Committee members oppose continued use of school building

[Guest guest]

Committee members oppose continued use of school building

Hamilton January 17, 2002

PAWTUCKET -- Two school committee members resumed their push for a new

school Tuesday, insisting that the former Our Lady of Consolation school

building rented by the School Department is severely inadequate.

Committee member Busald -- with the support of fellow member

Chmielewski -- asked that the committee postpone renewing the school lease

while problems at the school are investigated.

Among the problems listed in a memo from the school principal were broken

ceiling tiles and mold in the basement classrooms.

" This is outrageous, and we're lucky we're not being sued, " Busald said at

Tuesday's committee meeting.

Both Busald and Chmielewski are members of the Space Needs Advisory

Committee that spent months last year seeking a location for a new school,

as well as looking for support from city officials.

School officials say they need a new school to solve a classroom crunch in

the city.

The panel hasn't met for months after it became apparent it had only mild

support from City Hall and the City Council, which would have to endorse

plans to build a new school before it became reality.

Complaints about the former Our Lady of Consolation School -- now known as

the Webster Street School -- are nothing new.

In fact, the Space Needs Advisory Committee was formed in October 2000 after

the School Committee expressed concerned about continuing to rent the school

to house 200 students.

But a year later, the situation hasn't changed, Chmielewski lamented

Tuesday.

The committee was considering the $93,000-a-year lease Tuesday because the

lease had to be renewed by March for the 2002-2003 school year.

Busald and Chmielewski noted that students have to cross a parking lot to

use a cafeteria in another building, and students can't play basketball in

the gym because of low-hanging fluorescent lights.

" These students are being deprived of the services we provide to students in

every other school, " Chmielewski said. " I call that discrimination. "

" We should be able to put our classrooms in our buildings, " he continued.

" You have to draw a line in the same and tonight's the night to do it. "

Some committee members sounded sympathetic, but added that they had no

choice but to lease the school for another year because there are no other

classrooms in the city.

" What's my alternative? " asked Committee Chairman Spooner.

The lease was renewed by a 5-2 vote, with Busald and Chmielewski dissenting.

Schools Superintendent Hans Dellith acknowledged that the School Department

would need Webster Street School for the 2002-2003 school year --

particularly because it would not be until November that a school

construction bond could be placed before city voters.

But Dellith said that he's learned that Congressman Kennedy is

investigating the availability of federal money to help finance

construction.

A Kennedy spokesman confirmed that Wednesday, but added that it was in " very

preliminary " stages.

Not everyone agreed that a new school is needed.

Committeeman Jon pointed out that the enrollment in the lower

elementary grades has dropped, and he said the most recent U.S. Census

figures may show the School Department will experience reductions.

He chided the advisory group for a " lack of planning. "

" I have never seen any committee come forward and analyze those census

figures, " he said.

©The Pawtucket Times 2002

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