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Rhode Island Opens New School For The Deaf In Providence | Gov Monitor
Governor Carcieri today joined Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist, Representative Joseph McNamara, chairman of the House Committee on Health, Edeucation and Welfare, Senator Harold Metts, vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee, students, teachers, and parents at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Rhode Island School for the Deaf.
Construction on the 73,500 square foot project began in 2008 and completed before the start of the 2010-2011 school year. (The ribbon cutting ceremony was held later to allow students and teacher to acclimate to the new school and for final construction touches).
The School for the Deaf accommodates 168 preschool through 12th grade students in 23 classrooms including two science labs.
The project also includes the renovation of the school’s existing gymnasium and locker rooms.
“The Rhode Island School for the Deaf has long enjoyed a tradition of excellence, and today we start a new chapter for the School,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “The Rhode Island School for the Deaf is a valuable resource for our deaf citizens and the need for a new building was obvious.
With SMART classrooms and high-tech communications systems, this state-of-the-art facility will better meet the needs of both students and teachers alike.”
Design considerations unique to an educational facility for the deaf and hard of hearing include; classrooms designed to emphasize visual based education, enhanced acoustical design criteria, visual communication systems, and daylighting techniques to minimize glare.
“Many Rhode Islanders have played a role in support of the new School for the Deaf,” said Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist. “Even in these tough financial times, the Board of Regents saw a need for a new facility and the Regents gave it their full support. Leaders of the General Assembly backed this project from the beginning. Governor Carcieri has been a strong advocate for students with hearing difficulties and for all students with disabilities. Our Congressional delegation has worked to make sure Rhode Island gets its fair share of federal funds, particularly in support of students with disabilities. And the good taxpayers of Rhode Island have been generous in their support of public education, here and across the state. Today, we can say to the students at the School for the Deaf: Welcome home!”
Lena Greene, a former graduate of RI School for the Deaf and currently a teacher of the deaf and special educator at the school said,” “It is amazing to see how much better visual learners are adapting to the state of the art technology , like SmartBoards and the new communication system. The classroom environment here is crucial for teaching deaf and hard of hearing students.”
The project is expected to qualify for Silver Certification under the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Schools rating system. Sustainability features of the new school includes; increased insulation in the walls and roof, continuous air/vapor barrier system, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, energy star roofing, low flow plumbing fixtures, and low VOC finishes.
Envelope and systems improvements are designed to use 27% less energy than required by code and be in the top quartile of New England schools for energy efficiency by using 20% less energy than an average school in the region. Ventilation systems coupled with low VOC materials will improve indoor air quality while low flow plumbing fixtures will reduce water use by greater than 30%.
Governor Carcieri concluded by thanking all those involved with the project. “I would like to thank Rosemary Booth Gallogly and the Department of Administration’s Capital Projects and Property Management for overseeing and bringing this project to completion on time and on budget. I would also like to thank the Rhode Island School for the Deaf Building Committee for their vision, and RGB Architects, Bacon Construction, and Marchetti Consulting for designing and constructing this beautiful, green building.”
Governor Carcieri today joined Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist, Representative Joseph McNamara, chairman of the House Committee on Health, Edeucation and Welfare, Senator Harold Metts, vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee, students, teachers, and parents at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Rhode Island School for the Deaf.
Construction on the 73,500 square foot project began in 2008 and completed before the start of the 2010-2011 school year. (The ribbon cutting ceremony was held later to allow students and teacher to acclimate to the new school and for final construction touches).
The School for the Deaf accommodates 168 preschool through 12th grade students in 23 classrooms including two science labs.
The project also includes the renovation of the school’s existing gymnasium and locker rooms.
“The Rhode Island School for the Deaf has long enjoyed a tradition of excellence, and today we start a new chapter for the School,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri. “The Rhode Island School for the Deaf is a valuable resource for our deaf citizens and the need for a new building was obvious.
With SMART classrooms and high-tech communications systems, this state-of-the-art facility will better meet the needs of both students and teachers alike.”
Design considerations unique to an educational facility for the deaf and hard of hearing include; classrooms designed to emphasize visual based education, enhanced acoustical design criteria, visual communication systems, and daylighting techniques to minimize glare.
“Many Rhode Islanders have played a role in support of the new School for the Deaf,” said Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist. “Even in these tough financial times, the Board of Regents saw a need for a new facility and the Regents gave it their full support. Leaders of the General Assembly backed this project from the beginning. Governor Carcieri has been a strong advocate for students with hearing difficulties and for all students with disabilities. Our Congressional delegation has worked to make sure Rhode Island gets its fair share of federal funds, particularly in support of students with disabilities. And the good taxpayers of Rhode Island have been generous in their support of public education, here and across the state. Today, we can say to the students at the School for the Deaf: Welcome home!”
Lena Greene, a former graduate of RI School for the Deaf and currently a teacher of the deaf and special educator at the school said,” “It is amazing to see how much better visual learners are adapting to the state of the art technology , like SmartBoards and the new communication system. The classroom environment here is crucial for teaching deaf and hard of hearing students.”
The project is expected to qualify for Silver Certification under the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Schools rating system. Sustainability features of the new school includes; increased insulation in the walls and roof, continuous air/vapor barrier system, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, energy star roofing, low flow plumbing fixtures, and low VOC finishes.
Envelope and systems improvements are designed to use 27% less energy than required by code and be in the top quartile of New England schools for energy efficiency by using 20% less energy than an average school in the region. Ventilation systems coupled with low VOC materials will improve indoor air quality while low flow plumbing fixtures will reduce water use by greater than 30%.
Governor Carcieri concluded by thanking all those involved with the project. “I would like to thank Rosemary Booth Gallogly and the Department of Administration’s Capital Projects and Property Management for overseeing and bringing this project to completion on time and on budget. I would also like to thank the Rhode Island School for the Deaf Building Committee for their vision, and RGB Architects, Bacon Construction, and Marchetti Consulting for designing and constructing this beautiful, green building.”