Planning, Assessment & the Application Process

During the period November 2011 through January 2016, Warwick Public Schools was involved in the development of a long term facilities plan. Beginning with a community based Long Term Facilities Committee in November 2011 through Warwick Public Schools’ preparation of a Master Plan utilizing an outside consultant, the school department strived to create a long term plan that would be best for the students of the City of Warwick while meeting the fiscal constraints faced by the community.

According to Warwick Public School’s August 27, 2015 consultant’s report, prepared by SMMA, WPS faced an estimated cost of $276,308,843 to bring 26 buildings into acceptable levels of condition.

In the fall of 2016, the state of Rhode Island commissioned a state wide assessment of all school buildings in all 39 school districts within the state. On September 13, 2017, the state released their Facilities Assessment Reports.

According to the state of Rhode Island’s consultant’s report, prepared by JACOBS, WPS faced an estimated cost ranging from $190,018,965 to $239,231,492 to bring the same 26 buildings to acceptable conditions.

During the period 2016 through 2018, the School Committee took the necessary steps to consolidate a number of elementary and middle schools before beginning extensive building repairs. At the same time appeals to the City for Bond funding began, January 2016.

In January 2018 the School Committee developed a three phase plan to address repairing the school buildings that remained open. This web page provides historical information in support of Warwick Public Schools’ three phase plan.

PHASE I – Focus on the Most Pressing Issues

$40 Million Dollar Bond Approved by the Voters November 2018.

PHASE II – Focus on Middle & Elementary Schools

$56 Million Dollar Bond Approved by the Voters November 2020.

PHASE III – Focus on High Schools

Project Costs not yet determined. Target date for Voter Bond Referendum

November 2022. A new master planning consultant, Frank Locker, was completing

community surveys and preparing a recommendation for School Committee

consideration when the covid pandemic struck the state of Rhode Island in March 2020.

The planning process was suspended at that time. It is anticipated that the School

Committee will adopt a plan by June 2021.