Providence School Board selects new interim superintendent

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence School Board has chosen a new interim leader for the public school system: Dr. Frances Gallo.

“Certainly looking forward to working hard and creating a strong base so that positive change can happen,” Gallo said.

She has more than 40 years of experience in Rhode Island education, working for Providence schools before serving as the Central Falls superintendent from 2007 to 2015.

Her time in that position was marked by controversy, including a plan to fire all the teachers at Central Falls High.

“Certainly not anything we wanted,” Gallo said, “but we followed the federal protocol.”

That plan didn’t end up happening, and Gallo doesn’t think it will happen in providence either.

But while firing all teachers seems extreme, parents at recent forums have expressed their desire for major change after the blistering Johns Hopkins report.

“People have to know that I’m a good listener,” Gallo said, “and I will take in all of the complaints – and hopefully, some praise–worthy things – and we will act accordingly.”

The head of the teachers union in Providence, says they have to move forward quickly — as students return in only 45 days.

“That’s not a lot of time,” said Maribeth Calabro of the Providence Teachers Union. “This conversation should have been had weeks ago. With 45 days left and an interim in place, I think we need to sit down and start planning.”

The school board still has to take a formal vote on the matter. Gallo would likely start by September 1st.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019