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Providence City Council Rejects Lease for Charter School

Community members express their opposition to leasing the school to charter institutions during a City Council meeting.

News Summary

The Providence City Council voted 8-4 against leasing the Carl G. Lauro Elementary School building to Excel Academy Charter School. This decision follows substantial public opposition led by Council President Rachel Miller, expressing concerns over the impact of charter schools on public education equity. Critics argue that expanding charter schools could divert resources from traditional schools. Despite Excel Academy’s plans for renovations and financial investment in the building, Council members pointed to the need for improvements in the public school system and the overwhelming public sentiment against the lease.

Providence – The Providence City Council voted against a proposal to lease the vacant Carl G. Lauro Elementary School building to Excel Academy Charter School, rejecting the plan with an 8-4 vote on July 24. The decision follows a sudden public opposition from Council President Rachel Miller, who expressed that leasing the school to a charter institution was not beneficial for the neighborhood or the city.

Excel Academy expressed their disappointment regarding Miller’s reversal after months of negotiations aimed at securing the lease. City Council Majority Leader Pedro Espinal criticized Miller’s stance taken immediately before the vote, suggesting that it contradicted prior agreements made during more than six months of discussions.

The proposed lease would have granted Excel Academy a 35-year rental agreement for the Carl G. Lauro building, which has been closed for two years. The charter school was planning to invest at least $14.3 million in renovations and improvements to the aging structure.

Several critics, including community leaders and fellow council members, raised concerns about the expansion of charter schools, arguing it could negatively impact public education equity. Many council members pointed to the significant public opposition that emerged, with hundreds of parents, teachers, and students attending the City Council meeting, most wearing apparel marking their objection to the lease.

Miller’s decision to oppose the lease came after a series of public engagements and discussions emphasizing the necessity for improvements within Providence’s public school system. The President of the Providence School Board, Ty’Relle Stephens, underscored concerns regarding the limited seats available in charter schools and the potential diversion of resources from traditional public schools.

The possible charter school expansion was criticized for potentially leading to further funding cuts for public schools, especially if a significant shift in student enrollment toward charter schools occurred. The lease proposal previously underwent renegotiation, resulting in an increased rent from an original offer of $1 per year to approximately $1 million annually, raising additional objections regarding the city’s rights to terminate or regain control of the property.

Miller had earlier indicated a preference to repurpose the building for housing, yet acknowledged that proceeding down that path would incur high costs and require a lengthy timeline. Currently, the city is expending about $300,000 each year to maintain the vacant Carl G. Lauro building, and the lease would have provided financial relief by transferring maintenance responsibilities to the charter school.

With reported numbers indicating that around 18,000 students are seeking spots in Providence’s charter schools, many parents dissatisfied with their experiences in public schools have turned to these alternatives. Excel Academy’s superintendent highlighted the institution’s commitment to advocating educational choices for families, reflecting the concerns surrounding classroom conditions and the scarcity of resources in public education.

Despite the council’s decision against the lease agreement, Mayor Brett Smiley expressed concerns that the vote would adversely affect both the city and the school department financially, leaving the building as a blighted and underutilized property. The future of the Carl G. Lauro building now remains uncertain as community members, council members, and education advocates continue to grapple with the broader implications of educational policies in Providence.