New Pawtucket High School would combine Shea, Tolman, Career Tech at McCoy Stadium site

Ad Hoc Subcommittee Votes Unanimously To Recommend School Committee Move Forward With New Pawtucket High School Campus Concept

Concept would create a state-of-the-art new high school with integrated Career Technical Education pathways on city-owned site of former McCoy Stadium

Members of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee To Study High School Academic Complex voted unanimously to recommend that the School Committee move forward with the concept of a new, state-of-the-art Pawtucket High School Campus, including fully integrated Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway spaces, on the city-owned site of the former McCoy Stadium.

Meeting over the course of 4 months and 8 public meetings, members of the ad hoc subcommittee –representing a broad array of stakeholders including teachers, administrators, the School Committee, City Council, and the Mayor’s Office – assessed and developed the concept of a new Pawtucket High School campus to be built at the former McCoy Stadium site. Working with school facilities consultant Colliers International and SLAM architects, the subcommittee voted to recommend a 482,500 square foot Pawtucket High School campus concept that would accommodate 2,500 students at an estimated cost of $302,507,500.

“The concept for a new, state-of-the-art Pawtucket High School and integrated CTE campus that has been developed by the ad hoc subcommittee is an inspiring opportunity to invest in our city’s students for decades to come,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien. “Our students deserve a modern, 21^st century learning environment that prepares them for success, and I am confident that is exactly what this concept will do. This project would take advantage of a city owned asset, turning the now sadly vacant McCoy Stadium site into a vibrant campus for learning, career exploration, athletics, and community activities. This project is a priority for my Administration and I thank the members of the ad hoc subcommittee for their work vetting and developing the concept to this point.”

“The diverse members of the ad hoc subcommittee came together starting in September to explore if a new Pawtucket High School and CTE campus was a feasible, desirable, and affordable possibility in terms of student learning, the City’s bonding capacity, and Rhode Island Department of Education school construction reimbursement policies,” said subcommittee Chair Jay Charbonneau. “I am pleased to say that the concept that has been developed and unanimously recommended by the subcommittee is a bold vision for the type of 21^st century learning environment that our students deserve.

The Pawtucket High School campus concept would be the most modern high school learning environment in the state, with room for exciting new CTE career pathways, state-of-the-art classrooms, arts and performances spaces, athletics fields, and shared community spaces. I will be presenting the recommendation of the subcommittee and the new Pawtucket High School campus concept to the full School Committee in the coming weeks for further review and public input.”

“As the City Council’s representative on the ad hoc subcommittee, and as the Councilman for Ward 3 where this project would be located, I am excited about the Pawtucket High School and CTE campus concept that has been developed over the past 4 months,” said Councilman Terrence Mercer. “A new Pawtucket High School campus at the former McCoy Stadium would breathe new life into the area while providing our students with the 21^st century learning environment they deserve. The subcommittee has looked extensively into the concept’s educational and financial feasibility, and we collectively agree that this is a project the School Committee should seriously consider.

Over the coming weeks, my Council colleagues and I will also continue our work to ensure that Pawtucket has the bonding capacity to move forward on this and other critical Pawtucket school facility modernization projects. We are already a state leader in the thoughtful and prudent modernization of our school buildings, and a new Pawtucket High School and CTE campus has the opportunity to be a shining example of our commitment to future generations of Pawtucket students. Finally, I want to thank all of the members of the subcommittee for working together collaboratively to develop this exciting concept.”

Editor’s Note: While there are some ideas about development of the Tolman High School site and the West High School site, the city is not yet ready to talk in detail about them.