Reaction to Gist’s Extension

Friday, June 07, 2013

Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv Contributor

 

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Following one of the most divisive debates on education in recent history in Rhode Island, the Board of Education yesterday voted to renew Education Commissioner Deborah Gist's contract for two years.

Gist, the architect of the successful effort to secure $75 million in federal Race to the Top funding, had been seeking a three-year contract and a four percent annual pay raise.  

"I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with Commissioner Gist. The Commissioner and I have enjoyed a productive and positive relationship over the past several years, and I look forward to continuing to work with her on behalf of Rhode Island’s students," said Governor Lincoln Chafee directly after the vote.

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What it Means

This is a win for Governor Lincoln Chafee who was able to keep the balance between education reform moving forward and keeping controls on the process.

Gist will continue under a two-year contract with a minimal 2% increase each year. The agreement assures that the critical Race to the Top initiative is properly managed.

Gist, who was appointed in 2009, had received support from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, as well as the Board of Education Chair Eva Mancuso.

On Thursday, GoLocal spoke with leaders in education and politics to get their perspective on the impact of the decision.  

Education and Political Leaders Weigh In

"Well, we're disappointed the Department of Education ignored the voices of thousands of Rhode Island teachers," said Frank Flynn, President Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals.

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Flynn continued, "[Board Chair Eva] Mancuso has put stipulations on the Commissioner to take corrective actions, so we'll see what happens.  The teachers are disappointed but they'll continue their work in the classrooms, and we'll continued to advocate for them, " said Flynn.

Similarly, Patrick Crowley with the RI NEA, tweeted in reaction to the vote,"Two more years of continued disrespect for RI teachers but this is just the beginning of the fight back."

While union leaders voiced frustration in the decision, convervatives and taxpayer advocates were generally pleased with the decision.

"The Rhode Island Left’s propaganda campaign against a steadfast reformer has failed, proving that radical and dishonest politics can sometimes run its course," said Travis Rowley, Republican leader and GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™.

Lisa Blais, a spokesperson for OSTPA, a taxpayer advocacy organization, education reformer and a GoLocalProv MINDSETTER, was highly critical of the limits placed on Gist, but was pleased with her retention.

"From our perspective it was a political decision to try and kick her out of RI," said Blais. [The two years] cements Angel Taveras' run for higher office. It puts us right in an election cycle."

Blais voiced concerns about the contract extension being two years rather than the three. "We didn't put kids first here. Look, we were a year short of saying that we're standing by improving our public school system," said Blais.  "We thank the Commissioner for accepting this contract in the the face of enormous, and often nasty pressure. We hope that in two years the Board of Education will have its act together, and focus on school improvement rather than the barometer of politics." 

"Perhaps it’s time for the unions to come up with some fresh nonsense."

"The ever-predictable teachers unions often referred to former Governor Don Carcieri as a “bully.” In East Providence, they called former School Committee Chairman Anthony Carcieri a “bully.” In Central Falls, they assaulted School Superintendent Frances Gallo with the label “bully.” Out of pure political protocol, the unions again attempted to gain public favor by smearing the character of another individual who dared to disagree with the educational establishment, convincing as many people as possible that Deborah Gist is, yup, a “bully” – a “fascist” who “doesn’t listen” and “rules with an iron fist," said Rowley.

Gist Approved, Battle Focuses on Testing

Now, with Gist firmly in place for the next two years, the battle with return to testing and graduation requirements. 

"The Providence Student Union is opposed to RIDE's new high-stakes testing graduation requirement, which is dumbing down our education and hurting students and their families. Now that the Commissioner's contract has been extended, we plan to continue making our voices heard to the Board of Education and the Commissioner that this policy is wrong for Rhode Island's students," said Hector Perea with the Providence Student Union.

Rhode Islanders should get ready for the next battle in education.

Commissioner Embattled

Gist, who had the backing from both members of the business community as well as several school committees, also had vocal opposition from teachers unions, as well as students.

On April 30, the National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI) and the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Profressionals issued a release stating that 85% of teachers believed the Commissioner's contract should not be renewed.

The Providence Student Union (PSU) had called on Gist to debate the use of NECAP test scores as a graduation requirement, which the Commissioner declined.

Gist's record in achieving stated goals had also come into question leading up to contract negotiations. GoLocal's Stephen Beale reported on how the Rhode Island Department of Education, at the behest of Gist, had set 33 targets for statewide student performance, the majority related to closing the achievement gap -- and that in 2012, the state reached just one out of those 33 targets: 75.7 percent of high school graduates finished one year of college within two years of enrolling in it. The goal for that year had been 65 percent.

Pursuant to the findings, RIDE spokesman Elliot Krieger said, “Our biggest challenge remains the persistent achievement gaps. In 2009, Commissioner Gist established the very ambitious goal of reducing achievement gaps by 50 percent by 2015. We have made progress on closing many of these achievement gaps, but certainly not at the rate we need to see to meet the 2015 goals.”  

 

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