Governor McKee, RIDE Join Lincoln Public Schools to Celebrate District-Wide Facility Improvements
Published on Thursday, May 08, 2025
Steel topping ceremony at Lonsdale Elementary signifies next phase of the district’s capital plan improvements
LINCOLN, RI — Governor Dan McKee, General Treasurer James Diossa, Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Lincoln Town Administrator Phil Gould, Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin McNamara, students, educators and community members were at the site of Lonsdale Elementary School on Thursday for the steel topping of the new facility currently under construction and to celebrate the educational facility improvements across the school district.
“Lincoln is serving as a leader in school construction in Rhode Island,” said Governor Dan McKee. “With renovations to the high school, elementary schools, and an added
physical education complex, students will have the opportunity to learn in 21st-century learning environments that will prepare them for the modern workforce. We are seeing them prioritize forward-thinking learning through STEAM and updated spaces, which highlights the importance of math education in line with our Math Matters RI initiative.”
“Modern, welcoming learning spaces are a hallmark of student success, no matter their zip code or background,” said Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “In Lincoln, school construction is being made a priority so students can have the best educational outcomes possible. They are also prioritizing the importance of STEAM education through new, state-of-the-art classrooms so students can excel, in alignment with the Math Matters RI campaign. RIDE is proud to be a partner in this work to unlock student potential and innovation. When we invest in Rhode Island students, we are investing in their futures.”
The Lonsdale Elementary School renovation, as well as construction at the other three elementary schools, is part of a historic approval from the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education in 2023 of nearly $1 billion in school construction projects. The bond for Lincoln school projects had the highest approval rate of any bond in Rhode Island that year.
“Today marks a huge milestone for the future of Lonsdale Elementary School. The steel topping ceremony signifies that this major project is coming to an end. A new school isn’t just about a building – it’s about the future of the students who will learn in that building," said General Treasurer James A. Diossa. “Every classroom, every hallway, every space is being designed to help students learn, dream big, and reach their goals. As General Treasurer, I am proud to support projects like this that create strong union jobs, improve education, and strengthen our neighborhoods.”
“The people of Lincoln should be proud — not just because of these renovations, which will provide new gymnasiums, dedicated STEM rooms, and renovated cafeterias to our elementary schools — they should also be proud of themselves,” said Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith. “The construction you see here today is an undeniable representation of a community’s willingness to invest in itself — in its education, in its future, and most importantly, in its children.”
In Lincoln, the construction at each elementary school will upgrade facilities to align with current RIDE standards and the 21st-century learning environment. Current gymnasiums are currently half the size of RIDE’s required guidelines and will be upgraded to be spaces where students can thrive during physical education and sports activities. Further, the creation of STEAM classrooms will align with Governor McKee and RIDE’s Math Matters RI campaign, placing an emphasis on the importance of mathematics education and improving math achievement. Cafeterias will also be upgraded with the support of the construction bond.
“Lincoln is paving the way for a thriving, modern education for all of their students,” said Board of Education Chair Michael Grey. “The renovation of the district’s four elementary schools signifies their commitment to setting students up for success. I commend the district and RIDE on their continued work to prioritize school construction.”
“In 2023, the Council was proud to approve $1 billion in school facility projects that included renovations to each Lincoln elementary school,” said Chair of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Patti DiCenso. “The upgrades to Lonsdale, Central, Northern, and Saylesville represent a significant investment in student futures, beginning with our youngest learners. Congratulations, Lincoln, on all of your innovative work.”
“The Town of Lincoln is proud to partner with RIDE and the school district to bring like-new learning facilities to our community,” said Lincoln Town Administrator Phil Gould. “I echo the gratitude of my colleagues for this collaborative effort in ensuring all of our students have access to modern school buildings. I look forward to seeing the finished products at all four of our elementary schools.”
“Lincoln Public Schools is proud to be a leader in innovative school construction, such as modernizing our gymnasiums and cafeterias at Lonsdale, Central, Northern, and Saylesville elementary schools,” said Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lawrence Fillipelli. “We are thrilled to be adding additional STEAM learning spaces so we can further prioritize mathematics learning and thus improve the skills of students across the district. I thank RIDE and all of the stakeholders involved for the opportunity to support our students through welcoming, modern learning spaces.”
In October, Lincoln broke ground on the new renovations at Central Elementary School. These projects are part of the next phase of the district’s capital plan that aims to renovating not only the four elementary schools, but the high school as well as a constructing a new physical education center and additional upgrades.
In 2017, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) released a Schoolhouses report completed by Jacobs Engineering, which estimated, at the time, the cost to improve school facilities statewide to be warm, safe, and dry would be more than $2.2 billion. In response to the assessment and the overwhelming need, RIDE’s School Building Authority (SBA) launched several incentives and innovative programs to support the construction of 21st-century learning spaces statewide.