Rhode Island
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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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Rhode Island
Rhode Island FC falls 3-0 to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in USL Championship final – What's Up Newp
Rhode Island FC’s historic inaugural season came to an end in the USL Championship Final on Saturday when it fell 3-0 to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Weidner Field. Becoming the first Eastern Conference team in league history to advance to the final match in its first season, the Ocean State club will return to Rhode Island proud after making the farthest run by an expansion side in eight years.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC had a golden chance to take the lead less than a minute into the match when Yosuke Hanya was on the receiving end of a central pass as he cut behind the Rhode Island FC defense. Sprinting into a one-on-one opportunity with Koke Vegas, the midfielder dragged his shot just wide of the right post.
Holding just 30 percent of possession throughout the first 15 minutes, RIFC got its first real chance of the match when it won a dangerous free kick at the corner of the 18-yard-box in the 14th minute. JJ Williams stepped up to take the free kick, and curled it narrowly over the bar as the match stayed scoreless.
Colorado Springs eventually broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Hanya broke free on the right wing, sending a cross into the six-yard box for Juan Tejada. Making a run into the open space, Tejada side-footed the ball into the back of the net from close range to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
In the 42nd minute, Colorado Springs doubled its lead with a powerful strike from the top of the box. It happened when Jairo Henriquez tore down the left flank, cut inside and took a shot that was blocked by RIFC. Unfortunately for the Ocean State club, the rebound fell kindly to Haneriquez, who made no mistake on his second effort and picked out the top-left corner to make it 2-0.
The Switchbacks nearly took complete control with a third goal in first-half stoppage time when Quenzi Huerman unleashed yet another shot from distance, but Vegas punched the effort over the bar and took care of the resulting corner to keep the match 2-0 at the break.
Nine minutes into the second half, RIFC nearly cut the deficit in half when Clay Holstad connected on a corner kick from the top of the box. Instead, Colorado Springs blocked the shot and quickly broke out on the counter-attack, where Roaldo Damus finished with a low, one-on-one effort to make it 3-0.
RIFC came within inches of getting one back in the 64th minute when Frank Nodarse headed a corner towards the bottom-right corner, but Colorado Springs goalkeeper Christian Herrera produced a sharp diving save to deny the Ocean State club. Minutes later, Jack Panayotou forced another save out of Herrera, and Morris Duggan couldn’t keep the close-range rebound on frame.
The opportunities were as close as RIFC could get to finding the back of the net in the match as the USL Championship Final ended 3-0.
After the match, the visitors walked over to thank the over 400 Rhode Island FC faithful who made the trip out west. The fanbase’s incredible support during the record-breaking inaugural season fueled the team to a memorable finish. The Ocean club will now look forward to its launch of season two from The Stadium at Tidewater Landing in downtown Pawtucket.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
COS – Juan Tejada (Youke Hanya), 22nd minute: Tejada connects with Hanya’s right-wing cross from inside the six-yard box. COS 1, RI 0
COS – Jairo Henriquez, 42nd minute: Henriquez picks out the top-left corner with a powerful strike from the top of the 18-yard box. COS 2, RI 0
COS – Ronaldo Damus (Matt Real), 53rd minute: Damus finishes a one-on-one counter-attack with a low finish into the bottom corner. COS 3, RI 0
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Saturday’s match was the first-ever USL Championship Final to air nationally on network television (CBS).
- The opening goal for Colorado Springs in the 22nd minute marked the first time RIFC trailed during the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs.
- The 2-0 halftime deficit marked the first time RIFC has trailed by multiple goals at halftime since April 26.
- RIFC will return to the Ocean State after making the furthest playoff run by any Eastern Conference expansion team in league history, and becoming the first expansion club in eight years to advance to the final.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Clay Holstad
Match stats and information available here.
Thank you, Joe Biden
Trump has learned that if he tells lies often enough and loudly enough, they will be believed. He keeps repeating that Joe Biden has been a terrible president.
In fact, President Biden has accomplished much. He tackled the COVID crisis by helping hospitals get supplies, getting COVID vaccines distributed, making free testing kits available, sending checks to all Americans, and helping people return to work and students return to school.
