Plan to move a state hospital threatens the district's health careers programme

What happened

The superintendent told the School Committee that a state-hired consultant has recommended moving the Eleanor Slater Hospital's Zambarano campus out of Burrillville to the Pastore Complex in Cranston. Burrillville runs its certified nursing assistant course in partnership with Zambarano, a partnership he called a state model, and the district has a pending federal rural health grant application that leans on it. The committee backed a letter opposing the move to send to state legislators.

Why it matters to families

Students in the district's health careers pathway train at Zambarano, and some go on to be hired there with further study paid for. Moving the hospital would take that away and could put a large grant application at risk.

The evidence

The June 9, 2026 approved minutes record the superintendent reporting the consultant's recommendation to move the Eleanor Slater Hospital campus from Burrillville to the Pastore Complex in Cranston, his description of the partnership as a state model supporting career and technical education, the connection to a pending rural health grant, and his recommendation that the committee approve a letter in opposition. The decision itself rests with the state, not the district.

The source