Providence Parents Frustrated With Repeated School Department Delays
Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor
Providence Parents Frustrated With Repeated School Department Delays
"We are frustrated that after opening registration in November 2014 (at least a month earlier than last year), with the intention to give families their school assignments in coordination with other school acceptances across the city, the process came to a total standstill and at April 2, we still have heard radio silence about our kindergartner's school assignment," said Providence parent Danielle Kachapis.
A Facebook group called "PVD Kindergarten Countdown" was formed, where parents have been voicing their frustrations.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"We're hearing many parents lose faith in the Providence public school and in frustration opt out. If this is their first introduction into the system, it leaves a terrible first impression. Our friends feel that this is sign of incompetence and a broken system that they are wary of entering into with their small children as guinea pigs," said Kachapis. "I personally feel that the public school system is weakened when so many middle class families leave the city for better performing schools elsewhere. This is a much longer conversation."
During his campaign, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza touted "investing in 21st century data and technology systems that move Providence out of the age of file cabinets, improve our ability to efficiently and equitably manage school registration, assignment, transportation, and finances, and better position our students to compete in a global society."
School Board President Keith Oliveira said that he has spoken with school officials, and the lotteries will be be taking place next week, after the department has been working through new software.
"I believe that's going to be happening next week. The lottery is going to be done through our new software Skyward. They were anticipating kinks, so they want to make sure that it's in place as best as can be," said Oliveira. "Perhaps it could have been better communicated, I just don't know how they have -- or haven't -- been communicating with parents. It will be next week, and hopefully it will go as best at can. And if it goes as well, a lot of concerns will be alleviated."
Delay Impacts on School Decisions
"Email notification has proven unreliable as an official means of communication," said Christine O'Reilly. "While we do offer regular email newsletters, PPSD relies on systems like our ParentLink mass calling system, our website, school-to-home flyers and letters, and social media to reach parents."
Parents, however, said the lack of information -- and certainty -- over the lotteries for schools had them concerned.
"In a nutshell, I'm really frustrated," said Providence parent Leela Sami. "The lotteries were supposed to be announced in the first week of March, it's really been delayed. I assume my child will get in somewhere, I'm not sure where. The policy is 80% neighborhood, I'm nervous about where she'll go. We applied to a number of charters, but we didn't get into the one that we wanted. She's at a private pre-K, and if we don't hear soon, we might go with that. I just wish they would give us a deadline and tell us what's happening. Transparency is an issue here."
Parents who said they are considering whether to send their children private school said the delay in the process was forcing them to make decisions without information from the city.
"I'm slightly frustrated," said Providence parent Josh Taub. "We signed up the first week back in November, to be fair, it was for the most part, it was easy and efficient without the hassles you'd expect."
"In the meantime, we applied to Henry Barnard, where by daughter was accepted. We had to pay a non-refundable $500 deposit two months ago...this is a month before the charter school lotteries came along later, and as it turns out, two months before the regular public school system," said Taub. "All of these schools should be in sync. Luckily, our daughter got into the charter school that was tops on our list. Had she not, we would probably have had to chose Barnard, being in the dark about our other public options. It would be nice for some coordination."
Kachapis noted she didn't see the criticism as political.
"This isn't political -- this was a broken system before, and I know the Mayor has been auditing it, maybe why that's why it was delayed," said Kachapis. "But we're a month behind, and it's unfortunate people had to make decisions with little information."
Rhode Island School Superintendent Salaries
34. New Shoreham
Superintendent Robert Hicks
Salary: $45,280
District Profile
Student Body Size: 112
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $4,443,923
Note: Position is part-time.
33. Little Compton
Superintendent Kathryn M. Crowley
Salary: $63,500
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Student Body Size: 295
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $6,995,203
Note: Position is part-time.
32. Jamestown
Superintendent Marcia Lukon
Salary: $67,039
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Student Body Size: 481
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $12,049,735
Note: Position is part-time.
