Virginia Lee At The Opening Of The New Chariho Alternative Learning Academy Building
Representatives from the state, Chariho officials, students, and Town Councilors from the Chariho towns of Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the district’s new alternative learning building. Town Council President Virginia Lee spoke at this ceremony along with Superintendent of Schools Barry Ricci, school committee members, other Town Councilors and others. Below are Virginia’s comments from the event.
“It is thrilling to be here to witness the opening of the Chariho Alternative Learning Academy building. With incredible vision and a lot of hard work by Superintendent Barry Ricci and Chariho staff, as well as the School Committee, this wonderful new facility rises from the ruins of the old rented trailers that were deteriorating, did not meet numerous state and federal codes, and did not provide an equitable educational environment for the students.
As a Charlestown Town Councilor, I remember when the School Committee came to our meetings with a very clear presentation to give up renting substandard trailers and build a new permanent facility as part of the middle school. You were very persuasive in building our support and that of the voters for this new and better opportunity – a new facility that is much more efficient financially and much more effective academically. I know you made a big effort to inform and rally the community in each of the three Chariho towns. Thank you for all your hard work.
I am proud of our cooperative efforts and commend Superintendent Ricci, staff, teachers and school board for your leadership in making the Chariho regional High School #3 in the state of Rhode Island and a silver medalist in the 2018 Best High Schools in the US by US News.
I am proud of our citizens who value quality education for all our children and support our public schools.
I am proud that now we have a state of the art alternative learning program so that Chariho serves all students including those who are struggling academically in traditional schooling. The building and the teaching within it will provide these students with skills to improve their academic performance, increase their self-esteem and personal responsibility for the future.”
You can learn more about Virginia at her profile page.
You can learn more about the new building at https://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/sites/default/files/ryse_faq_final.pdf