Providence City Council set to vote on proposed charter school building lease

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Tonight, the Providence City Council is set to vote on whether to lease the Carl G. Lauro Elementary School building to charter school company Excel Academy.

The Federal Hill school closed in 2022.

Last year Excel proposed a 35-year lease.

Ahead of tonight’s vote, the Rhode Island Education Collective will hold a press conference outside city hall to nudge councilors towards approving the school.

According to the collective, the partnership between Excel and the Providence Public School District will “strengthen public education, revitalize an unused city asset, and create urgently needed opportunities for local students.”

The collective’s press conference is at 9. The council will meet to vote at 6.