Union Charges New Providence Superintendent with Conflict of Interest
Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor
Union Charges New Providence Superintendent with Conflict of Interest
"Why would a guy who is part of the [consulting company dictating Providence school policy leave his company for one year? That leads to me to believe this is a done deal, and he'll bring on board the staff he's had working here in Providence eventually as well," said Joanne Micheletti with the Local 1339 Clerical Union. "I don't think it's right."
Micheletti had taken issue with the report findings which were released in May, which called for reorganizing clerical staff -- including eliminating positions. (Read the report HERE).
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe audit had stated that "fewer staff whose responsibilities revolve primarily around processing paperwork will be required at the central office and the district must build its capacity for human capital development, project management, and data analysis in order to support the core work of teaching and learning."
"They didn't bother to reach out to ask us about numbers when they did the audit," said Micheletti. "Did you bother to inquire why we have 8 clerks in payroll? Do they know they pay teachers fourteen different ways? And why do we have so many clerks for special [education]? They're not just the personal secretary to the admins, but for the parents of special needs students as well. The should have inquired with us about why the numbers are what they are -- and they had number that were just incorrect -- but they didn't."
Choice of Mayor, School Board
Maher was formerly a Vice President at Mass Insight from 2012 to 2014 and currently serves as President of Mass Insight Education.
Previously, Maher served as a principal, teacher and public school advocate, and was the Deputy Chief Academic Officer of Friendship Schools in Baltimore, Maryland, and has a Graduate Certificate in School Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University, as well as a Masters of Pubic Administration degree from New York University.
Providence School Board President Keith Oliveira said he supported the decision to bring Maher on board.
"One of the main things [Mass Insight] been doing for us is assisting in our new strategic direction. They've done a lot of research around the country regarding autonomy, and our direction," said Oliveira. "One of the things that came up is that we don't have a lot of data analysis and policy analysis, because we don't have that capacity they've been doing that [consulting] work."
Oliveira noted that Maher does not currently have a superintendent certification as required, but is in the process of pursuing it.
"We looked about roughly seventeen candidates during the process," said Oliveira. "We had a tight time frame, as [Dr. Lusi's] leaving was short notice. We thought [Maher] was ideal due to his knowledge of the district, he's aligned with the strategic direction we're pursuing."
Micheletti said she took issue with the lack of progress in certain areas of Providence schools while Mass Insight has provided consulting services.
"If you look at their contract, they are supposed to be a performance based company," said Micheletti. "That's one of the major pieces, and since Mass Insight has worked with [the school department] Central, Hope, Mt. Pleasant have had dropout rates increase and graduation rate decreases, and enrollment has been the same."
"There's good and bad in every union. Our schools are difficult places to work, and the front line workers who are on the [first step for clerks are paid $21,000," continued Micheletti. "They could let us all go, and they wouldn't make up the $9 million shortfall they're facing."
"I've said if this isn't a clear witch hunt for my union, then it is clearly because it's the leadership of this union," said Micheletti of the move. "They don't like that it's strong."
The RI High Schools with the Most Absentee Students
#59 Ponaganset High School
Location: Foster and Glocester
Total # Students: 684
% Chronically Absent: 4%
#58 Beacon Charter High School for the Arts
Location: Woonsocket
Total # of Students: 227
% Chronically Absent: 6%
#57 Barrington High School
Location: Barrington
Total # of Students: 1,027
% Chronically Absent: 7%
#56 North Smithfield High School
Location: North Smithfield
Total # of Students: 519
% Chronically Absent: 7 %
#55 Portsmouth High School
Location: Portsmouth
Total # of Students: 960
% Chronically Absent: 8%
#54 East Greenwich High School
Location: East Greenwich
Total # of Students: 729
% Chronically Absent: 9%
#53 Exeter-West Greenwich High School
Location: Exeter and West Greenwich
Total # of Students: 540
% Chronically Absent: 9%
#52 Chariho Regional High School
Location: Charlestown
Total # of Students: 1,201
% Chronically Absent:
#51 Middletown High School
Location: Middletown
Total # of Students: 685
% Chronically Absent: 10%
#50 North Kingstown Senior High School
Location: North Kingstown
Total # of Students: 1,387
% Chronically Absent:11%
