State officials react to scathing Providence Schools report
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – State officials are reacting after the release of a report highlighting years of neglect and chronic failure throughout Providence schools.
The scathing report from Johns Hopkins University was released Tuesday night, taking the Providence Public School System to task.
“The report that was released yesterday paints a grim, concerning and accurate picture,” said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.
The picture in question? Crumbling infrastructure, horrific test scores, unsafe schools, and a distinct lack of learning.
Elorza spoke out Wednesday, joined by the Governor Gina Raimondo and new Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green.
How could this happen? How could we let this happen?” Infante-Green asked. “Every time I read the report it hurt.”
Mayor Elorza promised sweeping change in light of the report, saying everything is on the table.
“The deeper that you dig into this you will see that it’s no one person,” said Elorza. “There is no one decision.”
With the schools plagued by dysfunction, Governor Raimondo says it’s a broken system, and that the state will be getting involved, but would not say that it will be a complete takeover.
“Given the current crisis that’s before us, there’s no scenario where the state doesn’t get more involved,” said Raimondo.
Despite the overwhelmingly troubling findings, Commissioner Infante-Green – is remained somewhat optimistic Wednesday, saying the district can be saved.
“I don’t care what happened yesterday,” she said. “What matters to me is what we do moving forward.”
No specific plans were announced Tuesday but officials said while the issues are going to take years to fix, some changes will begin immediately.
When asked if anyone in the district will be fired, Mayor Elorza only said that there will be staffing changes.
©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2019
