Rhode Island House Bill H5170

Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/23
• Refer: 1/19/23

Caption

House Resolution Strongly Urging The Providence Public School District And The Rhode Island Department Of Education To Reverse The Decision To Close The Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School, The Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, And The Gilbert Stuart Middle School

Impact

The bill highlights significant issues related to community involvement in educational policy decisions, as it claims that the decision to close these schools was taken without proper consultation with key stakeholders such as the Providence School Board and the affected families. This lack of community input is viewed as a violation of existing policies meant to ensure stakeholder consultation before making major changes to the school system. Supporters of H5170 believe that keeping these schools open is crucial for maintaining the sense of community and ensuring local children do not experience disruption in their education due to school closures.

Summary

House Bill H5170 is a resolution strongly urging the Providence Public School District and the Rhode Island Department of Education to reconsider their decision to close three local schools: the Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School, the Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, and the Gilbert Stuart Middle School. This resolution arises from concern among community members and lawmakers regarding the impact that such closures would have on local families and the wider Providence community. The three schools in question serve as neighborhood schools, which means they provide educational services based on geographical boundaries intended to foster community ties.

Contention

The motivation behind the proposed school closures is based on claims that the schools are aging and would incur high costs to fix. The resolution argues that simply modernizing facilities without considering the educational welfare and community needs can have long-lasting negative impacts on hundreds of children and their families. The debate surrounding this decision underscores a broader contention regarding how educational institutions should be managed and the balance of state oversight and local control.