The East Providence eastbayri.com THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 PPostost VOL. 63, NO. 12 FREE Is it time for a new high school? RICHARD W. DIONNE JR. Students exit the main foyer of East Providence High School at the end of the day earlier this week. Next Monday evening, March 27, the school committee will conduct a special session at city hall where an architectural firm hired by the district in concert with the city will present a comprehensive analysis of the building's viability going forward. We Can Frame Anything. Over 3,000 Framing Options! Meeting will offer long Mon-Fri 9am - 6 pm Sat 9am - 5pm Closed Sun awaited analysis of EPHS 1387 Fall River Ave SLAM will offer its findings (Rt6) Seekonk, MA SLAM architects will at the meeting. The 508-336-8119 make presentation at presentation is expected to HAIR • NAILS • WAXING CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMING Like us on Monday, March 27, MEN • WOMEN • CHILDREN last between 45 minutes to session an hour. The company was 912 Broadway, Unit 2 • East Providence, RI hired following a joint 401-714-0722 melissamariehd.com BY MIKE REGO Request For Proposal [email protected] co-issued by the city and the Spring Specials Largest selection of The long awaited and school department late last beautiful moldings much anticipated analysis of year. ShellacTM the East Providence High Asked by Ward 4 www.framesofmindpictureframes.com School structure will made committee member Jessica $10 OFF Manicure be known to the public at a Beauchaine of what exactly Glass Repair ANY Color $ 00 FREE (up to 16” x20”) $25 OFF special session of the school the analysis will consist, We Will Replace Your Broken Glass committee to be held district facilities director SERVICE 19 In Any Stable Frame With Regular Custom Picture Framing Expires 4/17/17 Glass. UV Protective glass or Museum For Orders Over $100 Monday night, March 27, in Tony Feola said at a meeting New clients only. glass are optional upgrades. With Coupon. Not valid with any other discounts With Coupon. Not valid with any other discounts city hall at 7 p.m. or promotions. Expires 4/30/17 Expires 4/17/17 or promotions Expires 4/30/17 The architectural firm See SLAM Page 1 Page 2 The Post March 23, 2017 RIDOT announces plan to replace Pawtucket Ave. Bridge over I-195 Accelerated process to begin on March 31 Closure notes To The Post The following is a summary of RIDE's The plan to replace the next deteriorating plans for reconstruction of the span in city was formally announced earlier Pawtucket Avenue Bridge over this week when the Rhode Island Interstate 195: Department of Transportation set a n I-195 East and West Weekend Clo- schedule for the reconstruction of the sures: Lane closures and lane shifts will be needed. The closure details are Pawtucket Avenue Bridge over Interstate as follows: I-195 reduced from three 195. travel lanes to two in each direction The schedule for replacement, which from 7 p.m. Friday, March 31 through comes on the heels of the “accelerated” 6 a.m. Monday, April 3 program implemented last year during the n Weekend Closures: Merging distanc- reconstruction of the East Shore Expressway es will be reduced for traffic exiting and McCormick Quarry bridges, aims for and entering the highway just east of the bridge. The closure details are as completing the work as quickly as possible follows: The East Shore Expressway and minimize impact to motorists, on-ramp will be reduced from two pedestrians and area businesses. lanes to one. To complete the work in the 120-day n The second weekend closure is compressed timeframe, RIDOT will scheduled to take place the following institute a number of traffic pattern week, April 7-10. Additional closures changes. Lane restrictions for both the are scheduled to take place in late April/early May, early June and early bridge and I-195 will be in place throughout July. All weekend closures will follow the duration of the project. The most the same schedule (7 p.m. Friday - 6 disruptive restrictions will take place during a.m. Monday). RIDOT has established a series of eight weekend closures, the first steep fines in its contract language to scheduled to begin on Friday, March 31. prevent the closures from extending into the morning commuting hours RIDOT strongly recommends motorists each Monday. plan ahead, provide extra travel time and Traffic on Pawtucket Avenue over Interstate 195 will soon be diverted during most n Maps of recommended detour consider alternate routes. routes, including turn-by-turn direc- Construction is expected to be done in weekends when the Rhode Island Department of Transportation begins reconstruction of tions, will be posted on RIDOT's web- just four