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Providence School Board makeover is halfway there after Tuesday’s election • Rhode Island Current

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Providence School Board makeover is halfway there after Tuesday’s election • Rhode Island Current


Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s office begins accepting applications Friday for five open seats on the city’s school board. Voters on Tuesday already decided who will fill the other five.

For the first time since 1966, Providence voters had a say in who sits on the school board after a new, hybridized board structure was approved by the city’s voters in 2022, reversing a decision the city’s electorate made a half-century earlier. In 1968, about 56% of the city’s voters approved a change to make all seats on the school board appointed

According to unofficial, preliminary results, the winning, nonpartisan candidates are:

  • Corey Jones in District 1.
  • Miche’le Lee Fontes in District 2.
  • Heidi Silverio in District 3.
  • Mireya Mendoza in District 4.
  • Ty’Relle Stephens in District 5.

The Providence Public School Department (PPSD) has been under state control since 2019. That takeover left the board’s powers severely limited, which means its members often act in a consultory or symbolic role, and have no direct influence over how the district spends money, or how it hires or fires teachers and staff. Those important decisions are made largely at the state level. 

Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green oversees the state takeover, which she extended in August, forecasting its end sometime in the next three years. Since board members stay on for four years, both newly elected and appointed members could enjoy more decision-making power in the latter portion of their terms.

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Power limitations didn’t stop enthusiasm for the race, which saw endorsements from both union and charter stakeholders.

“Voters chose candidates that will ensure parents, community, students and educators will have a voice in the conversation and a seat at the table to strengthen our schools, collaborate on a fair funding formula, and chart a course for successful public schools,” said Maribeth Calabro, outgoing president of the Providence Teachers Union, in an email Thursday.

Jones, Silverio and Stephens had the teachers’ union endorsement, while Fontes was the sole victorious candidate endorsed by Stop the Wait RI, a pro-charter school organization. Stephens, who did not respond to a request for comment Thursday, was the only incumbent board member who won his contest. Three of his colleagues — Michael Nina, Toni Akin, and Night Jean Muhingabo — lost their respective races.

Night Jean Muhingabo is seen at a Providence School Board Meeting in August 2024. Muhingabo did not win his race for the District 4 seat on the school board. He received 22.4% of the vote compared to winner Mireya Mendoza’s 37%. But Muhingabo could still be appointed by Mayor Brett Smiley. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

The defeated incumbent Muhingabo is hopeful he may still be appointed by Smiley, said his spokesperson Diego Arene-Morley in a text message on Thursday. Muhingabo, 25, ran for the first time. Arene-Morely noted that some of the candidates have been in Providence politics for as long as Muhingabo has been alive.

The City Council will presumably vote on Smiley’s nominees in February, said Anthony Vega, a spokesperson for the mayor. The school board will elect its president during a full meeting that same month. Erlin Rogel, the current president of the school board, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. 

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“One of the hardest things in the education space is it feels like we keep doing the same thing over and over again,” Smiley said at a press conference Wednesday.

Smiley said he had spoken to and congratulated the newly elected board members, who were “full of energy and enthusiasm,” that morning. But he also noted they would need to learn the ropes quickly.

“In an attempt to not repeat the mistakes of the past or start from scratch yet again, we’re going to be working closely with them to brief them on the turnaround plan, brief them on the history of how we got to this point, and bring them up to speed,” Smiley said, referring to the guiding document for the takeover.

The mayor plans to interview finalists from Dec. 30, 2024, through Jan. 6, 2025, before sending his choices over to the City Council for their stamp of final approval.

Currently, the board has nine members, and their terms will expire at the end of the year regardless of when they were appointed.

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Voters on Tuesday also approved a bond worth $400 million — the most expensive in Rhode Island this election year, at either the municipal or statewide level — to make capital improvements to the city’s schools. With interest, the bond’s estimated cost is $686 million, and the construction projects are expected to last from approximately May 2026 to June 2029.    

Funding fights continue

While capital improvement got a big boost from voters, the district’s finances are in seriously bad shape. Just how bad is a matter of contention between the district, RIDE, the mayor’s office and the Providence City Council. On Oct. 10, Mayor Smiley called a press conference to criticize the“ultimatum” Superintendent Javier Montañez made the previous day asking for $10.9 million for the district. 

Montañez warned that without the emergency cash infusion, schools could soon see programs slashed apart, including winter and spring athletics and bus passes.

Smiley promised $1 million in additional funding from city coffers — ones newly stuffed from payments in lieu of taxes from local, major nonprofits like Brown Health, formerly Lifespan. The City Council would need to approve the funding — which it did, offering another $1.5 million along the way on Oct. 22. But both mayor and council were aligned that their gifts came with a caveat: The school district would be subject to an independent audit of its finances. The City Council additionally asked that the emergency money be used to restore bus passes and sports. 

