Pres-Elect Rona Mann and Westerly Superintendent of Schools Mark Garceau.
Mark opened with a congratulations to Lisa Yuen - telling the membership that she had interviewed him last week for a video project she is producing - and to Coach Miranda, one of our guests, for his big win against Woonsocket. Then he went on to speak about the state of our schools. He said that the high school building was in great shape as is the middle school. However, he said that the middle school is at capacity; so, as the "Phase 3 Plan" for the elementary schools moves forward, it will include a plan to move Grade 5 out of the middle school. The building subcommittee along with the consultant have selected a plan to renovate Springbrook and Dunns Corners schools for the up to grade 2 students with a focus on early literacy. State Street School will be torn down and a new state-of-the-art green facility built in its place for grades 3 - 5. While it seems like the neighborhood school is disappearing, instead the focus will be on educating by level. Dr. Garceau said that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is coming with a State Bond that might provide up to 50% reimbursement for the school building improvements. The goal is to start by 2020.
