State, City, and District Leaders Celebrate Beam Raising of New Frank D. Spaziano Middle School

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Providence Public School District (PPSD), Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), the City of Providence, and the surrounding community gathered on Monday, May 5 to celebrate the beam raising for the new Frank D. Spaziano Middle School. The event marked another major step forward in the District’s multi-year plan to ensure every student has access to a new or like-new learning facility by 2030.

RIDE Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez, Mayor Brett Smiley, members of the Providence City Council, the Providence School Board, and dozens of students, educators, and families joined in the ceremony, highlighting the collaborative

efforts behind the District’s $1 billion school construction initiative.

Spaziano Middle School is part of Providence Public Schools’ Phase III projects, which was approved by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education in May 2022, is backed by $146 million in funds including $140 million from a bond approved by Providence

voters in 2020, and an additional $6 million in RIDE Facility Equity Initiative funds. Phase II projects are in the design and development phase and include the development of a new Kizirian Elementary School, and new Spaziano Middle School. The budget for the new Spaziano Middle School is $34.5 million.

“The steel topping of Providence’s new Spaziano Middle School marks yet another step towards making sure all students in the capital city have access to the 21st century learning spaces they deserve,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “With the support of the state, the District is carrying out more school construction projects than at any other point in history, reflecting our deep commitment to delivering the modern learning spaces students and families have requested for decades. Through our partnership with the District and the City, we will continue to enhance and transform learning spaces to benefit generations to come.”

“We celebrate a significant milestone as we place the final beam on the new Spaziano Middle School. In Providence, we know that high-quality education starts with providing students with a safe, modern and welcoming environment,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “This new state-of-the-art facility will help us continue our efforts to create 21st-century learning spaces and will also be an integral part of the City’s Pre-K-8 model strategy, offering students the tools they need to succeed and ensuring they have a seamless transition from elementary to middle school. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this school will have on our community.”

“Spaziano is more than just a building project—it’s part of a citywide transformation of public education,” said Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. “We are building schools that reflect the brilliance of our students and the strength of our community.”

The new Frank D. Spaziano Campus, located at 500 Plainfield Street, will serve students from Pre-K through 8th grade in a newly constructed, state-of-the-art school building. It follows the successful openings of other recently completed campuses and ongoing

construction at Harry Kizirian and Fogarty PreK–8 Schools.

The Frank D. Spaziano Middle School campus is part of PPSD’s ambitious plan to ensure every student can learn in a new or “like-new” school by 2030. By investing in these new, innovative spaces, PPSD, RIDE, and the City of Providence are setting a new standard

for education in Rhode Island, with the goal of raising the percentage of Providence students learning in high-quality facilities from 5% to 100% by 2030.

The beam raising marks visible progress on one of the District’s cornerstone facilities projects. Once completed, the new Spaziano Campus will offer 21st-century classrooms, collaborative spaces, and student-centered design that supports academic achievement

and community pride.

Families, educators, and local officials signed the final beam before it was lifted into place, symbolizing the shared commitment to educational equity and excellence in Providence.

Providence Public Schools is committed to providing a world-class education for all students, preparing them for success in college, career, and life.