A majority of Rhode Island’s students are learning in facilities considered below par. That’s according to an independent report commissioned by the Rhode Island Department of Education released Wednesday.
Rhode Island needs $627.5 million to deal with the highest priority issues to get schools to a minimum “safe and dry” condition. Based on a year-long assessment, the 2017 State of Rhode Island Schoolhouses report says bringing school buildings up to modern standards would take close to $2.2 billion. The report recommends a statewide bond be issued to pay for the needed repairs.
Gov. Gina Raimondo, by executive order, has created a special Schools Task Force to look at potential ways to the fund repairs. The group includes school officials and children’s medical professionals and is slated to report back to the governor in December.
In the meantime, Raimondo says she will begin to shape a state school infrastructure plan in October. Raimondo is slated to host a series of community forums to solicit feedback from residents concerned about schools.
Raimondo is expected to consider those recommendations in her budget for the 2019 fiscal year.
