Please save the date: June 4, 2024.

On this day, Cranston will have a special referendum vote and there is only one item on the ballot, a question asking approval for the city of Cranston to issues up to $40 million in bonds for the Cranston School Department.

Why is the Cranston School Department asking for a special election and not waiting for the November election? The answer is simple, higher reimbursement rate from the state. The projects this bond will cover must be approved before June 30, 2024. This will allow Cranston to apply for, and most likely receive, a reimbursement rate of up to 74%!

As a result, a $40million bond will net out to a final cost to the taxpayers of $10,400,000. This is a once in a lifetime offer to complete some projects at a greatly reduced cost to Cranston.

What will this bond cover? Quite a few things:

• The completion phase III of Eden Park School. The school has a remodeled wing and new cafeteria and gym, it is time to finish the lower wing.
• The refurbishing of the parking lot at Cranston High School West.
• The installation of a new HVAC system at Cranston High School East.
• replace some floors in our elementary schools.
• the completion of Gladstone School, which is now being built.
• Finally, it will be used for the purchase and remodel of Cranston’s third high school, Apprenticeship Exploration School (AES).

The purchase and remodel of the AES school has been somewhat controversial, it should not be. This facility, which is the only one of its kind in the state, provides an opportunity for students to learn a valuable trade. AES students also can enter the workforce upon graduation to a high paying job. This school provides students to learn directly from those who build things, for example they recently built cement bridges in their lab. If you have been following the news, this is a skill that will be in huge demand soon. However, this facility needs to be upgraded and modernized to allow the students the opportunity to also complete the required high school education in addition to a trade, however, the building is not conducive to this process. These updates will greatly improve the experience for these students. Also, there is not another facility in the city where this could be taught. The students at the AES school deserve the same learning opportunities as every other student in Cranston.

As member of the Cranston School Committee, I am in support of this bond and ask that you also take a few minutes on June 4 to vote YES for Cranston Schools to continue to lead the way in Rhode Island.

Domenic F Fusco Jr

Cranston school Committee Ward 3

Cranston School Committee Vice Chair