To: Jorge Elorza, Mayor of Providence and Chris Maher, Superintendent of Providence Public Schools
Fix our schools equitably & show Providence kids we care!
PETITION TO MAYOR ELORZA
IN SUPPORT OF SCHOOL FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS & FUNDING
We applaud your commitment to renovating Providence School Buildings and for forwarding a city and state bond for facility repair.
West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) presents this petition to advocate for full funding required to address all needed improvements and renovations to our west side public schools that include Carl Lauro Elementary, Asa Messer Elementary, and West Broadway Middle Schools.
With your full support and funding, we can transform these schools into safe, equitable, and inviting 21st learning environments for all of our neighborhood's children.
IN SUPPORT OF SCHOOL FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS & FUNDING
We applaud your commitment to renovating Providence School Buildings and for forwarding a city and state bond for facility repair.
West Broadway Neighborhood Association (WBNA) presents this petition to advocate for full funding required to address all needed improvements and renovations to our west side public schools that include Carl Lauro Elementary, Asa Messer Elementary, and West Broadway Middle Schools.
With your full support and funding, we can transform these schools into safe, equitable, and inviting 21st learning environments for all of our neighborhood's children.
Why is this important?
WBNA has a decades-long history of supporting our neighborhood public schools, and applauds Mayor Elorza's commitment to renovating Providence School Buildings and for forwarding a city and state bond for facility repair that is long overdue.
While WBNA supports the full funding of ALL facility and programming needs cited at Carl Lauro Elementary, Asa Messer Elementary, and West Broadway Middle Schools, we also strongly advocate for and believe that ALL SCHOOLS across the district must be evaluated for capacity based on an equitable educational program, meaning that all schools have similar room sizes and program offerings including an art room, music room, and appropriate and supportive spaces for occupational and physical therapy, special education, English Language Learners, and other programmatic needs.
Finally, we believe it is critical that neighbors have a seat at the “renovation” table. We propose the City and district create a Renovation Task Force at each school (or by neighborhood) that helps guide school improvements to best align facility investments to the needs of our communities.
Thank you for your ongoing support of and attention to our traditional neighborhood schools, which serve all of our City’s children, including our most vulnerable populations.
See our letter to Mayor Elorza here: https://goo.gl/FyNb8f.
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SUMMARY OF CONCERNS AT EACH SCHOOL
While supporting ALL facility and programming needs cited at these schools, we would like to also highlight the following as concerns:
• CARL LAURO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: School size is a critical issue at Lauro, therefore any facility upgrades must take into account the imperative for smaller educational communities at this school as well as breakout and collaborative learning spaces. Programming needs and considerations that follow best practices and incorporate recommendations by school leaders, community members, and research, should be addressed WITH and in concordance with facility upgrades. We support all major systems upgrades such as HVAC improvements for indoor air quality including ventilation in all classrooms; roof replacement; hazardous material abatement that includes deteriorating paint and asbestos tile; and window replacement and other exterior envelope improvements. Outdoor learning landscapes are important, and should include improvements and creation of expanded outdoor recreation spaces as well as landscaping. Currently Lauro is limited in these offerings. In addition, WBNA advocates for maintaining Carl Lauro’s historic integrity while renovating for 21st century learning.
• ASA MESSER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Asa Messer’s current facility received some renovations in 2012, but it is understood by school leaders that the building currently has a “temporary roof.” We ask the City and district to investigate the roof’s status to ensure that past and future investments made on the interiors are not compromised. We support HVAC improvements to improve indoor air quality, and other interior improvements that enhance both 1) the school environment such as flooring replacement and paint, and 2) instructional delivery such as acoustic improvements between classrooms and classroom lighting. As with all of our schools, we advocate for abatement of hazardous materials such as deteriorating paint and asbestos tiles, and any other hazards that may exist at the school. Asa Messer is now Pre-K through 4th grades (instead of K-5 as it was when the school reopened), so current educational programming requires safe and appropriate outdoor learning landscapes that include a Pre-K playground and play equipment which currently do not exist.
