The Renovation

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 Why Renovate?

• Retains Neighborhood
School Concept
– Small Schools (<200
students each)
– Clustered in
Neighborhoods
• What are the education
implications?
• What are the costs?
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 Small versus Moderate Sized Schools
Review of 13 Educational Studies on School Size
• Results are mixed
– Some favor small size for interpersonal relationships
– Some favor moderate size for improved academic
achievement
• Regardless of the size of schools, there needs to be a
personalization in the educational process
• Moderately sized schools (600 – 900 students) realize
the material gains of large schools without sacrificing
the interpersonal advantage of small schools
(Crosnoe, Kirkpatrick, and Elder, 2004)
– Creating and Upper (2-4) and Lower (PK-1) Elementary
School support nurturing interpersonal relationships 3
 Educational Benefits of Pell
School Plan
• Flexible differentiated student grouping
– Provides maximum student learning opportunity
• All students will be together as a community allowing
them to grow and learn together
• All students will have the opportunity to benefit from
increased before and after school program options
• All teachers will be able to work together to provide
the best education for students
– plan, collaborate, evaluate, and share ideas together.
• All reading and math specialists, family service
coordinators and health services will be located in one
place 4
 Construction Costs to
Renovate
2002 Costs* 2009 Costs**
Cranston $5,100,000 $6,488,624
Calvert
Coggeshall $4,100,000 $5,216,345
Sullivan $4,800,000 $6,106,941
Underwood $1,300,000 $1,653,963
$15,300,000     $19,465,873
*  The 2002 NESDEC report estimated renovation cost
**  Using a 3.5% annual inflation rate

Each School Would Take Approximately 2 Years

to Renovate; Entire Process Would Take
5
Approximately 8 Years
 20 Year Costs
Construction vs. Renovation Comparison
  Construction Renovation
Cost -$30,000,000 -$19,465,873
20 Year Interest (@5%) -$18,156,250 -$11,773,967
Revenues    
State Reimbursement $20,225,625 $0
Operational Savings* $21,029,107 $0
Property Sales & Tax
Revenues** $14,961,063 $0
Total Costs*** $8,059,545 -$31,239,840

*$800,000 Annually for 20 years at 3% Inflation

**20 Year Estimate Based on 2005 Tax Assessor Office Estimates
Assumes only Underwood, Cranston Calvert and Coggeshall; Triplet, Sheffield and Carey Also
Available for Repurposing
*** Over a 20 year period the renovation option is about $39 more expensive to own
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 Paying for the School Bond
Pell Elementary
School
Cost $30,000,000
Annual Payment @5% ($2,407,277)
Less 42% Reimbursement ($1,396,221)
Less $800,000 Annual
Savings ($596,221)
Annual Tax Rate Increase 1.06%
Median Impact $38.53
Less than 11¢ Per Day for the Median Home Assessment

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 Summary
• Renovation option is possible
– Maintains Neighborhood School Concept
– Has Significantly Increased Operating Costs
• Pell School Plan Provides More for Less
– Improved Delivery of Education Services
– $25M Less to Purchase and Operate Over 20 Years
• 42% State Reimbursement
• Over $800,000 Per Year Savings In Perpetuity
– Returns Additional Tens of Millions of Dollars to the
City
• Repurposing of 6 Former School Facilities
• Revenues Can Offset Costs for Water, Sewer, Roadway
Repairs
• The Decision Is Now Up To The Voters
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