TITLE 16

Education

CHAPTER 16-105

School Building Authority

SECTION 16-105-1



   § 16-105-1  Legislative findings. –

(a) The state of Rhode Island is committed to providing high-quality

educational opportunities for all public school students.



   (b) School facilities provide more than a place for

instruction. The physical learning environment contributes to the successful

performance of educational programs designed to meet students' educational

needs.



   (c) Every student needs a safe, healthy, and sanitary

learning environment that promotes student learning and development.



   (d) School construction policies should encourage districts

to reduce excess capacity through means such as partnering with other

districts, closing buildings, and altering grade configurations in certain

buildings to maximize the use of square feet.



   (e) In order to maximize limited state resources, the project

prioritization process should focus on projects with the most urgent and

immediate need.



   (f) State-funded school construction project financing should

transition from a system that largely reimburses local debt service to one that

provides a set amount of financing annually to provide greater stability from a

budgetary perspective while guiding limited resources to best use.



History of Section.

(P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 9, § 2.)