Martin’s RICAS results, condition of building rile outgoing Ward 3 Councilor Botelho

Committee Chair Tsonos, Superintendent Crowley note improvements are already happening

By Mike Rego
Posted 12/7/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — The reverberations were still being felt locally from the recently released results of the state’s inaugural Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) for school …

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Martin’s RICAS results, condition of building rile outgoing Ward 3 Councilor Botelho

Committee Chair Tsonos, Superintendent Crowley note improvements are already happening

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The reverberations were still being felt locally from the recently released results of the state’s inaugural Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) for school students in grades three through eight.

Calling it likely one of, if not his last docketed items to be placed on the body’s agenda, Ward 3 representative Joe Botelho offered up some biting commentary at the December 4 city council meeting specifically aimed at the low scores earned by students at Martin Middle School, where pupils from his district attend, and the condition of the building itself.

The results weren’t flattering for Martin, where only 19 percent of students combined met or exceeding expectations in english while an even lesser amount, just 16 percent, did so in mathematics. In contrast, their peers at Riverside Middle School scored significantly better in english, 36 percent, and a bit better in math, 22 percent. But even RMS pupils were below the statewide average in math, 27 percent, though they scored above the average, 34, in english.

During his remarks last week, Mr. Botelho said his “heart sank” and that he “literally couldn’t believe it” when he saw the MMS scores, noting that “five of six kids didn’t pass the test” and calling that “heart breaking.”

“I look at this in three ways: as a parent, a taxpayer and as someone who has an interest in the community as a real estate professional,” Mr. Botelho added. “And as a parent with a child in elementary school who is about to go to Martin I would be horrified. I wouldn’t know what to do.”

He continued “as a taxpayer that’s disappointing” because the city spends approximately “$15,000 or $16,000” to educate a child in the district. And as a realtor, he said “try selling houses with scores like that.”

On the status of the MMS structure, Mr. Botelho cited the 2017 report authorized by the Rhode Island Department of Education, its School Building Authority (SBA) and completed by Jacobs Engineering in which Martin was considered a “high priority.” The report concluded the 40-year-old building needed over $34 million in urgent attention.

Mr. Botelho, retelling a recent conversation with former MMS students from the mid-aughts who attended the school with his son, said their opinion was the district is “fixing to build the wrong school…and maybe that’s the problem.”

The councilman conceded a new East Providence High School is needed, something a vast majority of residents approved by voting in support of a referendum item just last month allowing the city to secure upwards of $189.5 million in bonds to replace the 65-year-old building.

Mr. Botelho said he was mentioning the state of Martin now because he was a bit remorseful he didn’t do more to address its condition during his term in office, which ends in the next few weeks. Mr. Botelho did not seek re-election. He will be replaced on the council in January by Nate Cahoon, who moves over from his Ward 3 seat on the school committee.

Mr. Botelho said, “It’s no accident the school is in the shape it’s in and those test scores,” referring to Martin. He recommended the administration of incoming mayor Roberto DaSilva and the next council seek to help remedy the problem. He even went so far as to suggest possibly altering the new EPHS plans to consider having the city purchase Metacomet Country Club, which just announced it was up for sale, building it there and saving on costs of constructing athletic facilities because Pierce Field is next door. The monies not used on the new EPHS could then be transferred to fixing MMS, he hypothesized.

“We’re either going to look back a few years from now and say we made a really big mistake or like (New England Patriots head coach) Bill Belichick would do, we make adjustments,” Mr. Botelho said. “Given the test scores, I think it’s a crime what we’re allowing those kids to go through in that school. I don’t blame the teachers. How can Riverside Middle School have test scores all the way up here and Martin all the way down here? It doesn’t add up…Obviously we don’t have much time here to do something except to make people aware.”

Of purchasing Metacomet and building the new EPHS there instead of behind its current Pawtucket Avenue location, Mr. Botelho said, “I think it’s a damn good idea.” He later concluded, “We need a new high school. I know we do, but if we don’t take of Martin Middle School we’ve already lost these kids before they get to high school. So it’s not going to matter. And with the test results that came out over the last week, that would be a crime.”

When asked to respond to Mr. Botelho’s comments a few days after the council meeting, School Committee Chairman Charlie Tsonos said the structural state of Martin Middle School was of obvious concern, saying the building has had problems “since day one.”

However, he said other issues like the socio-economics of Martin students also plays a significant role in their learning and testing abilities. The chairman noted improvements have or are being made to its windows, cafeteria, gymnasium, HVAC, lighting and roof. It’s all part of keeping the MMS population “warm, safe and dry,” he said.

Mr. Tsonos also pointed out as a condition of gaining RIDE approval to construct a new high school, the district also had to submit detailed five and 10-year improvement plans for all of its buildings.

“These things are being worked on and are constantly being worked on,” Mr. Tsonos added. “It’s not something new that Martin is in disrepair. It’s getting better as we speak, but maintenance is an ongoing thing. It’s something you don’t do once. You need to focus on maintenance.”

Superintendent Kathryn Crowley, likewise, cited the “social-emotional” concerns of Martin students and that its populace has the “highest levels of poverty of any of our schools.” She also emphasized fixing the pressing needs of the Martin structure are a focal point of the school administration.

“That’s our next mission, our next big project, really,” she said.

As part of the five-year infrastructure plan, Superintendent Crowley said redesigning classrooms at Martin and creating modern learning spaces are among the intended improvements. Of note as well, the superintendent said RIDE has already given the district preliminary access to an additional $10 million, above the $135 million in reimbursements for the new EPHS, to address many of its other building issues.

“We know what the needs are, and we’re in the process of getting things done,” Superintendent Crowley added.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.