#49 Smithfield Senior High School
Location: Smithfield
Total # of Students: 755
% Chronically Absent: 11 %
#48 Westerly High School
Location: Smithfield
Total # of Students: 917
% Chronically Absent: 11%
#47 Block Island School
Location: New Shoreham
Total # of Students: NA
% Chronically Absent: 12%
#46 South Kingstown High School
Location: South Kingstown
Total # of Students: 1,073
% Chronically Absent: 12 %
#45 Tiverton High School
Location: Tiverton
Total # of Students: 1,607
% Chronically Absent: 14%
#44 Coventry High School
Location: Coventry
Total # of Students: 1,607
% Chronically Absent: 14 %
#43 Cumberland High School
Location: Cumberland
Total # of Students: 1,337
% Chronically Absent: 14%
#42 Narragansett High School
Location: Narragansett
Total # of Students: 429
% Chronically Absent: 14%
#41 The Greene School
Location: Exeter
Total # of Students: 162
% Chronically Absent: 15%
#40 Highlander Charter Academy
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: NA
% Chronically Absent: 16%
#39 Burrillville High School
Location: Burrillville
Total # of Students: 682
% Chronically Absent: 18%
#38 Lincoln Senior High School
Location: Lincoln
Total # of Students: 1,005
% Chronically Absent: 18%
#37 Mt. Hope High School
Location: Bristol
Total # of Students: 990
% Chronically Absent:19%
#36 East Providence High School
Location: East Providence
Total # of Students: 1,502
% Chronically Absent: 19%
#35 Paul Cuffee Charter School
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: NA
% Chronically Absent: 19%
#34 Times2 Academy
Location: Providence
Total Number of Students: NA
% Chronically Absent: 19%
#33 Academy for Career Exploration
Location: Providence
Total Number of Students: 168
% Chronically Absent: 19%
#32 Scituate High School
Location: Scituate
Total Number of Students: 469
% Chronically Absent: 19%
#31 J.M. Walsh School
Location: Pawtucket
Total number of students: 192
% Chronically Absent: 20%
#30 Classical High School
Location: Providence
Total Number of Students: 1,119
% Chronically Absent: 21%
#29 Toll Gate High School
Location: Wawick
Total # of Students: 958
% Chronically Absent: 21%
#28 West Warwick Senior High School
Location: West Warwick
Total # of Students: 935
% Chronically Absent: 21%
#27 Davies Career and Techinical Center
Location: Lincoln
Total # of Students: 849
% Chronically Absent: 22%
#26 Pilgrim High School
Location: Warwick
Total # of Students: 991
% Chronically Absent: 22%
#25 Johnston Senior High School
Location: Johnston
Total # of Students: 893
% Chronically Absent: 24%
#24 North Providence High School
Location: North Providence
Total # of Students: 969
% Chronically Absent: 26%
#23 Cranston High School East
Location: Cranston
Total # of Students: 1,583
% Chronically Absent: 27%
#22 Warwick Veterans Memorial High School
Location: Warwick
Total # of Students: 910
% Chronically Absent: 27%
#21 RI Nurses Institute
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 266
% Chronically Absent: 29%
#20 Rogers High School
Location: Newport
Total # of Students: 538
% Chronically Absent: 32%
#19 RI School for the Deaf
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: NA
% Chronically Absent: 32%
#18 Tolman Senior High School
Location: Pawtucket
Total # of Students: 1,034
% Chronically Absent: 33%
#17 Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 838
% Chronically Absent: 33%
#16 Cranston High School West
Location: Cranston
Total # of Students:1,526
% Chronically Absent: 33%
#15 Village Green Virtual Charter School
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: NA
% Chronically Absent: 39%
#14 E-Cubed Academy
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 349
% Chronically Absent: 39%
#13 Mount Pleasant High School
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 898
% Chronically Absent: 39%
#12 Central Falls High School
Location: Central Falls
Total # of Students: 727
% Chronically Absent: 40%
#11 Shea Senior High School
Location: Pawtucket
Total # of Students: 858
% Chronically Absent: 42%
#10 Blackstone Charter Academy
Location: Pawtucket
Total # of Students: 168
% Chronically Absent: 43%
#9 Providence Career and Technical Academy
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 577
% Chronically Absent: 44%
#8 Woonsocket High School
Location: Woonsocket
Total # of Students: 1,579
% Chronically Absent: 47%
#7 Cranston Construction Career Academy
Location: Cranston
Total # of Students:158
% Chronically Absent: 49%
#6 William B. Cooley Senior High School
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 617
% Chronically Absent: 50%
#5 Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 486
% Chronicallly Absent: 53%
#4 Central High School
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 1,112
% Chronically Absent: 55%
#3 Hope High School
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 894
% Chronically Absent: 55%
#2 Sheila Skip Nowell Leadership Academy (II)
Location: Providence
Total # of Students: 81
% Chronically Absent: 87%
#1 Sheila Skip Nowell Leadership Academy (I)
Location: Central Falls
Total # of Students: 73
% of Chronically Absent: 89%
