The Providence Public Schools Department maintains a website Rebuild Providence Schools (rebuildpvdschools.com) to keep the public informed about Capital Improvement Projects. A slideshow on the website details the projects planned and approved by the City Council and the School Building Authority which would be funded by the Bond Question up for approval in November. Approval by the School Building Authority means the projects qualify for partial State reimbursement of funds (share ratio) based on the year approved
Although the Rebuild Providence Schools website’s talk about having “over $500 million dollars to invest in modernizing our public school facilities” makes one wonder why the Providence Public School system is asking voters to approve an additional $400 million dollars to “to finance the construction, related demolition, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities throughout the city,” the 2022-Facility Reassessment (rebuildpvdschools.com) made it clear that “PPSD has over $900 million in building deficiencies throughout its 40 schools. As documented in the report herein, this cost has increased by approximately $300 million - from $600 million in 2017 to $900 million at present, which points to deteriorating conditions and the need for timely action.”
School Board Election
- Hybrid school board with 10 total members
- 5 elected board members from 5 equal regions of the city (North, South, East, West, Central) for a 4-year term
- Non-partisan elections in November 2024 (terms to begin in January 2025)
- 5 appointed board members by the mayor with a 3-year term
- No more than 1 appointed board member selected from the same region
- Board members will have no taxing authority
While the election of Providence School Board members initially created considerable interest, on August 29, 2024 the state Council on Elementary and Secondary Education approved that the state's oversight of the Providence school system continue, and the Providence School Board will remain advisory for up to three years.
The City of Providence's School Board Candidate Guide (pull down menus on the Board of Canvasser's page)
Regardless of the advisory status of the School Board the following candidates will be on the November ballot:
Region 1 (East)
Wards 1, 2, 3
Candidates: Herman B. Brewster, Michael L. Jefferson, and Corey Jones
Region 2 (North)
Wards 4, 5, 14
Candidates: Toni Akin, Kobi Dennis, Michelle Fontes, Andrew Grover, and Chris Ireland
Region 3 (West)
Wards 6, 7, 15
Candidates: Jenny Mercado, Jorge Porras, and Heidi Silverio
Region 4 (South)
Wards 8, 9 10
Candidates: Mireya Mendoza, Night Jean Muhingabo, Michael Nina, and David Talan
Region 5 (Central)
Wards 11, 12, 13)
Candidates: Deneil Jones and Ty’Relle Stephens
For some background on the candidates, see "The battle for the Providence School Board" - Rhode Map by Dan McGowan, Boston Globe newsletter June 27, 2024
