An aerial view of the courtyard located off the cafeteria at Martin Middle School.

EAST PROVIDENCE — At a special session Tuesday, May 23, held specifically to take action on the agenda items posted, the East Providence School Committee gave near unanimous approval to a list of construction projects totaling some $1.5 million planned to be completed during the upcoming summer recess.

The committee, by a 5-0 tally, gave a nod to the following: Asbestos Removal of Floor Tile and Mastic at Hennessey School; VCT Tile-Furnish and Installation at Hennessey School; Carpeting Auditorium at Riverside Middle School; Carpeting Library at Riverside Middle School; Carpeting Auditorium at Martin Middle School; Bathroom Partitions at Waddington School; Bathroom Partitions at Hennessey School; Fire Alarm at Francis School; and Roof Replacement at Francis School.

The one proposed project where there was some dissent was that of reconstructing the courtyard area at Martin Middle School, which sits outside the cafeteria. The location has long been the bane of the 40-year-old building, the windows there a source of severe leakage and access to the grounds restricted because it is not sufficiently up to code.

The cost to completely renovate the Martin Courtyard has been pegged at over $600,000. That number, the notification process and the scope of the project caused resistance on the parts of Committee Chairman Charlie Tsonos and Ward 2 representative Tony Ferreira, who voted against the measure. Committee members Jessica Beauchaine, Nate Cahoon and Joel Monteiro cast their lot in support of the project, passing it on a 3-2 vote.

“We showed up at the meeting Tuesday night and it’s the first time we saw (the proposal),” Mr. Tsonos said, explaining his vote. “I wanted to know where they got the figure, how did they come up with it?”

Mr. Ferreira echoed the chairman’s thoughts, adding he wasn’t sure if the entirety of the structure leading into the courtyard did or did not need to be fixed.

He said the windows on the first floor of the building “absolutely have to be replaced,” but he wasn’t quite so sure about those on the second floor. He also wondered if using more costly aluminum instead of steel window casings was necessary, nor was he convinced reopening access to the courtyard was financially prudent.

“The way I look at it is, is it really necessary? Is this the way we should spend the taxpayers’ dollars?” Mr. Ferreira said.

According to both Superintendent Kathryn Crowley and Facilities Director Tony Feola, it is.

Mrs. Crowley said upon the recommendations made by engineers and architects who responded to a Request For Proposal issued on the MMS Courtyard, renovating the entire area was the proper approach.

“We’re doing it the right way,” Mrs. Crowley said. “We’re doing what needs to be done. No more band-aids. We have to fix it and fix it correctly.”

Mr. Feola explained access to the courtyard has been restricted because the location was not up to existing fire or handicapped codes. Included in the renovations are not only the window replacement but also the installation of two fire doors and two handicapped ramps to meet ingress and egress requirements.

The upgrades, Mr. Feola continued, would also allow for students and faculty to once again utilize the space for such things as Science and Art classes and Library skills. Also, if requested by administrators, the courtyard could be opened for students to eat and socialize during appropriate times.

“It made sense to do it all at once. It’s the most cost-effective way of doing it,” Mr. Feola added about the MMS courtyard. “With each project we’re doing now, we’re doing it the right way and completing it correctly.”