RI lawmakers discuss hiring process of former school administrator facing charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Rhode Island lawmakers met about the vetting and hiring of a former Providence school administrator accused of wrongdoing on Monday.

The Providence delegation to the Senate asked Senate Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight Committee Chairman Louis DiPalma to convene an oversight hearing regarding their vetting process and hiring of former Providence Schools Administrator Olayinka Alege.

Court records show Alege was charged with simple assault and battery by the Warwick Police Department on April 20. The charges were filed May 10.

During the hearing, Providence Public School Superintendent Harrison Peters admitted he knew about Alege’s actions prior to his hiring, but did not tell the hiring committee or anyone in the school community.

“I put my trust in someone, and that trust was betrayed,” said Peters. “I called the references and again, based on information I received I felt we made the right decision. Clearly, I was wrong.”

Before working in Providence, Alege worked for Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa.

Students in Tampa had previously complained about Alege’s “unusual” punishments.

According to a report from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 2009, “Five boys told deputies that King High assistant principal Olayinka Alege asked them on numerous occasions to take off a shoe and sock behind closed doors, and allow him to ‘pop’ their toes.”