Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s takeover of Providence schools is a mess. Everyone deserves blame. – The Boston Globe

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2024

Rhode Island’s takeover of Providence schools is a mess. Everyone deserves blame. – The Boston Globe

Governor Dan McKee

This isn’t McKee’s takeover — just ask him. He inherited the state’s intervention in Providence from Gina Raimondo, and while his administration did step in during messy negotiations with the teachers’ union, he’s chosen to move forward with his own education initiatives. His focus on chronic absenteeism statewide has shown initial successful results in its first year, and he’s planning to make math and reading campaigns a top strategy in the coming years. McKee’s overall goal of catching up to Massachusetts in test scores by 2030 probably isn’t attainable without improvements in Providence, but he also doesn’t want to waste too much political capital on a problem that might not be fixable.

Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green

Truer words have never been spoken than when Infante-Green warned in 2019 that “everybody wants change until change comes,” but it’s the job she signed up for. At this point, the Rhode Island Department of Education has untenable relationships with the teachers’ union, Mayor Brett Smiley’s administration, the City Council, and the General Assembly, and the department spends way too much time worrying about who leaks information on that platform formally known as Twitter. She still has the enthusiastic support of McKee, but her contract expires during the next school year (April 28, 2025), and she’s going to need to start explaining what has actually worked during the takeover. There’s a good story to tell about school facility improvements in the coming years, but what’s happening in the classroom hasn’t changed all that much in the last five years.

Superintendent Javier Montañez

Providence’s superintendent was the right choice at the right time following the short, unmemorable tenure of Harrison Peters, but the growing sentiment is that he’s an excellent school principal who is over his head leading the state’s largest school district. At the same time, his supporters will point out that he’s never had a chance to lead because every decision runs through Infante-Green. His contract expires July 1, 2024, but there is no clear successor waiting in the wings. It appears more likely that Montañez will get an extension of less than three years.

Mayor Brett Smiley

Providence’s mayor doesn’t have the same luxury as Governor McKee to argue that this isn’t his takeover because he was part of Raimondo’s administration when it made the decision to intervene. Right now, he’s a mayor who has no say over virtually anything that happens in the district, including hiring a superintendent, negotiating union contracts, or deciding how money gets spent, but he’s taking the brunt of the blame for the city’s failing to substantially increase funding for the schools. The general consensus in government circles is that if Smiley asked McKee to return the schools to local control today, his wish would be granted. But why would he want to take back a district when the state hasn’t necessarily delivered on its lofty promises?

Providence Teachers Union

The teachers’ union is both the biggest winner and loser of the state takeover. On one hand, the union has successfully negotiated favorable contracts that came with no significant concessions (though the teachers did agree to increase the school day by 30 minutes for at least the current school year). On the other hand, the union has never given a chance to any facet of the takeover, and has run up an exhausting enemies list that includes Infante-Green, McKee, Smiley, the previous two mayors, the previous two education commissioners, and most of the Providence school department’s senior leadership team. The union’s current contract expires Aug. 31, and one big question is whether the 30-minute school day extension will continue.

Providence School Board

The school board didn’t have much power prior to the takeover, and it has virtually no power during the takeover. Now politics are about to ramp up. There will be five spots on the school board up for grabs this year (from five different sections of the city), which means you can expect a lot of outside spending from both charter school groups and teachers’ union friendly groups. Those races will be especially unpredictable because unlike races for mayor and City Council, these are nonpartisan and will occur during a higher-turnout presidential election. Mayor Smiley will also get to appoint five members (with City Council approval). And then, once the dust is cleared, it will still be a largely advisory school board with very little power.

Council on Elementary and Secondary Education

Does this panel even exist anymore? There was a time when the council was both powerful, and had meaningful input over the direction of schools statewide. It has taken a hands-off, eyes-off approach to Providence, ceding all control to the Rhode Island Department of Education.

Providence City Council

The City Council was held up as one of the bureaucratic barriers to improving schools in the Johns Hopkins report, but council members were also among the only people who had the ability to hold the district accountable (especially around spending) prior to the takeover. That’s not happening anymore, and it leaves the public in the dark about what’s happening in the schools. The council isn’t catching as much flack as Mayor Smiley for failing to substantially increase funding to the school district right now, but make no mistake, the council is just as responsible as any mayor.

Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.

Source link

Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Jan. 10, 2026

Published

10 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

17-24-36-38-43, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 6-3-1-0

Evening: 3-7-1-4

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

10-13-27-37-38, Extra: 19

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link

Rhode Island

GoLocalProv | News | Gov. McKee’s Schedule for the First 10 Days of the New Year

Published

23 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

GoLocalProv | News | Gov. McKee’s Schedule for the First 10 Days of the New Year

Saturday, January 10, 2026

GoLocalProv News Team

View Larger +

Governor Dan McKee PHOTO: GoLocal

It’s a new year, filled with new challenges. The General Assembly is back in session. Rhode Island’s economy is flat at best, and according to the University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro, the state is in a recession. Rhode Island is also in daily legal conflict with the Trump administration.

Add that the state is trying to recover from a mass shooting at Brown University, which killed two students and wounded nine others.

For Governor Dan McKee, it is a critical time.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE — SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

He has announced he is running for reelection—the Democratic primary is just nine months away.

McKee’s poll numbers have plummeted to record lows.

A poll released by the University of New Hampshire in November of 2025 found that in the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island, 29% of likely Democratic primary voters (N=359) say they would currently vote for former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, 13% would vote for Speaker of the RI House of Representatives Joe Shekarchi, 11% would vote for incumbent Governor Dan McKee, 6% would write in someone else, and 42% are undecided.

Is the 74-year-old McKee criss-crossing the state to reassure Rhode Islanders, listening to residents’ ideas, and sharing his vision for the state in his second term?

GoLocal offers a recap of the McKees’ public schedule for the first ten days of the month.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2026

No public events.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026

No public events.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026

2:00 PM

Governor McKee will deliver remarks at the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty’s 18th Annual Interfaith Poverty Vigil.

LOCATION:

RI State House Rotunda

82 Smith Street

Providence, RI

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026

No public events.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026

No public events.

MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026

9:30 AM

Governor McKee will deliver remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new community learning center at the Cross’ Mills Public Library.

LOCATION:

Cross’ Mills Public Library

4417 Old Post Road

Charlestown, RI

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026

No public events.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2026

11:00 AM

Governor McKee will join members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation and local and state leaders for a rally hosted by Climate Action RI, Climate Jobs RI, and the AFL-CIO in support of Revolution Wind and other offshore wind projects.

LOCATION:

CIC Providence

225 Dyer Street

Providence, RI

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026

No public events.

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Source link

Rhode Island

GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

View Larger +

Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal

Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.

Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”

The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE — SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.

“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.

Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”