months. According to RIDOT, the bridge span there the weekend of March 31. site at www.ridot.net/detourmaps. All using traditional construction methods, it dates are weather-dependent and sub- would have taken two years to complete the "Although much different than the rapid RhodeWorks program provides the funding ject to change. To sign up for weekly updates on this or other RIDOT proj- work. bridge replacement project we finished last for us to rapidly erase bad bridges like this ects around the state, contact help@ Originally built in 1959, the Pawtucket fall in East Providence, this bridge shares from our landscape, and, more importantly, ridot.net. Visit www.dot.ri.gov or fol- Avenue Bridge is located between Warren the same fate - it had deteriorated to the brings Rhode Island's bridges into a state of low RIDOTnews on Facebook or Twit- Avenue and Grosvenor Avenue and carries point where we had to install timber blocks good repair so they never reach such ter for timely information on construc- 23,000 vehicles per day. It is one of the most to help support it and keep it open," RIDOT advanced states of deterioration." tion projects and traffic conditions. heavily traveled bridges in East Providence. Director Peter Alviti Jr. said. "Our The Post March 23, 2017 Page 3 Middle school upgrades approved, grad rate increase noted Committee back to 88 percent for students who entered the improvements to auditoriums, secondary level as freshmen in the fall of repainting projects 2012. Superintendent Kathryn Crowley credited Committee approves small hike the efforts of EPHS principal Shani Wallace, BY MIKE REGO her administration, the guidance [email protected] department and the district’s Director of to cost of school lunches EAST PROVIDENCE — The school Instructional Technology Rebekah Gendron committee at its meeting Monday night, for the improvement. March 20, confirmed a few more “Our goal is to increase it another four Raise of 10 cents to take effect East Providence students. Lunches at refurbishments to those already planned at percent next year until we reach 100 with start of 2017-18 term the elementary level will raise from both Martin and Riverside Middle Schools percent, and I really think we can get there,” $2.60 to $2.70 in September and from this summer when the body approved Mrs. Crowley said. $2.85 to $2.95 at the secondary level. repairs to the auditoriums at the buildings BY MIKE REGO The increase is $18 per student for the and a round of painting at each. No Guns in Schools [email protected] entire term. If an East Providence pupil Described by district facilities director The committee approved a policy Lunches in the district will cost in elementary were to purchase lunch Tony Feola, all of the seats in main halls of measure called the “No Guns in Schools” slightly more starting in the fall after the all 180 days of school, the cost would each school — 598 at Riverside and 754 at resolution, which forbids concealed school committee approved a 10 cent rise from $468 next year to $486. A Martin — will be completely replaced. The weapons from being carried on school increase for the 2017-18 term at its secondary student who buys lunch each price tag at Riverside is $99,332 and at grounds. The measure exempts law meeting Monday night, March 20. of the 180 days would see an increase Martin $121,884 or a cost of $163 per seat. enforcement. The need for the raise in costs was from $513 to $531. Bids for the work in both auditoriums, necessary to keep up with federal The committee voted 4-1 to support according to Mr. Feola, were the lowest the Legislative grant mandates issued by the United State the increase with Ward 2 representative district received during a recent Request State Senator Dan Da Ponte (D-Dist. 14) Department of Agriculture (USDA), Tony Ferreira casting the only dissenting For Proposal process. sponsored a legislative grant for the district according to district controller Michael tally. Likewise, the two lowest bidders were in the amount of $1,500, according to Mrs. Hubert. The USDA average price of Mr. Hubert told the committee prior approved for painting projects at the middle Crowley. The money, to be administered by lunches will increase from $2.76 to $2.86 to the vote if prices for lunches remained schools. Martin is due approximately district athletic director Gregg Amore, will this fall. the same, there would be a $17,000 $41,000 in refresher coats while painting at used by Riverside Middle School for Accordingly, the school committee shortfall on that line item in the district’s Riverside will cost about $32,000. improvements to the soccer field at the Rec. approved a similar 10 cent increase for 2017-18 Fiscal Year budget.