On Aug. 27, students throughout the Providence Public School District lined up in front of their school buildings to begin a new year of classes. But as multiple schools undergo major construction projects, hundreds of these students kicked off their semesters in temporary buildings known as “swing spaces.”
These projects are part of a larger collaboration between the PPSD, the Rhode Island Department of Education and the city of Providence to ensure that every student throughout the district is attending school in a “new” or “like-new” building by 2030, according to the Rebuild PVD Schools website. The average age of a Providence school building, the website states, is 75 years old.
“All of our students deserve school buildings and classrooms that are bright, inviting and have the technology needed for 21st century learning,” the website reads.
Among the schools under construction are the Harry Kizirian, Mary E. Fogarty, Asa Messer and Robert F. Kennedy elementary schools.
Since 2023, the PPSD has received $500 million dollars in construction funding backed by RIDE. In April, the city of Providence announced that they were partnering with the PPSD on a $1 billion capital project to modernize school buildings.
The plan will include updates to heating and air conditioning, the development of new green spaces and security improvements, according to the announcement. Mayor Brett Smiley highlighted how these changes can benefit students, writing that “thoughtfully designed learning spaces, both indoors and outdoors, can enhance learning, engagement, creativity and well-being.”
Gabriel Long, a parent of a second grader at Asa Messer, is enthusiastic about these projects. “I think people get that when there’s a big fancy new building that has been built for them, that is really a sign that their community cares about them,” he said.
Long described the use of swing spaces as “a solid solution to a complex problem” that will “serve students well.”
“I think it’s smart of (the) PPSD to take advantage of this unique state funding opportunity to do as much construction as fast as possible,” he said.
But not all stakeholders are as happy about the construction efforts.
For its swing space, Harry Kizirian Elementary is using a former elementary school that has since been renovated, said second grade teacher Cindy Matracia. Although the school’s swing space is nice, teachers and families are upset about how the district has engaged families throughout the renovation process, she said.
To Matracia, the main issue is not teaching in the swing space itself. “It’s the fact that we (were) not asked for our input into the new building,” she said, arguing that the district failed to effectively engage teachers and parents in the planning process.
The location of the swing space has also posed challenges for families, Matracia said. While many kids used to walk to school, Matracia said the majority now take the bus. Additionally, family turnout at school events has decreased now that parents can no longer easily walk to the school, she alleged.
Matracia also shared that in the school’s new building — scheduled for completion in summer of 2026 — sixth graders will be combined with elementary school students. Because of this, Matracia alleged that the school will no longer be able to offer electives such as music and library for elementary school students due to a lack of resources.
The PPSD and RIDE did not respond to a request for comment about the community engagement process and the future availability of elective programs.
