EAST PROVIDENCE — Though significantly different in scale and, most noticeably, price, the scope of a recently completed Southeastern Massachusetts building is being used by local supporters in their effort to construct a new East Providence High School.

Plymouth South High School is the prototype upon which backers of a similar effort in city to replace East Providence’s 60-year-old secondary education building, the initial schematics calling for the construction of an all-encompassing campus with a 330,000 square foot building here to potentially house as many as 1,600 students at a cost of approximately between $180 million to $190 million.

Addressing the topic at a recent school committee meeting, East Providence Superintendent Kathryn Crowley referred to Plymouth South as the “perfect model” for a new building in city. She noted, however, though close in design, Plymouth South was a slightly smaller version than what is needed in city and was contracted to be built some four years ago at a substantially lower cost of $110 million.

But like Plymouth South, the proposed comprehensive new EPHS would include career and technical center curriculum within its walls, instead of the current detached position. In addition, among other things, a larger gymnasium component and accoutrements like a “black box” theater, enhanced cafeteria space and fitness area would allow for significantly more access to the community at large.

Also, from an athletic perspective, like Plymouth South, artificial turf fields for outdoor sports are included in the EPHS update, along with an improved track, tennis courts and baseball diamond. A sizable seated stadium to bring football games on campus as well as graduation ceremonies and other important events is a part of the EPHS plan, unlike Plymouth South which already had a similar facility available.

The overall layout of Plymouth South drew rave reviews from interested parties locally.

EPHS Social Studies Department chairman Michael Silva led a delegation of administrators, fellow department heads and classroom teachers from the district on a tour of six different high schools built recently in nearby Massachusetts municipalities. Between five and 15 of his peers joined Mr. Silva on the visits, he said.

“It’s a 21st century school building. It’s very well constructed, well designed. It’s very impressive,” Mr. Silva explained of Plymouth South. “We looked at some really nice high schools, but Plymouth South, how it was conceived, I only wish we can build something like it here in East Providence.”

Two years in construction, the new Plymouth South opened its doors last fall for the start of the current 2017-18 term. The approximately 250,000-square-foot structure, designed to accommodate a maximum of some 1,400 students, was built at a cost of nearly $110 million. Similarly to the East Providence High School proposal being considered, the new Plymouth South building was constructed on the same grounds where its predecessor stood.

According to Mr. Silva, Plymouth South has some 10 science labs/classrooms, a multi-use “black box” theater, state-of-the art auditorium, a television production studio and a cafeteria designed for other uses throughout the day and evening.

“It’s fully integrated,” said Mr. Silva. “The spaces are identified for multiple uses. There’s a lot of flexibility. Everything revolves around content. It has the integrated CTC, so the Arts Department is near the Construction and Graphics Departments. It’s set up so that classes can be done in conjunction with the CTC. It was also built with a lot of community aspects in mind as well. It was just really well thought out, well put together.”

The process of replacing the old Plymouth South, built only in the late 1980s, was over a decade in the making. Residents in Plymouth voted to approve the construction back in 2006 of not one, but two new high schools in the town. The referendum for a temporary tax increase of up to $199 million included the two new high schools as well as building a new senior center. The new 268,000-square-foot Plymouth North, which opened in 2012 and replaced the former structure opened in the early 1960s, was constructed at a cost of $83 million and to also house as many as 1,400 students.

According to published reports, the Massachusetts School Building Authority contributed some $85 million to the cost of building both structures, $37.8 million to the Plymouth North project and $46.87 million to the Plymouth South effort.

If approved by the General Assembly and voters around the state, the administration of Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo has proposed borrowing $500 million over the next several years to address school infrastructure needs. East Providence is attempting to be one of the first in line to receive reimbursement from the initial $250 million being sought under the governor’s plan.

East Providence voters, as well, would have to approve a city-only referenda item to bond out its share of the new school on the same ballot.

Gov. Raimondo’s proposal includes several incentives for district’s to reach, which would could raise the percentage of reimbursement. Those incentives based on curriculum and efficiency standards, which are included in East Providence’s new building plan, could boost the district’s reimbursement rate to as much as 74 percent of the total cost. For a $190 million, East Providence would then only have to contribute approximately $45 million.

Superintendent Crowley has repeatedly stressed, however, officials at the Rhode Island Department of Education will have final say on the final design of a new high school and what will be paid for by the state. The process of determining those crucial elements, expected to take about a month’s time, started last week when the district submitted its initial schematic outline to RIDE by a February 1 deadline.

As Superintendent Crowley also said recently, “We’ve got a lot of work to do over the next few weeks.”