Alliance Explains Their Reasons for Saying 'Pell No!' to New School

Opponents of the Claiborne D. Pell Elementary School plan gathered at Newport Public Library Wednesday to present to the public their reasons for why everyone should say 'Pell No!' on Nov. 2.

A panel of parents and community members, all members of the recently formed Newport Alliance for Neighborhood Schools, voiced their skepticism about the supposed benefits to the plan, while continuing to advocate for what they see as the benefits to keeping the district's current four elementary school facilities. Melissa Pattavina moderated the event. Pattavina co-founded Newport Alliance for Neighborhood Schools with fellow parents of elementary school-age children, Catherine Michna and Jessica Slocum. Barry Flynn, Rosemary Slocum, Gene McNulty and Cara Lane also spoke on the panel.

Flynn presented first about the financial planning for the proposed school. He said the financial aspect is "not the most important facet," but that his daughter and the other children of Newport are. Flynn also said that according to Superintendent John Ambrogi, the bond for the Pell school could drive tax rates beyond the three percent statutory limit regulated by the state of Rhode Island.

"The imagined estimated savings will not be materialized," he said.

Flynn's slides during his presentation stated that the new school would increase Newport's debt to two-and-a-half times the current debt level and that the city would be paying a $2.4 million debt service for the next 20 years. He also questioned the legitimacy of the council when they said that they could "make a big killing" selling the current school buildings, but then have to build a new school because the elementary schools are "beyond repair."

"Which is it, are they worthless, or are they extremely valuable?" Flynn asked the audience.

Heating and utility costs, transportation costs and fees, and the credit rating of the city are other hidden fees that the new school will incur, he said. Flynn said that heat and utilities would cost more for a 'mega school,' as opponents have called it, than for all four elementary schools combined, as well being less efficient per square footage.

Catherine Michna, who has a first grader in the Newport school system, said she was a former teacher at a 'mega school.' She advocated for smaller schools, saying they are better for children and that they "maximize accountability."

Her presentation, "Perspective on Educational Outcomes," outlined reasons why children benefit more in smaller schools versus medium or large schools. According to Michna, children who attend small, neighborhood schools have better attitudes, higher attendance, score higher on standardized tests, are more likely to participate in extracurricular activities, have fewer behavior problems, and feel safer and more secure in their environment. There is also more parental involvement and small schools have higher teacher job satisfaction, said Michna.

"Mega schools lose the small, nurturing environment that thrives at small schools," she said.

Rosemary Slocum discussed the logistics of transporting 800 students to the new school, which will be located on the Sullivan School property. She told the audience to envision Pell at the end of the day with over 10 buses, and dozens of parents picking their children up from school. Slocum said that the concentration of students at one school would increase congestion on Dexter Street and would not accommodate for the extra parent and teacher parking.

Rosemary Slocum's daughter Jessica Slocum was also on the panel. In response to the superintendent calling the current elementary schools "old" and in need of repair, Jessica Slocum said "it's common knowledge that we live in an old town" and that "old doesn't equal bad."

Slocum also questioned the sustainability of the Pell school in relation to the existing schools, saying she did not see how it was more green.

"I don't see any proof of that . . . The most sustainable buildings are the buildings that are already built," she said, adding that the solution to the school district's problems is renovation.

"It's not too late to renovate our schools," she said. "A properly renovated school, regardless of its original construction, will have the same life span as a new school. . . Studies show it is generally less expensive to renovate an existing school than create a new one."

Cara Lane was the final speaker during the presentation. Lane has a child in kindergarten in the public school system. She said that the key points that make a successful school are "morale, safety and parental involvement."

Lane advocated for the sense of community and neighborhood culture that small schools offer.

School Committee member Rebecca Bolan attended the meeting, although she has said she supports the bond for the Pell school. Committee candidate Thomas Phelan is the only candidate who has openly opposed the plan for a new school.

Pattavina closed the meeting with a question and answer session for audience members, who mostly took the time to thank the committee and urge fellow votes to spread the world about voting against school. Newport will vote on the bond issue on Nov. 2. 

For more information on the Alliance for Neighborhood Schools, visit www.PellNo.com.