Snow Piles Hinder Student Access to Providence Elementary School

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A crossing guard at Carl Lauro Elementary School in Providence, Rhode Island reported having to physically lift students over large snow piles blocking the sidewalks in order for them to safely reach the school entrance. The school, which had closed in 2022 but reopened this year to house students from another school under construction, is facing challenges with snow removal in the area.

Why it matters

Ensuring safe access to schools is a critical priority, especially for young students. The snow accumulation and lack of timely clearing is creating hazardous conditions that could put children at risk. This issue highlights the need for improved snow removal efforts by the city to maintain walkable paths to schools during winter weather.

The details

Photos shared by a 12 News viewer, who is a crossing guard at Carl Lauro Elementary, show large snow piles blocking the sidewalks across the street from the school entrance. The viewer said she had to physically lift students over the snow banks to help them reach the school safely. As of Thursday morning, the sidewalks in front of the school had been cleared, but the sidewalks across the street remained covered in snow, forcing students to walk in the middle of narrow streets.

• The school closed down in 2022 but reopened this school year to house kids from Asa Messer Elementary while their new school is being built.
• As of Thursday morning, January 29, 2026, the sidewalks in front of the school were cleared, but the sidewalks across the street were still covered in snow.

What’s next

The city of Providence has extended the hours for its service line, PVD311, for residents to report non-emergency issues like potholes, missed trash pickups, and request plowing. The city will need to prioritize clearing the sidewalks around Carl Lauro Elementary to ensure safe access for students.