State could foot 50% of Warwick school repairs

While the School Committee has approved an $85 million bond request to upgrade the city’s aging schools – the issue comes before the City Council on Jan. 3 – Warwick taxpayers might have to foot only 60 percent of the bill and possibly less than 50 percent.

But General Treasurer Seth Magaziner recommends that, regardless of what share of the tab the state bears, the city should move ahead with the plan to underwrite the full plan.

“What we’re advising communities now, if they’re planning to go to bond this year, they should ask voters to approve the full amount because we won’t know what’s going to happen at the state level until November,” Magaziner said in an interview last week.

In September, the Rhode Island School Building Task Force identified more than $2.2 billion in deficiencies in the state's 306 public schools, more than $600 million of which are immediate "warm, safe and dry" needs. On Dec. 13 the task force unanimously recommended issuing $500 million of state General Obligation bonds for public school construction and repair over the next 10 years, with the first $250 million to be proposed to voters in a referendum in 2018. The proposal calls for another bond question of $250 million to be on the 2022 ballot.

"This isn't just about making bold investments, it's about making smart investments, and this report is an important step forward in a long-term process that will help our students succeed," said Ken Wagner, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education in a statement.

Since Gov. Gina Raimondo named the task force, she is expected to include the recommendations in her proposed budget. It will then be up to the General Assembly as to whether it ends up on the November ballot.

Locally, the state report on school deficiencies identifies $190 million of Warwick school repairs. The state report put Warwick’s five-year need at $239 million. In its own assessment, the district prioritized projects to come up with $85 million of work over five years.

“I believe the $85 million effectively takes care of all the students in the school system,” said school business director Anthony Ferrucci.

Until the state school finance plan is in place, Ferrucci isn’t banking on state assistance, although after meeting with Magaziner last Wednesday he is pleased to learn state aid and incentives that could increase the state share of the program would apply to Warwick.

“That’s huge. It validates the action taken by the School Committee [in approving the proposed $85 million bond request],” he said.

When the task force report was first released, Ferrucci said he was of the opinion that 5 percent incentives for consolidation of schools and STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – programs only applied when districts were looking at “fewer and newer” schools.

Whether the City Council will buy into the $85 million plan is questionable, not because of what it might mean in added costs to the taxpayer but because some council members question the school administration’s ability to control costs and whether the city should also be looking at new schools.

Told that the state could conceivably pay half the cost of repairs, Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur and chair of the finance committee, said, “I still need to see does it make sense to repair.” He adds that the possibility of added state funding “doesn’t let us off the hook to do our own due diligence…just because we get 50 percent of it for free doesn’t mean you don’t spend it carefully.”

Yet, when asked about new construction – Ladouceur has suggested a “state of the art” high school or middle school, which he estimates could cost $120 million – he says, “where do I sign?” Ladouceur believes a new school would serve to reenergize the school system and go a long way in reestablishing the reputation of quality Warwick schools and as a means of attracting new businesses and residents to the city.

It’s an appealing concept, but as Mayor Scott Avedisian points out, it raises the question of where a new school would be built and, since there are two high schools and two middle schools, what would it replace. In addition, if funds were solely funneled into a new school, what would be done to all the other schools facing deficiencies? If both repairs and a new school became the plan, how much would that cost and what would it mean to city property taxes?

Putting all the funds into a new school is of concern to Ferrucci.

“All the schools need help; all the students need assistance,” he said.

Ward 6 Councilwoman Donna Travis is excited by the prospect of additional state funding. She sees the need to address school deficiencies. She wants to see any funds for improvements “spent properly no matter where the money comes from.” Travis is inclined to support a school bond issue.

“If it’s going to help, let’s go for it,” she said.

In an interview Friday, both House Majority Leader Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey said they would support a Warwick school bond if approved by the council. Legislative approval is required for a Warwick bond referendum to appear on the ballot.

“What I would say to all school districts is that you should not put the brakes on any project because you’re waiting to see what will happen at the state level. Any projects that are approved this year under our proposal, we proposed that all incentives and all pay-go financing, to the extent that it’s available, would be available to projects that are approved this year,” Magaziner said.