Letter: We can’t afford to not approve school bond

Posted 10/5/21

To the editor:

Every child deserves to go to a school that is warm, safe, dry, and equipped for 21st century learning.

In 2018, I worked with the General Assembly and Gov. …

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Letter: We can’t afford to not approve school bond

Posted

To the editor:

Every child deserves to go to a school that is warm, safe, dry, and equipped for 21st century learning.

In 2018, I worked with the General Assembly and Gov. Raimondo on a plan to make a once-in-a-generation investment repairing public school buildings across Rhode Island.  

Since then, more than $1.4 billion has been allocated to repair or replace 176 school buildings in 25 districts across Rhode Island with more on the way. These projects will create over 23,500 up front jobs and the new and improved school buildings will benefit over 95,000 Rhode Island students annually. 

This is important not only because so many school buildings have been crumbling, threatening the health and safety of children and educators, but because modern school facilities are vital to preparing students to succeed in the 21st-century economy.

Under our program, the state will cover much of the cost of most large school construction projects, allowing cities and towns to transform their schools without putting excessive pressure on local property taxes. But there is a catch: under current state law, the increased state support is only available for a limited time. 

On Nov. 2, Portsmouth residents will have an opportunity to take advantage of this enhanced state support for school buildings by approving the proposed School Facilities bond (Question 1). 

This bond would be used to finance up to $21.4 million in Portsmouth public school projects, including air quality improvements, renovated bathrooms, improved accessibility, and other repairs at Melville Elementary School, Hathaway Elementary School, Portsmouth Middle School, and Portsmouth High School. Most importantly, Portsmouth has a one-time opportunity to receive a 40-percent reimbursement (about $8.6 million) from the Rhode Island Department of Education to offset the cost of the projects. 

Approving the school bonds will generate local economic activity in addition to improving student achievement and morale. By approving the school bond, Portsmouth would also be more likely to avoid the higher costs of having to build new schools in the future. 

We cannot afford to kick the can down the road any longer. The time to invest in Rhode Island’s next generation is now to ensure that children are safe in school and prepared to thrive in the years that follow.

Seth Magaziner 

Rhode Island general treasurer

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.