Providence council delays decision on lease of Laurel school to Excel Academy after hours of public comment

The Providence Ordinance Committee on May 12 continued consideration of a resolution that would authorize the mayor to enter into a lease with Excel Academy Rhode Island for the Carl G. Laurel school building, following a two-hour public hearing that included presentations from city staff, Excel representatives, teachers, parents and students.

Courtney Hawkins, chief operating officer for the city, told the committee the current lease proposal represents “a compromise” that she said secures roughly $2.5 million for renovation work on the Laurel building to benefit Providence Public School District (PPSD), creates a $50,000-per-year neighborhood investment fund to be directed by councilors and would provide ongoing rent income to the district’s capital revolving fund. Hawkins said PPSD will use the building as a swing space for about five years and that Excel has agreed to pay utilities and to cover large capital investments in the building while smaller repairs would be shared between Excel and the city. “If Excel doesn’t move into this building, it has some significant financial implications for the city and…