School Committee, Town Council Focus on Future of Pell School and Career and Technical Center

The Newport City Council and sat side by side during a joint meeting Wednesday night at City Hall, where they discussed issues revolving around the new elementary school and the sale of the on the campus.

Before diving into the bigger issues, Chairman Patrick Kelley took time out to acknowledge Newport's accomplishments.

“We've had raising graduation rates . . . and Principal of the Year. A lot of people should be proud of Newport regarding public schools," he said. "It's time for families to think about sending their kids back to public school instead of private."

Mayor Stephen Waluk turned the conversation towards the and asked for a time line for completion. School committee member Jo Eva Gaines said the committee is currently in stage two of the process with two possible completion dates. The relaxed date would have students in the school by fall 2013 and a more aggressive date would have the school complete by January 2013. To be in accordance with the Rhode Island Department of Education, the school must be open by June 2013.

The council and committee were in agreement that it would be better to complete the school sooner rather than later, as it would be more cost efficient.

“We will save in the end and it might give us that option of putting in more energy initiatives, but can't afford to do right now,” Gaines said.

Councilor Henry Winthrop set an even loftier goal: to have the elementary school ready by September 2012.

“We need to make a decision on the design so we can get the bid in place," noted Kelley. "We need to not be wasting time and we need to deliberate and debate and make a decision."

Gaines said that there will never be a design that receives unanimous support, but the community has given their input. She said if the committee does not make a decision soon, “the project will not materialize.”

During the second half of the meeting, the school committee briefed the council on why the Newport Area Career and Technical Center should be transferred from state to city property.

Kelley said Rhode Island has been getting rid of technical centers statewide.

“This is our central office, where we do business," said Superintendent John Ambrogi. "We're getting funds from state, a very favorable dollar amount, and will be able to do repairs on the roof, as well as a number of things to upgrade the building. The state hasn't done any of those things.”

Funds for repairs, including fixing the roof, total approximately $1 million.

Gaines added that if the school owns the property, the committee can decide what goes there. Currently the center houses administration as well as trains students for careers in cosmetology, culinary arts, construction, and auto shop.

“If we did not have that building I don't know what we'd do with the school administrative offices and the alternative program. . . There are specialized programs that exist there. It would cost an inordinate amount to take those programs and move them someplace else. I think the timing is right,” Ambrogi said.

Despite Ambrogi's good feelings on the timing of the sale, Waluk said he remained skeptical.

“They want to get rid of the building, there has to be a reason why," he said. "What's in it for us?” 

The school committee said it will provide the council with a detailed cost analysis with the pros and cons of transferring the building at a future meeting.

The school committee will meet for their regularly scheduled meeting next Tuesday in the Newport Area Career Technical Center at 7 p.m. The next city council meeting will be Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m.