Pawtucket Breaks Ground On New Winters Elementary School

PAWTUCKET, RI — State and city officials gathered Wednesday morning to mark the groundbreaking for a new elementary school geared toward STEAM education — that is, science, technology, enginereering, arts, and math.

Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner and House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi joined a host of others under gray skies in celebration of the planned ground-up rebuild of the Henry J. Winters Elementary School.

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The old building will be demolished over the summer, and a state-of-the art school facility will take its place. The School Committee approved design documents back in September.

Mayor Donald Grebien said it's yet another step in the city's commitment to overhaul and upgrade all of its public schools. Following work at Potter-Burns and Nathanael Greene elementary schools, Winters will provide a brand new STEAM facility for students.

A rendering of the planned Winters Elementary School. (City of Pawtucket)

"This has been years in the making, and we are pleased to finally see the project underway. I know that we all look forward to when this project is completed and a conducive learning environment is provided to our children," Grebien said, while thanking everyone who helped make it happen. “We are working to provide the best tools for our students to succeed.”

Shekarchi said in 2018, when he was majority leader, he was proud to support a $250 million statewide school construction bond to make critical improvements to aging facilities.

“The groundbreaking we are celebrating today is an example of why that funding is so important. When Henry J. Winters Elementary is rebuilt, it will be the state-of-the-art facility our students deserve,” Shekarchi said.

“Every child deserves facilities that are warm, safe and dry and that prepare them for a future of success,” said Magaziner, co-chairman of the state's School Construction Task Force. “As a former public school teacher, I know firsthand the deep and lasting impacts facilities can have on a student’s ability to learn.”

“It’s an exciting day in the City of Pawtucket,” said Governor Dan McKee in a statement. “We know that the jobs of the future will require a strong STEAM education foundation. I’m proud that students at Henry J. Winters Elementary will soon have access to this state-of-the-art building." McKee said the groundbreaking is one more step towards Pawtucket’s revitalization and that he looks forward to the ribbon-cutting.

The city has advanced the $49 million project with Colliers as Owners Project Manager, Gilbane Building Company as Construction Manager at Risk, and S/L/A/M Collaborative architects.

“We have shown that we are dedicated to our students,” said Pawtucket School Committee chairman Gerard Charbonneau. “These investments and new facilities help to better the learning environments of our students." Charbonneau thanked the city's taxpayers for supporting the investment.

Pawtucket voters approved major bond referendum questions in 2018, including $220 for school rehabilitation. All 17 of Pawtucket's public school buildings have received major health and safety upgrades in the past two years.

The anticipated date of completion for the Henry J. Winters Elementary School project is in summer of 2022.