PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Students and staff at Pleasant View Elementary School celebrated renovations that were recently completed and allowed it to reopen as a “like-new” facility this fall.

The renovations were part of the district’s $1 billion school facilities plan, of which the goal is to put every student in a new or “like-new” building by 2030.

R.I. Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said the district has come a long way since creating its new facilities plan.

“When we started this endeavor it was just about keeping kids safe, warm and dry, and now it’s about transforming space,” Infante-Green said on Monday.

New furniture, windows, an upgraded security system, new cafetorium, indoor therapy play area, library media center and brand-new HVAC system were among some of the changes included in the $18 million renovation.

The district’s 2022 school facilities report reveals a significant number of Providence elementary schools were at “replacement level,” lacking green spaces and other features needed for 21st century learning.

But the district has been making progress.

Pleasant View is the fourth new or like-new school building that has opened in the past two academic years.

Infante-Green said what’s sped up the process significantly is the use of swing spaces.

The Narducci Learning Center – where Pleasant View students learned last year – is one of them.

“Providence was one of the few spaces that didn’t have swing space so the construction was happening during the day. It was going to take twice as long,” Infante-Green said.

Renovations at Classical High School are still underway.

The Harry Kizirian and Mary Fogarty Elementary Schools are also making a change . Both are transitioning from elementary schools into schools that serve PK-8 students.

Alexandra Leslie ( aleslie@wpri.com ) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook .

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