31. Johnston
Superintendent Bernard DiLullo, Jr.
Salary: $121,456
Longevity Pay: $2,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,917
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $50,452,203
Salary includes longevity pay.
30. Tiverton
Superintendent William J. Rearick
Salary: $125,032
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,738
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $28,715,478
29. North Providence
Superintendent Melinda Smith
Salary: $127,600
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Student Body Size: 3,301
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $47,235,638
28. North Smithfield
Superintendent Stephen Lindberg
Salary: $129,854
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Annual Budget (FY 2012): $23,498,113
27. Portsmouth
Superintendent Lynn Krizic
Salary: $132,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,590
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $36,591,167
26. West Warwick
Superintendent Karen Tarasevich
Salary: $134,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,374
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $53,918,748
25. Exeter-West Greenwich
Superintendent James H. Erinakes II
Salary: $135,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,678
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $32,331,544
24. Narragansett
Superintendent Katherine E. Sipala
Salary: $138,485
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,407
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $26,850,371
23. Burrillville
Superintendent Frank Pallotta
Salary: $139,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,418
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $31,681,821
22. Smithfield
Superintendent Robert O'Brien
Salary: $141,481
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,349
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $34,311,788
21. Foster-Glocester
Superintendent Michael S. Barnes
Salary: $141,756
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,226
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $18,267,711
20. Bristol-Warren
Superintendent Melinda Thies
Salary: $142,550
Longevity Pay: $2,550
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,454
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $51,591,792
19. East Greenwich
Superintendent Victor Mercurio
Salary: $144,279
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,323
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $32,975,952
18. East Providence
Superintendent Kim Mercer
Salary: $144,279
District Profile
Student Body Size: 5,338
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $77,242,920
17. Central Falls
Superintendent Frances Gallo
Salary: $144,900
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,724
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $51,519,366
16. Coventry
Superintendent Michael Almeida
Salary: $145,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 4,970
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $67,620,141
15. Cranston
Superintendent Judith Lundsten
Salary: $145,083
District Profile
Student Body Size: 10,030
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $140,651,662
14. North Kingstown
Superintendent Phillip Auger
Salary: $145,352
District Profile
Student Body Size: 4,398
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $61,636,874
13. Westerly
Superintendent Roy Seitsinger
Salary: $146,477
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,030
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $55,015,253
12. Barington
Superintendent Michael Messore
Salary: $147,500
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,101
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $44,851,748
Note: Salary includes longevity pay.
11. Chariho
Superintendent Barry J. Ricci
Salary: $149,030
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,421
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $55,831,939
Note: District includes towns of Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton.
10. Lincoln
Superintendent Georgia Fortunato
Salary: $149,130
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,236
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $49,551,778
9. Woonsocket
Superintendent Giovanna M. Donoyan
Salary: $150,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 5,636
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $77,022,482
8. Scituate
Superintendent Paul R. Lescault
Salary: $150,098
District Profile
Student Body Size: 1,492
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $22,330,940
7. South Kingstown
Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow
Salary: $151,008
District Profile
Student Body Size: 3,393
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $59,950,442
6. Middletown
Superintendent Rosemarie K. Kraeger
Salary: $154,059
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,360
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $37,340,131
5. Newport
Superintendent John H. Ambrogi
Salary: $155,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 2,005
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $39,683,489
4. Cumberland
Superintendent Philip Thorton
Salary: $158,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 4,470
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $55,508,846
3. Pawtucket
Superintendent Deborah A. Cylke
Salary: $159,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 9,072
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $112,889,497
2. Warwick
Superintendent Richard D'Agostino
Salary: $169,371
Longevity Pay: $2,480
District Profile
Student Body Size: 9,487
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $162,729,013
1. Providence
Superintendent Susan Lusi
Salary: $190,000
District Profile
Student Body Size: 22,432
Annual Budget (FY 2012): $364,621,277
