Infante-Green Says She Can “Break Contracts” in Providence Schools Takeover, More Districts Possible
Thursday, August 08, 2019
RI Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green (left) spoke with press Thursday following the release of next steps in the state takeover of Providence schools.
Infante-Green made the remarks on a press call after she issued her Proposal for Decision and Order regarding the Providence Public School District (PPSD). The document details how the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) intends to take control of the district.
"Last year's test scores were a wake-up call for many Rhode Islanders -- the current system is broken," said Infante-Green. "We can and must do better -- the future of our state depends on it."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTInfante-Green said that the teachers' contract -- which has one-year left under its current agreement -- can be broken.
"I will have to renegotiate the teachers' contract. I think everything's on the table," said Infante-Green
On September 13, Infante-Green will convene an administrative hearing to review any evidence or testimony submitted by the parties. If the Proposal for Decision and Order becomes final, the Commissioner will appoint a State Turnaround Superintendent and/or other designees, who will work with the community to develop, build support for, and implement a Turnaround Plan for the district.
"I think once the process is over, I'll have the right to break contracts," said Infante-Green, which pressed on what her authority will be.
Infante-Green said that she has been talking with candidates for the Turnaround Superintendent Position -- but refused to give any names.
"I don't want them to run away from the job," said Infante-Green.
Defending Timing -- and Focus
Infante-Green defended the timing of the process, with RIDE delivering the latest legal documents necessary for a takeover with three weeks left before the school year starts -- stating she did not know the state would be taking over the schools last spring.
After Raimondo tapped Infante-Green to be the new Commissioner in March, and announced in May a new major initiative to review Providence schools -- the Johns Hopkins report -- GoLocal reported, "Will State Take Over Providence Schools? Raimondo’s Announcement is First Step."
"I have to disagree -- we didn't know in April we were taking over, I can assure you of that," said Infante-Gree. " I pledged to go out into the community. This is the decision I made based on the community forums."
Infante-Green also defended the focus on school infrastructure and readiness -- and how the state intends to improve academics.
As GoLocalProv reported in July:
In 2009 the State of Rhode and Woonsocket invested more than $80 million to build a “state-of-the-art" middle school complex — replacing the largest middle school in New England which housed approximately 2,000 students. The old building was built in 1914. The bonds were originally issued in 2009 to finance the $74 million cost of building the Woonsocket Middle School buildings on Hamlet Avenue.
The two gleaming middle school buildings were built on a former contaminated mill complex and the investment promised a new opportunity for an improved learning experience — but less than a decade later, the two Woonsocket middle schools are performing as badly as many of the Providence Public Schools.
At the better of the two performing Woonsocket middle schools — Villa Nova — just ten percent of the students meet or exceed expectations for ELA (9.8% meet expectations and 0.48% exceed expectations) and for Math 6.7% meet expectations —none exceeded expectations.
"Buildings are just a part of it -- this is a part about [all] academics," said Infante-Green. "We'll have a robust plan for everyone -- not just Providence, and it's not just curriculum, it's making sure the teachers can engage in the curriculum. The driver is in the classroom -- the buildings are just one of the many pieces."
Audit -- and More
Infante-Green says that she will oversee a financial audit of the Providence schools as one of her first steps -- and that other underperforming districts could be candidates for state takeover.
This is not just Providence, we have to move forward as a state.
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