What New Schools Mean to Us

What do new schools mean to the Warwick population? What does it mean to the current school staff members? What does it mean to us?

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022,  the referendum for new schools was voted on by the voting citizens of Warwick, RI. This referendum would change the lives of the entire Warwick community. With 19,211 approving votes (58.7%) and 13,500 rejecting votes (41.3%) for the results. Much discussion was put into the decision. One of the main components that went into the final decision was the fact that these schools are around half a century old; clearly that students and staff that have been using these facilities are desperate for change. School assistant superintendent William McCaffrey, believes that failing to pass the school bond would be “giving up on the future of the city.” The price to rebuild the schools now is much cheaper than it will become in the future which is yet another positive aspect of voting yes on the referendum. Warwick voters have traditionally been overwhelmingly onboard with this bond, but this debate has been going on for almost 3 years. Why has it taken so long for the city to attend to the needs of the people of Warwick? The answer to this question is worry of the bond failing. Robert Cushman, a previous member of both the City Council and the School Committee, predicts that taxes in Warwick will go up by 25 to 40 percent with the added costs of both school rebuilds. While agreeing with the rest of the Warwick society that new schools are needed, the financial risk is much too high in his eyes to risk the overall failure of the bond. He’s not the only one who sees the financial downside of voting yes to the referendum. Activist, Robert Cole, believes that $350 million is too high a price to pay for the rebuilding of both schools. Overall the reasons for voting yes outweighed the reasons to vote no on the referendum. Now the students, staff and the majority of the Warwick voters, are overjoyed and excited for the future of the Warwick public highschools. Students of Warwick will no longer be subjected to classes and learning experiences inside of buildings that are falling apart. What do new schools mean to us? They represent a future of bright futures and possibilities. With new learning facilities come new inspiration and a happier learning environment. These schools will bring light and excitement to the city of Warwick. The future generations of children attending these new schools will be proud to represent them. The future staff members of these new schools will be proud to represent them. We, the current students of the old schools will be proud to know the future generations of our city are proud of the schools we started. Yes, maybe the taxes in the following years will go up but shouldn’t it be worth it? Shouldn’t the voters of Warwick be willing to make this small sacrifice for the children and families of our city? Isn’t this a price we are willing to pay? Isn’t this a fight worth fighting? The majority of the people of our city believe it is. What does this overall decision mean to us? What do new schools mean to us? What do these bright futures mean to us? What do these opportunities for our future mean to us? They mean ensuring the children and future generations of Warwick the clean new schools that will encourage them to learn and make the most of the opportunities available to them. They mean easier, healthier and more accessible facilities for our future families and future generations. They mean less stress for the future students, making it easier for them to focus on learning. When students are given everything needed to succeed, when there are no excuses available to them, success blooms. Our future is bright. The future of Warwick society and the people of this city, is very very bright. These new schools mean the world to the Warwick community. They mean the world to current and future staff members. New schools mean everything. New schools mean everything to us.

Source for Quotes:  Howell, John. “Advocates for, against school bond approval” Warwick Beacon, October 19, 2022  ttps://warwickonline.com/stories/advocates-for-against-school-bond-approval,181109 accessed 10 Nov. 2022.