The Providence City Council diligently deliberates over the proposed lease agreement for Lauro Elementary School.
The Providence City Council is scheduled to vote on a controversial lease agreement for the Carl G. Lauro Elementary School building, which may be transferred to Excel Academy, a charter school. Council President Rachel Miller has reversed her previous support, citing concerns about community interests. The Rhode Island Education Collective is lobbying for the lease, emphasizing its potential to enhance local education. As tensions rise around school governance, the implications of this decision extend beyond the building itself, raising questions about public school quality and educational access for families.
Providence – The Providence City Council is set to vote on a controversial lease agreement that could see the Carl G. Lauro Elementary School building handed over to Excel Academy, a charter school company. The vote is scheduled for 6 PM today, and Council President Rachel Miller has publicly reversed her support for the deal, stating her opposition as not being in the best interests of the neighborhood or the city.
The Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, located on Kenyon Street, has remained vacant since its closure in 2022. Excel Academy submitted a proposal last year for a 35-year lease to utilize the unused school building. The Rhode Island Education Collective is actively encouraging city council members to approve the lease agreement. They argue that the partnership with Excel Academy would “strengthen public education, revitalize an unused city asset, and create urgently needed opportunities for local students.” A press conference organized by the collective will take place outside City Hall at 9 AM today, ahead of the crucial vote.
Rachel Miller, who initially supported the lease, expressed her concerns earlier this week, suggesting that the current arrangement might not serve the community’s best interests. Her unexpected change in position could jeopardize the agreement, even in the face of ongoing lobbying efforts by charter school advocates. Excel Academy commenced accepting fifth graders from Providence, North Providence, and Central Falls during the previous school year, and the Rhode Island Department of Education has approved plans for the academy to eventually expand to a K-12 institution.
The proposed lease stipulates that Excel Academy would pay the city an annual fee of $200,000, while the city would save approximately $300,000 in maintenance costs due to the school’s closure. This would result in a projected net gain of $500,000 annually for the city. However, reports indicate that the City Council may lack the authority to obstruct the K-12 expansion of Excel Academy, which adds another layer of complexity to the current situation.
Miller’s opposition may not only put the deal at risk but could also have broader political implications for her relationships with influential local allies. Several critics, including former Providence School Board Chair Keith Oliveira, have expressed that her decision reflects outdated ideological arguments, insufficiently aligned with the necessities of families seeking quality educational options. Oliveira argues that supporting the Excel Academy lease is a step towards addressing the community’s educational needs.
The Rhode Island Education Commission, led by Angélica Infante-Green, has echoed these concerns, indicating that political dysfunction within local government may adversely affect school oversight and educational quality in the area. This ongoing debate comes against the backdrop of a state takeover of Providence schools, which has heightened tensions regarding educational leadership and governance.
As the clock ticks down to the council meeting, all eyes will be on the council members as they decide the future of the Lauro school building and the potential expansion of Excel Academy. The implications of their decision reach beyond the lease agreement, touching upon broader themes of educational access and public school quality in the city.
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