The Mayor, the Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs and the School Department collectively said “no thanks” to the governor’s 365 Learning Program that would have injected more than $5 million into a community center with programs aimed at education, health and workforce development. That, as it is developing, could end up being a good thing with even better outcomes for the city.

Last week the Mayor, School Superintendent Lynn Dambruch, Assistant Superintendent William McCaffrey and a CCRI delegation met to explore how CCRI, with the cooperation of the city and schools, could become a “sub grantee” to the proposal.

The city would be the grant applicant, but CCRI would be on the hook for complying with grant regulations and building a center. On Tuesday Picozzi said he would go along with the proposal on three conditions: that in some way it benefits Warwick citizens; that the city is under no financial obligations and that the School Department is aboard.

For the city to agree to build a community center and run programs meeting grant criteria for at least five years or return the funding “was just too big of a risk” for the mayor. However, he said he’s aboard if CCRI identifies the city. He said lawyers are working on such an agreement.

CCRI has proposed grant funds to renovate buildings on the Warwick campus other than the former Knight mansion and college structure — the conference center, carriage house and greenhouse — as community centers offering programs in the three targeted areas.

Last week Mayor Frank Picozzi texted he had decided to opt-out of the federal community center grant “that McKee had tied to his Learn 365 initiative.” Picozzi said “the centers had to be used for specific programs that we would have had to create, staff and fund for a minimum of five years.”

That was also the concern of Lara D’Antuono, executive director of the Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs who hosted a press conference on July 5 at the Oakland Beach branch of the club to where Picozzi and Gov. Dan McKee signed the Learn365 RI Municipal Compact. The club would have partnered with the city to meet grant requirements. At that time Warwick was the 18th community to sign onto the statewide program providing $4 million in grants to communities planning to expand learning opportunities to students. Because a number of communities refused to apply for the grants (grant awards are to be announced in December or early next year) the overall sum allocated to municipalities, which is now $81.7 million, will be mean bigger shares for municipalities remaining in the program. The amount going to Warwick would be in excess of $7 million.

D’Antuono said she spent hours reviewing requirement of McKee’s Learn365 initiative that to be funded by the American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. Federal regulations applying to the $81.7 million require that the money be spent on capital project. Additional requirements are that construction be completed by Oct. 31, 2026 and programs directly linked to the facilities remain operational for at least five years after completion.

“We really vetted this out and tried to find a solution,” D’Antuono said.

Factors considered included the sustainability of programs and the prospect funding allocated would have to be reimbursed if the programs ceased. In addition, the program carries extensive reporting requirements.

Amy Kempe, CCRI Executive Director of Marketing, Communications, and External Affairs said Monday if the program is approved by the Department of Administration Pandemic Recovery Office, “the college will work closely with Warwick Public Schools, the City, and other community organizations to build and deliver programs that support Warwick residents. CCRI is already doing this work in other jurisdictions and we knowhow to do this work.”

McCaffrey said he is putting together a committee of administrators and teachers to see whether what CCRI proposes “can support the students.” The committee would meet within the next two weeks.

“We will work cooperatively with the mayor’s office and the governor’s office,” he said, adding, “it sounds like CCRI has the support and is well equipped to do the reporting.”

“This is a lot of work the college is already doing,” said Kempe. She sees the program as deepening the existing relationship with the city.

How would it work?

The college has put together a plan that starts with a series of listening sessions, “to hear from area residents on the education programs, training, and support services they need. In addition, CCRI will partner with Warwick Public Schools to conduct surveys of students and parents on the programming needed to support improved outcomes and college readiness. CCRI will seat an external Community Leadership Board to build programming that responds to area resident aspirations and delivers educational, workforce, and health programming.”

For the educational component CCRO proposes both summer and afterschool math and English bridge programs taught by college math and English professors for high school juniors and seniors. In addition, the plan says that based on the parent and community engagement, the college could build and deliver other early college programs for Warwick students. Additionally, the plan proposes a partnership with the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority to increase FAFSA completion and using the college’s Tutoring Center for free after school tutoring for Warwick students.

The college has also mapped out initiatives to address the workforce and health components of the program.

The proposal reads, “CCRI's Division of Workforce Partnerships works in close collaboration with industry and business leaders to ensure the college’s offerings are meeting both current and future workforce needs. The division provides Workforce, Adult Education, and Transportation Education programs as well as Career Services and Employer Solutions in service to the Rhode Island community and beyond.”

Further on it reads, “In the area of business and technology, CCRI will provide in-person and online training classes to develop skills and computer knowledge, including Business Computing Applications, Court Interpreter, Customer Solutions, Health and Life Insurance, Mortgage Data Processor, Property and Casualty Insurance, Securities Industry Essentials, Technology Careers.”

In regards to health, the CCRI plan reads, “As part of the build out of the space, the college will design and build (2) private spaces to allow community members to connect with community-based mental and physical health professionals. In addition, as needed, the college will host vaccine clinics in the space and partner with community organizations to host community health information sessions to support healthy communities.

With the renovation of the existing greenhouse, CCRI will create a community garden to allow individuals to have access to inexpensive healthy foods.”