We Can't Always Get What We Want

On October 10, the School Construction Committee heard the news we hoped would not come: the Master Plan work was estimated to be more than the $150 million approved a year ago. This is the work that will breathe new life into public education in East Greenwich Public Schools. It is long overdue as professionals work in closets, on stages, and in places that are simply not conducive to education. 

Unfortunately, the financial situation is not unlike what happens when work is being planned for our own homes. The first price rarely ends up being the final price. We are in a similar situation as we consider the next steps in the Master Plan. 

The good news is that everyone is preparing to compromise and work toward a solution. As EG News reported, the town is considering several options to bridge the gap. All the work outlined in the Stage II submitted to RIDE needs to be done. No one is saying that any building is more important than any other building. We need professional spaces in the elementary schools. We need a high school we can be proud of, and that has a functioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC).  

It's not either/or. It's all. All of the work needs to be done. 

So, we will all need to compromise. We will all need to manage expectations. We will all need to keep our eyes on the prize: $150 million to improve our aging school buildings, which this community will only have to repay $82.5 million. The State of Rhode Island put aside $2.2 billion in state aid for school construction. Contrast that with the state of Vermont, which also has critical needs when it comes to infrastructure in public education. There is currently no state aid in Vermont. If a school system wishes to upgrade its public schools, the individual towns are on the hook for the entire amount. 

Do I wish there was more money? I do. So does everyone. Our Town Manager, Andrew Nota, led off our Spring Forums in 2023 at Cole Middle School, stating the same thing. We all wish there could be improvements to all our buildings, encompassing everything we need. That's not the case. 

Community members voted in favor of the bond because of the work outlined in Stage II for the high school. Community members voted in favor of the bond because of the work outlined in Stage II for the elementary schools. Community members voted in favor of the bond. 

To modify a quote from one of my favorite baseball movies, Field of Dreams: If we build it, they will come, and more will stay.