UPDATED: New Board of Regents: Good or Bad for Gist?
GoLocalProv News Team
UPDATED: New Board of Regents: Good or Bad for Gist?
Governor Lincoln Chafee has named four people to the Board Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education.
Chafee also announced that he is retaining Vice-Chairman Patrick A. Guida, Secretary Colleen A. Callahan, and board member Karin L. Forbes. Betsy P. Shimberg will continue to serve in her position.
Yesterday, it was not immediately clear what the new appointments mean for the future of Education Commissioner Deborah Gist, whose philosophical disagreements with Chafee over education reform are well-publicized (in the above video she discusses her agenda for the upcoming year).
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Chairman George D. Caruolo – an attorney and former Majority Leader for the Rhode Island House
Carolina B. Bernal – the program director for the Institute of Labor Studies and a former organizer with Progreso Latino
Robert L. Carothers – former president of the University of Rhode Island
Mathies J. Santos – currently the Outreach Associate for Rhode Island at the Boston Veteran Affairs Research Institute
The ninth member is a member of the Board of Governors for Higher Education who is designated by the Governor. A spokesman for Chafee said that person will be chosen when Chafee announces his appointments to the Board of Governors. The position is currently held by Judge Frank Caprio, who has announced he is stepping down from the board. He is the father of Frank Caprio, Chafee's Democratic opponent in the race for governor last year.
“I believe that the Board of Regents is a critically important link between the community at large and our state’s education policy-making,” Chafee said. “Therefore, these announced appointees reflect my efforts to bring both diversity and new perspectives to the critical task of ensuring the best possible education for our children.”
The leader of the National Education Association of Rhode Island—which supported Chafee in his election bid and had its executive director serve on his transition team—yesterday praised the appointments.
“I am pleased that the governor acted quickly in filling the vacant positions and urge the Senate to hold a hearing to approve the appointments so the Regents can move forward with the vital work of guiding education in Rhode Island,” said President Larry Purtill.
“The governor appointed a diverse group, keeping four currently on the Board, and selecting new members who represent Rhode Island's population. I believe this group will listen to students, teachers, parents, and administrators, as well as the general public, as it develops education policy. It is critical that the voices of the stakeholders - those responsible for the education of our children - be heard.”
Reform group says it will ‘closely watch’ new appointees
“Leadership matters in education. The people in these positions matter, and we need leaders committed to the transformation of public schools begun in the past year by Education Commissioner Deborah Gist and the Board of Regents,” said Maryellen Butke, the executive director. “RI-CAN and the burgeoning education reform movement in Rhode Island will be closely watching the actions of the new Board members to make sure we don't jeopardize our $75 million in Race to the Top funds or our children's future.”
The state’s largest taxpayer group, the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition, issued a similar warning.
“These are critical appointments which have direct impact on how—and if—the hard won gains made by Gist to reform the state’s schools will stay on track,” said RISC President Jim Beale. “RISC urges that newly appointed Chairman Caruolo respect the reform plan Gist has brought to our low performing schools and put our school kids above all else before recommending any changes to her reform efforts. We also urge all new Board appointments not to recommend anything which could jeopardize the state’s implementation of the Race to the Top federal grant–including any attempts to block the expansion of charter schools.”