Providence, Miami Officials Debate Charter School Leases on Public Properties

Miami-Dade County Public Schools is exploring a partnership with Barry University to lease land for a private K-12 tuition-based school, aiming to enhance educational offerings and serve underserved communities, though some board members expressed concerns about public perception and political risks. In Providence, Rhode Island, the City Council voted against leasing the shuttered Carl G. Lauro Elementary School building to Excel Academy Charter School, despite months of negotiations and community engagement supporting the lease. The proposed plan would have split the building between the charter school and a swing space for Providence Public Schools, with Excel Academy investing $14 million in renovations. The Rhode Island Education Collective advocated for the lease, emphasizing it would create opportunities and equity for local students, but council opposition, including from President Rachel Miller, cited neighborhood and city interests. Providence Public School Board President Ty’relle Stephens opposed the lease, urging delay until local control of schools is fully restored, highlighting ongoing tensions between charter expansion and public school governance in the city.