Rhode Island Education Collective Calls City Council’s Vote on Lauro Building “Shameful” and a Missed Opportunity for All of Providence’s Public-School Students and Our City
Rhode Island Education Collective founder and CEO Victor Capellan alongside families at Providence City Hall, July 25, 2025.
Providence, RI – In a move that put politics before our city’s kids and families, the Providence City Council voted not to approve the proposed 35-year lease agreement that would have allowed Excel Academy Rhode Island, a charter public school serving Providence public school students, to renovate and bring school-life back to the long-vacant Carl G. Lauro Elementary School in Federal Hill.
Rhode Island Education Collective championed this innovative partnership as a way to expand access to high-quality public education, ease the city’s financial burden, and revitalize a neglected public building. Under the proposal, Excel Academy and Providence Public School District (PPSD) students would have shared the building for five years while a new facility was constructed for Asa Messer Elementary School.
“This was a chance to say yes to students, to families, and to a smarter future for Providence. Instead, we are left with a building that continues to drain public resources while children are denied better options,” said Victor Capellan, founder and CEO of Rhode Island Education Collective. “We feel betrayed by the Council President’s reversal, and the council’s decision, which ignores the voices of families who showed up, spoke out, and called for change.”
The Lauro building at 99 Kenyon Street has sat vacant for two years, costing the city an estimated $700,000 annually in lost tax revenue, maintenance, security, and indirect economic impact. The lease would have brought more than $80 million in total investment over time, including Excel's rent payments, capital improvements, annual neighborhood beautification, and philanthropic support.
Excel Academy committed $14.35 million in capital improvements and Rhode Island Education Collective pledged an additional $1.25 million to make immediate renovations to the South Wing of the building, which would have supported PPSD students beginning this fall, at no cost to the city.
“This was a clear opportunity for collaboration—between district public schools and charter public schools, between city leaders and education advocates—and we are heartbroken to see that opportunity lost,” Capellan added. “But we are not giving up. We remain committed to standing with Providence families and fighting for more high-quality public-school options for every student in this city.”
Rhode Island Education Collective expressed deep gratitude to the families, educators, community leaders, and city council members who advocated for this vision with passion, courage, and urgency.
“We will continue to work toward solutions that put students first, and we hope our leaders will eventually meet the moment,” Capellan said.
Excel Academy: A High-Quality Option for RI Students
Excel Academy Rhode Island is a charter public school that is free to attend and open to any student from Providence, North Providence, and Central Falls, with the majority coming from Providence. The school ranks among the top 10 in Rhode Island for student growth in both math and English language arts. Ninety-five percent of students identify as students of color, and many will be the first in their families to go to college. Demand for Excel is high, with a 4:1 applicant-to-seat ratio and over 500 students on the waitlist.
About Rhode Island Education Collective
Launched in 2024, Rhode Island Education Collective is a nonprofit working to ensure that every child in our state—regardless of their race, economic situation or where they live—can go to a great public school. The Collective empowers the people who are part of our schools and neighborhoods, especially those historically marginalized by the public education system, to help create the change our students need.