5 Shocking Facts About Carl G. Lauro Elementary: The $1-a-Year Lease Battle That Rocked Providence

The fate of a historic Providence institution, Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, is currently at the center of a heated political and community battle, making it one of the most talked-about properties in Rhode Island's capital. As of December 2025, the school building remains vacant, its future mired in controversy following its closure and a highly publicized lease rejection.

The latest updates reveal a significant standoff between the city’s administration and the Providence City Council regarding the proposed use of the shuttered facility. This article dives deep into the school's history, the man it was named after, and the specifics of the recent, dramatic dispute over a $1-a-year, 30-year lease that has captivated local education and political observers.

The Man Behind the Name: A Carl G. Lauro Biography Profile

The elementary school is a lasting memorial to Carl G. Lauro, a figure whose public service and connection to the city of Providence, Rhode Island, were significant enough to warrant naming a major educational institution in his honor. While detailed records of his entire public life are extensive, the key biographical details cement his place in the city's history.

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• Full Name: Carl G. Lauro
• Date of Birth: April 8, 1926
• Place of Birth: Brockton, Massachusetts
• Early Life: Lauro moved with his family to Providence when he was just one year old, growing up in the historic Federal Hill neighborhood, the very community the school would later serve.
• Public Service Connection: Although the school was constructed before his birth, it was later renamed to honor his dedication to public service and the local community, specifically within the Providence Public School District (PPSD) and the surrounding area.
• Legacy: His name is permanently tied to the school building at 99 Kenyon Street, a structure that has served generations of students on the West Side of Providence.

The Shocking Closure and the State of Providence School Infrastructure

The Carl G. Lauro Elementary School officially closed its doors to students at the end of the June 2023 school year. This closure was not a result of low enrollment or academic failure, but rather a stark consequence of the building’s age and poor physical condition.

The historic structure, built between 1925 and 1927, was deemed no longer suitable for modern educational needs.

A System-Wide Problem of Aging Facilities

The closure of the Lauro School is a microcosm of a larger crisis facing the Providence Public School District (PPSD). Many of the city’s educational facilities are aging, requiring massive investment for repairs and modernization. The Lauro building, located in the prominent Broadway-Armory Historic District, was a prime example of this infrastructure challenge.

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The decision to close was part of a broader plan by the state-controlled education department to address dilapidated school facilities. This move sparked significant community concern, as the school was a central hub for families in the Federal Hill and West Side neighborhoods. The question immediately shifted from *why* it closed to *what* would happen to the now-vacant public property.

The Political Firestorm: The Rejected $1-a-Year Charter School Lease

The most current and contentious issue surrounding the former Carl G. Lauro school is the political battle over its reuse. This controversy highlights the deep division between city leaders regarding the role of charter schools in Providence’s educational landscape.

Mayor Smiley’s Proposal and the Charter Network

Following the school’s closure, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley put forward a proposal to lease the vacant building to Achievement First Rhode Island, Inc., a prominent charter school network.

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The terms of the proposed deal were highly unusual and immediately drew scrutiny: a 30-year lease for the historic public property at a cost of just $1 per year.

Achievement First planned to use the facility to co-locate two of its schools, addressing their own need for expansion while ostensibly putting the unused public building back into educational service. Proponents of the deal, including the charter network itself, argued that it would provide a much-needed, high-quality educational option for Providence families and ensure the building was maintained. [cite: 10 in step 1]

The City Council’s Dramatic Rejection

In a dramatic move that made headlines across Rhode Island, the Providence City Council rejected Mayor Smiley’s proposal in July (shortly after the school’s 2023 closure).

The councilors, including City Council President Rachel Miller, were staunchly opposed to the long-term lease, viewing it as a giveaway of public assets to a private entity. [cite: 13 in step 1]

The rejection effectively crushed the charter school expansion plan and left the fate of the 140,000-square-foot facility in limbo.

The Ongoing Battle for the Future of 99 Kenyon Street

The rejection of the Achievement First lease has not resolved the issue; it has merely intensified the debate over the building’s future. The facility at 99 Kenyon Street remains vacant, but the city has continued to explore options, indicating that the property is still an active point of discussion.

Alternative Proposals and Community Needs

Community groups and other educational organizations have weighed in, arguing that the space should be reserved for traditional public school use, particularly as “swing space” for PPSD students displaced by other ongoing infrastructure projects. The Rhode Island Education Collective has been vocal in advocating for the building to serve the local community directly. [cite: 6 in step 1]

Recent reports suggest that a different proposal involving Excel Academy was advanced by the Ordinances Committee, which would see the charter school use only half of the building, with the other half reserved for PPSD swing space. This compromise reflects the ongoing tension between using the space for charter expansion versus preserving it for Providence Public Schools.

Topical Authority: The Core Entities Involved

The future of Carl G. Lauro Elementary School is a complex issue involving multiple high-level entities:

• Providence City Council: The ultimate decision-maker that rejected the initial lease.
• Mayor Brett Smiley: The city leader who championed the lease proposal.
• Achievement First: The charter school network at the center of the controversy.
• Providence Public School District (PPSD): The system that needs the space for its own infrastructure plan.
• Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE): The state body overseeing the PPSD's facilities and infrastructure.

The Carl G. Lauro Elementary School building is more than just a closed facility; it is a symbol of the larger challenges facing urban school districts today—the need to balance historic preservation, modern educational requirements, and the political pressures of charter school expansion. As the debate continues, the community eagerly awaits a final decision on the fate of this historic Federal Hill landmark.