Providence City Council approves 25-year lease for public charter school

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence City Council voted to approve a 25-year lease for between the city and a local public charter school.

In an eight-to-five vote, councilors approved Mayor Brett Smiley entering a new agreement with Achievement First Rhode Island, a public charter school based at the former Charles N. Fortes Elementary School on Daboll Street.

The terms of the new agreement provide Achievement First RI with an initial five-year lease with the option of four, 5-year extensions.

The agreement also contains several oversight measures and benchmarks Achievement First is set to meet, including:

• Achievement First will pay the city $1 a year in rent
• Achievement First agrees to allocate a minimum of $2.5 million at the property for capitol improvements, maintenance and upkeep
• Achievement First is required to conduct a needs assessment and improvement plan during each five-year period
• Achievement First will provide annual progress reports to the City Clerk on capital improvement work throughout the life of the lease

To see the full lease agreement between the city and Achievement First Rhode Island, click here.