space for Providence students.

This latest proposal follows a previous attempt to lease the Lauro facility that was turned down by the city council last year due to concerns over the potential consequences of expanding charter schools within Providence. As part of its mission to support local education, Excel Academy began admitting fifth-grade students from Providence, North Providence, and Central Falls during the 2022-2023 school year and plans to grow into a K-12 institution.

Enrollment figures suggest that the number of Providence students in charter schools is projected to increase from approximately 8,206 to 9,311 by the 2026-2027 school year. Meanwhile, since 2020, the Providence public school district has experienced a drop of 2,650 students, although there has been a slight rebound in recent enrollment numbers.

As the Ordinance Committee continues deliberations, it remains focused on ensuring that the best possible outcome is achieved for the educational infrastructure and student needs of Providence.