09/08/2026
🏫 DO OLDER SCHOOL BUILDINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE OLD?
No. A school’s age does not determine the quality of the teaching inside it, and CPS is not proposing that schools such as Cranston East or Bain (for example), be replaced simply because they are historic buildings.
Many of our older schools have strong structures and have served generations of Cranston students. Preserving them, however, requires maintaining and eventually replacing the essential systems that protect and operate them.
The March 2026 building assessment, which was presented at the joint meeting of the Cranston School Committee and Cranston City Council on March 4, 2026, documented approximately $265.7 million in needs across CPS facilities. The five largest categories are HVAC systems, site work, roofs, building exterior, including doors and windows, and flooring.
The City has allowed the district a $25M bond in the upcoming election.
At Bain alone, the assessment identified an estimated $3.3 million roof replacement and approximately $2.5 million in HVAC needs. Its boilers date to 1971, replacement parts are no longer available, and one unit was documented as out of service and leaking.
These are not cosmetic classroom renovations or plans to erase the history of beloved schools. They are essential projects intended to keep existing buildings safe, dry, heated, secure, and operational.
Strong buildings are worth protecting, and protecting them requires addressing critical systems before they fail.
