Governor McKee, RIDE Spotlight Upcoming Construction of New Pawtucket High School

Published on Wednesday, January 24, 2024

PAWTUCKET, R.I – Governor Dan McKee, Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Senate Education Chair Sandra Cano, Mayor Don Grebien, School Committee Chairman Gerard Charbonneau, Superintendent Patricia Royal, and state, municipal, and school leaders today gathered at Joseph Jenks Middle School to spotlight the upcoming construction of the new Pawtucket high school. The new high school will be built where the former McCoy Stadium currently stands and is part of the recently approved $1 billion in school construction projects by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education. 

“I’m thrilled to join state, city and school officials to celebrate Pawtucket’s new high school, which is the largest school project and one of the largest state projects in Rhode Island history,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Expanding access to world-class learning spaces is part of our plan to improve student outcomes statewide because we know that the conditions of the schools our students and educators learn and teach in make a difference. I thank all those who helped get this project going and look forward to returning to open the new school.”

The new high school construction project is part of RIDE’s School Building Authority (SBA) Necessity of School Construction designation, which allows local education agencies (LEAs) who apply to receive a portion of their state aid as pay-as-you-go funding, which lets them begin construction almost immediately. This designation falls under the SBA’s Statewide School Construction Bond initiative. Pawtucket received a $50 million PayGo check from the statewide bond and will help the city reduce their bond from $330 million to $280 million.

RIDE officials also released their latest school construction report: Investing in Excellence, which details the historic school construction happening across Rhode Island. The report highlights the many projects recently completed, underway, and the pipeline throughout the Ocean State.

Furthermore, consistent with State Law, the project will create $50 million in employment opportunities for local women and minority-owned businesses. RIDE and the Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion will continue to work together to ensure these opportunities are available to the State’s Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs).

“Here in Pawtucket, we have embraced a commitment to bringing classrooms into the 21st century, enabling new, modern approaches to learning,” said Senate Education Chair Sandra Cano. “We are working toward important improvements at all our schools, including new security features, and health and safety upgrades. And today, we are marking a major step toward a new, unified high school for our city. This is a game-changing investment in Pawtucket’s future.”

“Investing in modern learning environments means a direct investment in both Rhode Island students and educators,” said Board of Education Chair Michael Grey. “I am glad that the Pawtucket community will soon get to enjoy a new high school that will inspire students to succeed. The Council is pleased to have supported this major project.”

“The Council on Elementary and Secondary Education understands that state-of-the-art school buildings are essential for effective teaching and learning,” said Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Patti DiCenso. “By investing in new schools, we are investing in our state’s future and empowering students to succeed whether in college or career. We look forward to joining Pawtucket stakeholders to celebrate their new school once complete.”

“Pawtucket’s new high school is part of the historic investments being made in new and like new-schools across Rhode Island,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Our students, families, and educators have longed called for us to prioritize improving school facility conditions, and working closely with our local partners, we are delivering on our promise to expand access to high-quality learning spaces. The new Pawtucket high school will serve as a beacon for education once complete, and I cannot wait to join the community to celebrate.”

"As Mayor of the great City of Pawtucket, I am extremely proud that we will be home to the largest school construction project in the state of Rhode Island," said Mayor Donald R. Grebien. "Our students deserve the best educational experience we can give them and we must maintain our commitment to them, and their teachers to further opportunities and engagement in education through better schools and classrooms."

"Today serves as the beginning of a transformative project that will shape the educational landscape for generations to come," said Pawtucket City Council President Terrence Mercer. "The establishment of our new high school represents not just a physical structure but a commitment to fostering an environment where knowledge thrives."

"We are honored to be the recipient of this monetary award for our dedication to the betterment of the education of our children and our willingness to invest in their future,” said Pawtucket Superintendent Patricia Royal. “It’s truly commendable. Looking forward to the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. Together: Every Student, Every Day. "

The new unified high school is scheduled to be complete in September 2028. It will house approximately 2,200 of Pawtucket’s students, and is in line with RIDE’s “newer and fewer” school building commitment as both Shea and Tolman are at least 90 years old. The school will also house high-demand career and technical education (CTE) programs. It will also be one of Rhode Island’s green schoolhouses, in line with the 2021 Act on Climate law, and the Green Building Act of 2006, which ensures that projects conserve natural resources, consume less energy, are easier to maintain, and provide an enhanced school facility for students.

For more about RIDE’s plans for school construction, visit ride.ri.gov/sba.

###