Barrels of Paint and Sealant Removed from Hope High - Other Issues Persist As School Begins

Barrels of Paint and Sealant Removed from Hope High - Other Issues Persist As School Begins

A GoLocal story published on Saturday which unveiled that dozens of barrels of paint and sealant were dumped in the field at Hope High School sparked a cleanup at the site this weekend. 

The incident was just the latest in a series raising questions about the City of Providence’s ability to manage public buildings under its control.

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While the paint and sealant barrels have been carted off, many problems remain at the school including unfinished work in the interior, trash overflowing outside, and a parking lot littered with potholes. Trash was overflowing next to the school.

The grass where the barrels were dumped scarred the field. Mayor Jorge Elorza's communication director Emily Crowell told GoLocal, "Contractors and vendors are authorized to have a laydown site but they are responsible for securing and maintaining those sites and are subject to any violations associated with it."

The new school year in Providence begins at Hope on Tuesday, September 3.

Elorza announced that he is touring a number of Providence Schools on Tuesday, DelSesto Middle School and Franklin D. Spaziano Elementary School & Annex.

 

Contractors Scrambling

On Saturday, contractors were working at Hope High School’s interiors. It is well documented the numerous deficiencies in the school.

In March of 2018, Hope High School alumnus Tom Aquino appeared on GoLocal LIVE and outlined the deplorable condition of the school's auditorium.

"It all began when we were taking tours at the reunion -- I'd take them on tour and they'd see the horrible conditions it was in, and they were saddened," said Aquino of how the initiative got started -- and had the full backing of the school. 

The cost of fixing deficiencies at Hope High was estimated in 2017 to be $37,874,956.  The cost to replace Hope was estimated in the report to be $82,877,040. The number for replacing Hope may be underestimated as the cost of replacing Durfee High Schools in Fall River, Massachusetts, is estimated to exceed $263 million.

 

Barrels Dumped

GoLocal reported on Saturday that the areas adjacent to the tennis courts and fields at Hope High School in Providence were littered with dozens of 55-gallon barrels and other containers.

As GoLocal reported"

In the bushes are dozens of other containers. Most of the barrels and containers are marked with warning labels that the materials are “cancer causing” or “product not to be stored in direct sunlight.” 

The barrels are not secured — haphazardly dumped, some without tops. On some of the containers, the tops can be easily removed. Others have liquid in them and do have tops.

Just beyond the tennis courts is the school's track, and there is a playground at the facility about 75 yards away -- all accessible to the public. 

Some of the littered containers are marked, “Keep out of reach of children.”