Montañez has not accepted the offers. He wrote to the mayor on Oct. 11 that “the City has money, but it’s choosing not to invest in schools,” and replied on Oct. 23 to the City Council’s Chief of Staff June Rose that their offer was “insufficient.” The City Council then held a press conference on Oct. 29, noting the superintendent had ignored a followup letter from Council President Rachel Miller.

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A Stop the Wait RI campaign pamphlet for the 2024 Providence School Board election is seen on the ground in Federal Hill. Voters affirmed only one of the four candidates endorsed by the pro-charter school organization in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.  (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

The district’s money problems are something of a tradition. Back in 1968, the push for an all-appointed board was led by then-mayor Joseph A. Doorley Jr., who wanted to disassemble the elected board because of “muddled school finances,” the Providence Journal reported then. Mayor Doorley also noted that an independent audit of the district’s finances had found a $2.4 million deficit — about $22 million in today’s dollars but almost the exact same figure city officials are offering to repair the budget gap in 2024.

A City Council subcommittee was originally set to discuss this emergency funding — which would be pulled from pandemic relief that expires in December — Thursday. But the meeting was postponed, citing a court hearing earlier that day regarding a legal battle between the city and state. 

Following a request from Infante-Green to Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa to withhold $8.5 million in car tax refunds, Providence filed a Superior Court complaint on Oct. 16 to block the action.

“We now also need to resolve the recent withholding order as it will affect the City’s ability to provide any additional support,” said Josh Estrella, a Smiley spokesperson, in an email Wednesday.

Whoever ends up footing the bill, some students and their families are getting restless with the back-and-forth, and they congregated outside Providence City Hall on Monday to call for the district’s acceptance of the $2.5 million, even if it doesn’t meet the full amount needed. A video by Steve Ahlquist shows students speaking on the steps.  

“Brett Smiley, the city of Providence, and every adult in power: Do better,” said Nya Isom-Agazie, a junior at Providence Career and Technical Academy, who was recorded in Ahlquist’s video speaking on the steps. “I don’t want to be back up here.”

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More complaints against former RI private school coach accused of exploiting underage girl – The Boston Globe

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More complaints against former RI private school coach accused of exploiting underage girl – The Boston Globe


The girl told the state police and Barrington police that Cassidy, who’d been her coach, became fixated on her since the summer of 2025 and won her trust. She told police that Cassidy had given her lingerie and alcohol and requested explicit photos of her under the guise of training her for a “secret section of the FBI” to help children who are sex trafficked.

The small private Christian school fired Cassidy after his arrest on June 1. State police said they expected to bring more charges and asked for other witnesses to come forward.

Since then, Barrington Police Chief Michael E. Correia said, four more students from Barrington Christian Academy and a young woman who encountered Cassidy at the Pawtucket YMCA have made complaints.

“All of their stories are clearly inappropriate behavior from a teacher-coach,” Correia said on Wednesday. “However, we don’t believe [the allegations] at this time amounts to a criminal offense.”

Correia declined to describe the specific accusations. The new reports have been referred to the State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is leading the investigation. State Police Major Kenneth Moriarty did not respond to questions on Wednesday.

A 19-year-old woman who attended Barrington Christian Academy in the 2020-2021 school year was the first to come forward. She spoke to Barrington police on June 3, shortly after the state police announced Cassidy’s arrest, and described “inappropriate behavior,” Correia said.

Then, a 12-year-old girl and 15-year-old girl, both of whom are student-athletes at the school, spoke with Barrington police on June 8. A mother brought her 12-year-old daughter, who is also a student, to speak with police on June 9.

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A 23-year-old woman contacted the Barrington police on June 17 about Cassidy. She said she encountered him at the Pawtucket YMCA when she was about 14 years old, and she also complained about “inappropriate behavior,” Correia said.

Kate Messier, the vice president of development at the Pawtucket YMCA, confirmed on Wednesday that Cassidy was employed there until 2018. She did not comment on his role at the YMCA or answer questions about whether the organization had received any complaints about Cassidy at the time.

“Child protection is foundational to how the YMCA of Pawtucket operates, and we maintain extensive safeguards that are reviewed and reinforced on an ongoing basis,” Messier said in the statement. “Those safeguards include thorough staff screening and background checks, mandatory child abuse prevention training, program environments structured to maintain supervision and eliminate unsupervised one-on-one situations, and clear procedures for reporting any concern.”

The 14-year-old girl whose allegations led the state police to arrest Cassidy said that she learned that he had allowed juveniles from unstable homes live in his house in Pawtucket while he was working at the YMCA, according to court documents. The girl also told investigators that Cassidy had housed foreign exchange students associated with Barrington Christian Academy.

Correia said that the private school has been “very cooperative” with the Barrington police. The head of school, Michael Skazinski, did not respond to questions from the Globe on Wednesday.

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Cassidy’s lawyer, Melissa Larsen, declined comment on Wednesday.

The state police have searched Cassidy’s home in Pawtucket, his pickup truck, and his office at the school, and have seized numerous electronic devices, including iPads, tablets, and thumb drives, according to court records. The affidavits accompanying the search warrants detailed the allegations that the 14-year-old girl made against Cassidy.

