Mount Pleasant High School’s Big Problem - Watson

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Raymond Two Hawks Watson, MINDSETTER™

 

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Raymond Two Hawks Watson PHOTO: file

Last Wednesday I attended the Providence School Board meeting. From the elevator, I made my way toward the back entrance of the meeting room where I saw several colleagues from the Providence activist community. It must have been the first in-person School Board meeting in a while because the room was packed. There seemed to be a lot about schools that needed to be discussed. Experience has taught me to adopt a “pray for the better, prepare for the worst” mentality when dealing with Providence politics; especially when concerning the public school system. Wednesday’s visit was no exception.

A few people were called to speak before me. I had emailed the day before requesting to speak, so my wait wasn’t long. While in the hallway, I engaged in dialogue about the uptick in stabbings in Woonsocket and Pawtucket. The consensus was that the knives were a response to heavy sentencing for gun crimes. We also discussed how displacement from gentrification in Providence was a major contributing factor. That’s a conversation for another week, however.

Soon it was my time to speak. I walked from the hallway into the meeting room just in time to hear the facilitator state that they would be moving on to the next speaker. “I’m here.” I belted as I walked toward the table with the microphone and took a seat. I was pleasantly surprised to see several familiar and respected faces on the School Board. I decided that tonight was one of the nights where praying had overcome preparing; no need to invite the other hawk to this conversation.

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I began by thanking the School Board for the opportunity to speak. “However,” I continued “tonight I’m not here for a positive reason.” I was there to address the February 1, 2022, incident between a Providence Police Officer and a Mount Pleasant High School student that had been recorded on video. Particulars of the incident aside, I was concerned that what I saw in the video in no way reflected the spirit, intent, or written language of the Providence Public School Department’s School Code of Conduct; a document that I had led the revision of from 2013 to 2014 as the Policy Implementation Subcommittee Chair of the Providence Public School Department’s Code of Conduct Review Committee.

Regarding the progressive levels of consequences and restorative responses that the Providence Public School Department has officially adopted, page 10 of the School Code of Conduct states “PPSD is committed to using interventions that address the causes of student misbehavior, resolve conflicts, meet student needs, keep students in school, minimize the use of law enforcement, and collaborate with parents to identify a solution. Disciplinary practices that result in losing instructional time, removing students from school, or referring students to the criminal justice system should be used only as a last resort.” The School Code of Conduct further determines that School Resource Officers should be skilled in de-escalation and working out non-punitive measures when dealing with children in the Providence Public Schools.

That’s right; minimization of engagement with law enforcement, deterrence from the criminal justice system, and use of non-punitive de-escalation strategies are all stated goals and policies of the School Code of Conduct.

Given my history and involvement with the School Code of Conduct, imagine my surprise to see video footage of Officer Leonel Pichs escalating force against an unarmed Mt Pleasant High School student despite being in the principal’s office securely surrounded by Mt Pleasant High School staff, including Principal David Conrady. Imagine how much greater my surprise was when I was informed that despite being responsible for 43 out of 50 student arrests at Mt Pleasant High School between 2017 and 2020, Officer Pichs was still the School Resource Officer at Mt Pleasant High School in 2022.

“We can argue about the Providence Police Department, and I do that pretty often . . .” I continued in my remarks to the School Board. “But my concern this evening is something that is within the authority of the School Board to address; the conduct of Dr. David Conrady, Principal of Mt. Pleasant High School.”

Aside from hearing numerous complaints from the community about Dr. Conrady’s administration at Mt Pleasant High School, I was completely taken aback by what I saw in the video. In complete disregard of the covenants and warranties expressed in the School Code of Conduct, there was Dr. Conrady not intervening in and not deescalating the altercation between Officer Pichs and the unarmed Mt Pleasant High School student before or after Officer Pichs began escalating force. Further, after Officer Pichs escalated force against the unarmed Mt Pleasant High School student, Dr. Conrady appeared to radio for support for Officer Pichs rather than take steps to ensure the well-being or safety of the Mt. Pleasant High School student, as his in loco parentis status as Principal of the high school requires.

What on earth was going on? Why hadn’t Dr. Conrady tried to calm the situation? Why had Dr. Conrady allowed a Police Officer solely responsible for 86% of the student arrests at his high school to remain a School Resource Officer? How did Dr. Conrady’s conduct, or decisions reflect the standards expressed in the School Code of Conduct? I didn’t understand, so I asked the School Board . . . and then I asked what they planned to do about Dr. Conrady.

Almost two months had passed, and I was unaware that the School Board had made any official statement about or taken any official position on the matter. Accordingly, I presented the School Board with a friendly ultimatum; they could be leaders in the matter and proactively remove Dr. Conrady from his position at Mt. Pleasant High School, or I could humbly ask my colleagues in the activist community to direct their attention toward Mt. Pleasant High School. Either way, for the good of the community, and to impromptu shouts of support from the audience, Dr. David Conrady would not be allowed to remain Principal of Mt Pleasant High School.

That was it. I thanked the School Board for listening, encouraged them to keep up the good fight, and stepped away from the microphone. Back in the hallway, I finished my initial conversation and then headed back toward the elevator to leave the building. Waiting for me at the elevator was the mother of another Mount Pleasant High School student who had similar concerns about Dr. Conrady. She thanked me for speaking on behalf of the students and parents of the high school and expressed how frustration with and anger at Dr. Conrady’s consistent failure to ensure a safe and productive learning environment for her son. I thanked her for keeping up the fight and promised her that Dr. Conrady would be leaving Mount Pleasant High School soon. I meant those words, and I don’t have any plans on going back on them.

Now, I’m waiting. I’m being courteous and respectful of the School Board’s authority, and responsibility related to Dr. Conrady’s failed administration at Mt. Pleasant High School. However, if courtesy and respect should be allowed to run their course, as usual #TurnUp.

Until then, it’s back to prayers and preparation. I would respectfully encourage Dr. Conrady to consider the same. More capable professionals have come and gone before him, and as stated, I don’t plan on going back on my word.


That’s my three cents.

Raymond Two Hawks Watson

 

Watson is a civil rights leader in Rhode Island. He has an accomplished career in business. He is the founder of the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative. Watson holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Union College in NY, a Master's Degree in Community Planning from the University of Rhode Island, and is a current Juris Doctorate Candidate at the Roger Williams University School of Law. Watson is also the recipient of the Rhode Island Foundation’s 2016 Innovation Fellowship.

 

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