State responds to recommendations on Providence School District takeover

July 30, 2019 7:54 pm

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – With a state takeover looming over the Providence School District, the teachers union released a report, outlining recommendations for the state. However, the Commissioner of Education wants to take a different approach.

The Providence Teachers Union said they released the report because they are fully committed to partnering with the state.

The main recommendations listed:

Developing behavioral norms for our schools
Offering a union-sponsored professional development series
Increasing communication with community partners, families and students
Addressing cultural competency, bias, and racism
Addressing chronic absenteeism
Expanding partnerships for diversity

The Education Commissioner, Angelica Infante-Green said they reviewed the report, and appreciate the P.T.U’s willingness to address some of the key findings of the Johns Hopkins report.

However, Infante-Green said this approach looks at the short-term changes and leaves the structure of P.P.S.D. largely untouched.

“The Johns Hopkins report clearly told us that the entire system is broken, and I want to be clear with all concerned that turning this broken system around will require a long-term commitment by all of us to enact significant and lasting structural changes – and the results will be measured in years, not weeks or months,” Infante-Green said.

Some families are so frustrated that they are not willing to wait for the state takeover to see changes.

“Some people I know are moving out of state to better school districts,” Carmen Vasquez, a parent, said. “Over here, the school district could really care less. It’s sad, but it’s the truth.”