He had been coaching her in different sports at the school, and their families became close. She told the state police that she grew to trust Cassidy and would spend time with him and his family at their home. Then, she said, he began telling her stories about how he was special — and so was she.

She said Cassidy told her he was working for a “secret section of the FBI.” She said he claimed that he had “special DNA,” so the FBI and state troopers had him assist in raids to save children from being sex trafficked. She said that Cassidy told her that there were “off-worlders” or aliens that posed as humans on earth, and some of those children being sex trafficked were actually aliens.

She said that Cassidy assigned various “challenges” or “missions” to make her comfortable in uncomfortable situations, according to the affidavits.

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“She was also advised to learn to get comfortable with wearing less clothing and ultimately nudity because it would be required later on for ‘missions,’” the affidavits said. “Cassidy claimed that aliens did not believe in the ‘construct of clothes.’”

She said Cassidy emailed her from his personal Gmail account, calling himself “Casper,” the affidavits said. She said he also claimed that two other girls were using his email to talk to her about the “special” training, and she was told to email with a person named “Kevin” on another email address who would talk to her about her feelings, the affidavits said.

She said she was instructed to take explicit photographs of herself and send them to his private email. She came to realize that all of the personas were actually Cassidy.

On May 28, the girl received an email from Cassidy’s personal Gmail account offering her three “flirt options,” all of which involved her taking off her clothes in front of him. She believed she needed to follow through; she told police that Cassidy said “bad things” could happen to her if she failed.

That night, her parents discovered what was going on, and they contacted the Barrington police, who called in the state police.

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The State Police are continuing to investigate and ask anyone with information about Cassidy or potential victims to contact the task force at 401-921-1170, or the Barrington Police Department at 401-437-3935.


Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her @AmandaMilkovits.





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‘Condom Hut’ Movie Adds Another Big Name

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‘Condom Hut’ Movie Adds Another Big Name


Another famous face is joining the cast of “Rubber Hut” filming throughout Rhode Island.

As we previously reported, Grace Van Patten is starring in the feature film debut for director Hannah Gray Organschi about the infamous “condom hut” business from the early 90s.

Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images
Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images

The short-lived Fotomat kiosk turned drive-thru condom store garnered local notoriety as well as national attention in 1992 and is now the subject of a movie with several A-list stars attached.

READ MORE: Michael Imperioli, Emmy Rossum Join RI ‘Condom Hut’ Film

Scenes were filmed for several days at a custom-made “condom hut” on West Shore Road in Warwick. On Thursday, June 11, Beach Avenue was closed down to shoot a parade scene. Now, film crews have moved to Meshanticut Valley Parkway in Cranston for scenes along a residential street.

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Who Was Behind the Original Condom Hut?

The home is believed to represent the residence of Emanuella DelVecchio, the former flight attendant who had the brilliant idea to open a condom kiosk in response to the AIDS epidemic.

Nancy Hall/Townsquare Media
Nancy Hall/Townsquare Media
Nancy Hall/Townsquare Media

Instead of support, however, DelVecchio received the condemnation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence and was plagued with vandalism before shuttering her business within a year.

READ MORE: New Bedford’s Gone But Not Forgotten Closed-Down Bars

Who Has Joined the ‘Condom Hut’ Movie Cast So Far

Photos of parade scenes for the film show Michael Imperioli portraying a priest in the movie and now Deadline has reported that stage actor, Will Harrison, is attached to the project as DelVecchio’s husband. Other actors’ specific roles remain unknown.

Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images
Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images
Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images

Filming is expected to continue in Rhode Island until the end of June with a theatrical release likely in 2027.

See the Stars Who Own Homes in Rhode Island

There are plenty of celebrities who once called Rhode Island home, but how many still do? Here’s the list of stars who own homes across the Ocean State.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.

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Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

All The Famous Faces That Have Been to Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island Home

Here are all the celebrities we know have made an appearance at Holiday House over the years.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall





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Two Rhode Island residents charged in $6.5 billion healthcare fraud crackdown

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Two Rhode Island residents charged in .5 billion healthcare fraud crackdown


Two Rhode Island residents were charged after the Justice Department announced a $6.5 billion healthcare fraud crackdown.

The department said 455 defendants were charged, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes.

Mareli Arias Batista, 57, of Providence, was charged with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, false statement in application for a passport, use of a false passport and bank fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person.

Officials said Batista fraudulently obtained approximately $28,236.42 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits.

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Balni Pimental Lara, 59, of Providence, was also charged with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and health care fraud, in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person.

According to officials, Lara fraudulently obtained approximately $24,018.86 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits.

Bhamin Chhatrapati, 40, of Stoughton, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with over $5.1 million fraudulently billed to Medicare, of which over $2.6 million was paid.

Approximately 1,079 medical providers were suspended and billing privileges were revoked for 1,403 providers.



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