He revitalized the U.S. participation in NATO and supported Ukraine vs. Putin.
He recognized climate change and rejoined the rest of the world in battling its effects.
He appointed the first Black female Supreme Court justice.
He initiated projects to improve the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
He oversaw the U.S. economy’s rebound from the pandemic.
The list goes on.
But, best of all, he stopped the daily flow of lies that had been streaming from the White House.
Cindy Kaplan, West Warwick
Better compensation for doctors
What is happening to the health-care system in America? The quality of care seems to be diminishing. One of the reasons is the abysmally poor salaries we pay to our medical residents and fellows, doctors who have already spent years in medical school and are now honing their skills in hospitals throughout the country.
The problem is especially acute in Rhode Island where these young doctors are paid an average of less than $70,000 per year at our hospitals (“Resident doctors make union bid,” News, Nov. 21).
How can these doctors’ patients and hospital management expect them to excel while trying to survive on such meager wages for four to seven years of residency and fellowship, especially with the high cost of housing in Rhode Island and with their average quarter-million-dollar student loan debts?
The only thing that keeps at bay the hounds who are constantly calling for the nationalization of our health-care system is that our country provides the best medical care in the world. Nationalization would destroy our system as it has done in the UK and Canada.
Poor pay and overly arduous working conditions foisted upon residents and fellows in the U.S. will lead to fewer quality doctors entering the profession. Nationalization will eventually follow.
I have opposed unions in the past, but when we pay our young doctors less than what we pay electrical and plumbing apprentices, something is terribly wrong.
If we want our citizens to continue receiving the world’s best medical care, we better start properly compensating residents and fellows and allowing them a bit of time off. Otherwise, they will enter other professions and the quality of medical care in America will deteriorate to that provided by nationalized health systems.
Lonnie Barham, Warwick
Saving RI’s forests
Many environmentalists are concerned about the upcoming administration being filled with individuals who do not take climate change seriously. While, unfortunately, these next four years will probably take us backwards in the fight against climate change, we can still protect the environment here in Rhode Island.
Currently, Rhode Island is the only state in New England with no protected forests on state-owned land. Rare and endangered species are threatened due to their habitats being destroyed by DEM and solar developers through forest clear-cutting.
By joining the Save Rhode Island’s Forests Campaign, you can help in the effort to get legislation passed to create laws to finally protect our state forests and endangered species. In Rhode Island, you can save the environment.
Nathan Cornell, Warwick
The writer is president of the Rhode Island Old Growth Tree Society.
Rhode Island
Police recover watch belonging to Travis Kelce in Rhode Island following break-in of his mansion: report
A watch belonging to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was reportedly found over 1,000 miles away from his Kansas mansion that was broken into last month.
The homes of Kelce and teammate Patrick Mahomes were burglarized last month shortly before one of their games — Kelce’s house is in Leawood, Kansas, while Mahomes’ residence is in nearby Belton, Missouri.
The watch was recovered in Providence, Rhode Island, where Kelce’s girlfriend, pop star Taylor Swift, also owns a home.
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce looks on during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Oct. 20. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
NFL players were cautioned by the league to be on high alert after the homes were broken into last month in a wave of burglaries reportedly tied to international organized crime. It was eventually revealed that $20,000 in cash was taken from Kelce’s home.
In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL issued a security alert to teams and the NFL Players Association, warning that professional athletes in different sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.”
Law enforcement officials say the suspects conduct extensive surveillance on their targets’ homes and have even posed as groundskeepers or joggers. Some have even attempted home deliveries.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, right, wait to lead their team onto the field before the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Aug. 10. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
49ERS’ BROCK PURDY, NICK BOSA RULED OUT FOR POTENTIAL SEASON-DEFINING GAME VS. PACKERS
The memo urged players to take special precautions, including installing home security systems. They were also encouraged not to post live updates of their comings and goings on social media or showcase their expensive items online.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating, disappointing. I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing, but, obviously, it’s something that you don’t want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself,” Mahomes said last week.
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on before kickoff of the game against the New Orleans Saints at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 7. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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The Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling to the Buffalo Bills after winning their first nine games.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
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