Providence School Department Has a Bigger PR Staff Than the Governor’s Office

Providence School Department Has a Bigger PR Staff Than the Governor’s Office

The Providence School Department has been heavily criticized for refusing to respond to questions from teachers, elected officials, parents, and the media.

But, the inability to respond to questions has little to do with the school department’s staffing level.

The Providence School Department has a larger communications staff than Governor Gina Raimondo or Dan McKee.

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Raimondo, during her six-plus years as governor, averaged between three and four staffers in the press office, according to former members of the office. And McKee has three positions, and presently, one of them is vacant.

For Raimondo, she had to manage COVID and other major crises. In contrast, Providence Schools needed to manage questions about closing schools. 

The Providence School Department has five staffers in communications led by Nick Domings, who earns $149,639.52.

And, School Department communications department employees Suzanne Ouellette earns $98,268.04, Ariel Castillo receives $70,358.08, Michaela Burns is compensated $63,672.99, and Ivette Roberts takes home $63,108.99. 

Combined, the five earn nearly $450,000 -- before healthcare benefits and pension costs. 

The staffing level and budget are the largest of any federal, state or local communications office in Rhode Island.

 

On Thursday, GoLocal asked Domings are series of questions:

Looking for comments on the staffing level and headcount for the communications department.

1) You have a higher headcount than either Raimondo or McKee? How do you justify the staffing level?

2) And, with the staffing level, why couldn't you answer questions?  Twitter has been ablaze with public officials and journalists criticizing the school department for not responding to questions.

Domings did not respond to the questions