• WEST BROADWAY MIDDLE SCHOOL: West Broadway is in great need of exterior repairs and improvements, including pointing of exterior bricks, cast stone repair and replacement, and making the building envelope impervious to weather and water. In addition, the historically significant cupola atop the building is in great need of repair and restoration. West Broadway is a historic school, therefore we advocate for: 1) hazardous material abatement including deteriorating paint and asbestos tile; and 2) all interior improvements and enhancements to create & support a 21st century learning environment while maintaining the historic integrity of the school. Like Carl Lauro, West Broadway has constraints on available outside recreation areas. However, we urge the district to work with experts as well as the school community to creatively expand the school’s outdoor learning landscapes and opportunities at the school.
While WBNA supports the full funding of ALL facility and programming needs cited at Carl Lauro Elementary, Asa Messer Elementary, and West Broadway Middle Schools, we also strongly advocate for and believe that ALL SCHOOLS across the district must be evaluated for capacity based on an equitable educational program, meaning that all schools have similar room sizes and program offerings including an art room, music room, and appropriate and supportive spaces for occupational and physical therapy, special education, English Language Learners, and other programmatic needs.
Finally, we believe it is critical that neighbors have a seat at the “renovation” table. We propose the City and district create a Renovation Task Force at each school (or by neighborhood) that helps guide school improvements to best align facility investments to the needs of our communities.
Thank you for your ongoing support of and attention to our traditional neighborhood schools, which serve all of our City’s children, including our most vulnerable populations.
See our letter to Mayor Elorza here: https://goo.gl/FyNb8f.
___________
SUMMARY OF CONCERNS AT EACH SCHOOL
While supporting ALL facility and programming needs cited at these schools, we would like to also highlight the following as concerns:
• CARL LAURO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: School size is a critical issue at Lauro, therefore any facility upgrades must take into account the imperative for smaller educational communities at this school as well as breakout and collaborative learning spaces. Programming needs and considerations that follow best practices and incorporate recommendations by school leaders, community members, and research, should be addressed WITH and in concordance with facility upgrades. We support all major systems upgrades such as HVAC improvements for indoor air quality including ventilation in all classrooms; roof replacement; hazardous material abatement that includes deteriorating paint and asbestos tile; and window replacement and other exterior envelope improvements. Outdoor learning landscapes are important, and should include improvements and creation of expanded outdoor recreation spaces as well as landscaping. Currently Lauro is limited in these offerings. In addition, WBNA advocates for maintaining Carl Lauro’s historic integrity while renovating for 21st century learning.
• ASA MESSER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Asa Messer’s current facility received some renovations in 2012, but it is understood by school leaders that the building currently has a “temporary roof.” We ask the City and district to investigate the roof’s status to ensure that past and future investments made on the interiors are not compromised. We support HVAC improvements to improve indoor air quality, and other interior improvements that enhance both 1) the school environment such as flooring replacement and paint, and 2) instructional delivery such as acoustic improvements between classrooms and classroom lighting. As with all of our schools, we advocate for abatement of hazardous materials such as deteriorating paint and asbestos tiles, and any other hazards that may exist at the school. Asa Messer is now Pre-K through 4th grades (instead of K-5 as it was when the school reopened), so current educational programming requires safe and appropriate outdoor learning landscapes that include a Pre-K playground and play equipment which currently do not exist.
• WEST BROADWAY MIDDLE SCHOOL: West Broadway is in great need of exterior repairs and improvements, including pointing of exterior bricks, cast stone repair and replacement, and making the building envelope impervious to weather and water. In addition, the historically significant cupola atop the building is in great need of repair and restoration. West Broadway is a historic school, therefore we advocate for: 1) hazardous material abatement including deteriorating paint and asbestos tile; and 2) all interior improvements and enhancements to create & support a 21st century learning environment while maintaining the historic integrity of the school. Like Carl Lauro, West Broadway has constraints on available outside recreation areas. However, we urge the district to work with experts as well as the school community to creatively expand the school’s outdoor learning landscapes and opportunities at the school.