UPDATED: Angus Davis Off Board of Regents

Email to a friend Permalink

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Stephen Beale, GoLocalProv News Editor

Sources are telling GoLocalProv that Angus Davis—a prominent Providence-based tech entrepreneur—will not be reappointed to the Board of Regents by Gov. Lincoln Chafee today.

Chafee is expected to announce five appointments to the board at press conference scheduled for 1 p.m.

The governor has already disclosed that the chairman of the board, Bob Flanders, won’t be returning. Instead, Flanders, who is a former state Supreme Court justice, has been appointed the receiver of Central Falls.

The appointments to the Board of Regents are being closely watched because the board hires the education commissioner. The current commissioner, Deborah Gist, and Chafee have well-publicized philosophical disagreements over how to reform public schools.

Both Davis and Flanders were appointed to the board by Gov. Don Carcieri. Both have been strong backers of Gist.

Davis speaks out

Yesterday, Angus Davis issued a statement to GoLocalProv on his departure. He declined to mention Chafee or the new appointees:

It has been a profound honor to serve the children of Rhode Island and to advocate for education policies that serve their best interest. I am proud of our many accomplishments during my tenure on the Board of Regents: lifting the cap on charter schools; introducing teacher evaluations; revamping the Basic Education Plan; establishing graduation standards; attracting Teach for America; opening the first Mayoral Academy with a "no-excuses" model, and establishing an equitable "money follows the student" school funding formula, among others.

I would like to thank Commissioner Deborah A. Gist for her inspiring and effective leadership. Indeed, it was under her thoughtful guidance that the Regents' strategic plan, "Transforming Education in Rhode Island," became the centerpiece of our successful effort to win $75 million in Race to the Top funding, the largest competitive federal grant award in Rhode Island history.

I would also like to thank Governor Carcieri, Senate President Paiva-Weed and Speaker Fox among many others for their support of this important, ongoing work to improve education. Until my successor is nominated and confirmed, I will continue to serve on the Regents and I look forward to serving Rhode Island in other ways in the years ahead.
 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink

---

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.