LETTERS

‘In reality high performing schools increase property values’

Posted 8/3/22

To the Editor,

I attended the Warwick School Department informational presentation on the benefits of building two new high schools to replace Pilgrim and Tollgate.

The superintendent disclosed …

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LETTERS

‘In reality high performing schools increase property values’

Posted

To the Editor,


I attended the Warwick School Department informational presentation on the benefits of building two new high schools to replace Pilgrim and Tollgate.

The superintendent disclosed the primary reason Toll Gate needs to be torn down and rebuilt, is so the students in that section of the city will have “equity” with the students attending the new Pilgrim High School.

Is this the new standard in Warwick? If Warwick decides to build a new elementary school in one section of the city, are we going to be forced to replace all elementary schools to maintain “equity” throughout the city?

Should Warwick really be demolishing 50-year-old Toll Gate High School because some parents and kids will feel slighted that other students in the city can go to a brand-new high school?

The term “21st Century Learning” was constantly referenced throughout the presentation. I guess students at Hendricken, Classical, and East Greenwich High School, all high-performing schools, will not receive a 21st Century Learning experience in the old buildings they attend? Warwick has many schools that are older than Pilgrim and Toll Gate. Does that mean that students in those schools are receiving an inferior education?

In Narragansett, the Warwick superintendent’s hometown, Narragansett high school is approaching fifty years of age. Equivalent to the age of Toll Gate. Narragansett high school test scores are far superior to Warwick high school test results. Will the superintendent be advocating for the Town of Narragansett to construct a new high school so students in her hometown can experience a “21st Century Learning Experience”?

A few years ago, Warwick Veterans was repurposed as a middle school in Warwick. Millions of dollars were spent on upgrades to the building. Because of the building age, does that mean that the students in Warwick Vets will not receive “21st Century Learning”?

School handouts indicate that “excellent public schools, drive property value”. In reality excellent test scores and high performing schools increase property values.

If you have ever sat through a Time Share Presentation where slick marketing make it appear that buying the property was a no brainer, without consideration whether you could afford it. The  school department presentation would have you believe that the two new high schools come with little cost.

Nothing explained the overall impact of combined city and school spending will have on your property taxes. The large pictures showing a couple of hundred dollars in increased property taxes was deceptive.

When you pay your next property tax bill do you make out multiple checks to the city and school department. One to cover the police, fire,  DPW and school department expenses? Will a separate check be written to pay for the new high school debt?

One check is written to the city of Warwick to cover the overall city and school operating expenses which include every new dollar needed to provide city and educational services.

Why not present to property owners the total increase in taxes that will be needed to build two new high schools, maintain current city and school spending levels and eliminate the $14.8 million deficit.

The only reason you have not seen property taxes increase over the last few years is that Warwick is using tens of millions of dollars in one-time federal COVID stimulus money, that’s running out. It’s not because of any fiscal restraint on the part of Mayor Picozzi, the majority of the Warwick City Council, or the Warwick School Committee.

With the revaluation occurring next year and the tens of millions of dollars in new revenue needed to pay for all of this spending, many homeowner’s property taxes will increase by thousands of dollars a year with overall taxes increasing by approximately 25 percent by the time the construction of the two high schools are completed.

Join my Facebook page, “The Taxpayer’s Spin” for alternative solution I will be proposing to pay for these new schools without breaking Warwick taxpayers backs.


Robert Cushman

Warwick

letters, editorial

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