Senator Pearson celebrates the reopening of JJM Cumberland Hill Elementary School

Senator chaired task force that paved the way to address deficiencies

 

STATE HOUSE — Sen. Ryan W. Pearson (D-Dist. 19, Cumberland, Lincoln) attended the reopening ceremonies of the John J. McLaughlin Cumberland Hill Elementary School Friday evening. Senator Pearson chaired the task force in the Senate and led passage of the statewide school construction program providing critical funding to projects across the state.

“Cumberland is one of the first communities to benefit from the state’s new school construction funding, saving the town millions,” said Senator Pearson, who chaired the state School Housing Aid Task Force. “Cumberland Hill looks amazing and is ready for students with new learning spaces and technology. It would have not been possible if Cumberland did not move quickly, and I have to thank my partners on the school committee and town council especially Councilwoman Lisa Beaulieu and School Committee member Paul DiModica for their support to get these projects on the ballot where we secured almost 80% of voter support.”

Prior to Senator Pearson being elected to the Senate, the General Assembly had frozen all state support of school construction. Conditions deteriorated and concern grew over the number of schools across Rhode Island in need of modern, safe upgrades.

The 2013 task force led by Senator Pearson offered a bold, forward-thinking response to those key findings. The General Assembly took action requiring an assessment of schools across the state, creating the school building authority and offering unprecedented levels of state support to communities to renovate or replace schools across Rhode Island. The completion of JJM Cumberland Hill School is a key milestone in the town’s plan to update all Cumberland schools.

“I want to thank all of our teachers, administrators, students and parents who have been so flexible as school buildings are temporarily closed for renovation. It has taken a team effort and the energy of all to reach the finish line on this project,” said Senator Pearson.           

 

 

                         

 

President Trump will soon be celebrating the passage of his "big, beautiful bill" in Iowa. While at Joint Base Andrews today, Trump said the U.S. is going to take off like a rocket ship once he signs it into law. It cleared a final House vote after a few GOP holdouts switched their votes to "yes." Trump will be at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines to kickoff of "America250." It's a yearlong celebration ahead of the semiquincentennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.        Two cases involving transgender participation in women's sports are being taken up by the Supreme Court. It's a victory for conservative activists, who have been calling on the high court to step in, pointing to the protections provided under Title-Nine. The justices on Thursday said they will hear appeals from Republican leaders in West Virgina and Idaho, who will defend bans in their states.        More than 18-million passengers will be screened by the TSA by the time the Fourth of July holiday wraps up. A TSA spokesperson says fireworks are one item travelers absolutely cannot pack in their carry on or checked luggage. Anyone traveling without a REAL ID or compliant form of secondary ID should also budget extra time into their travel day since they will have to go through additional security checks.        Fourth of July festivities in Florida and parts of the Southeast are expected to be interrupted by severe storms. Florida has already seen showers and thunderstorms this week. It's due to a possible tropical system in the Atlantic that has a medium chance of developing over the next week.        Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. is being taken into custody by U.S immigration officials. The Department of Homeland Security announced he was arrested on Wednesday just days after he faced Jake Paul in a boxing match in Anaheim. The department said the arrest was in connection with an active warrant in Mexico related to organized crime, including trafficking firearms.        Liverpool and Portugal national soccer team star Diogo Jota [[ dee-oh-go joe-tah ]] and his younger brother are dead after a car accident in Spain. Officials believe a tire blowout caused their car to veer off the road and then burst into flames. The 28-year-old Jota married his wife and mother of his three children just ten days ago. He helped Liverpool win the English Premier League for the first time in five years this season.