New High School For Central Falls On RI State House Agenda

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island General Assembly is considering legislation that would authorize $120 million in borrowing to build a new high school in Central Falls, and another $24 million for other city school renovations.

The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by Sen. Jonathon Acosta, and the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday voted to advance the measure. The House Finance Committee on Wednesday heard its version of the bill as introduced by Rep. Joshua Giraldo. Both lawmakers are Central Falls Democrats.

Under the proposal, Central Falls would borrow $5.76 million if voters approve it in a November 2022 referendum. The state would provide its share up front, rather than having the cash-strapped small city front the money and then later seek reimbursement.

“We are not asking for more money than we are entitled to,” Giraldo told The Boston Globe. “We are simply asking that it be made possible to fix our schools and pay for our portion.”

Giraldo added that the 1927 high school building is in “extremely rough shape” with leaky ceilings, broken boilers, dirty drinking water, and many emergency repairs.

The Central Falls School Building Committee has been working on the idea for more than six years. The City Council on June 14 declared that it "enthusiastically supports" the construction of a new high school and supports the enabling legislation.

The city has partnered with the Rhode Island Department of Education, the Rhode Island Health and Educational Building Corporation, and the Office of the General Treasurer to compose the legislation, the council said.