Central Falls

Confusion over Gallo Accepting Union Offer

By Marc Comtois | March 4, 2010 |

It seems there is some confusion over the latest page in the Central Falls High School story. The ProJo headline reads, “School chief, teachers agree to resume talks.” There is mention of both “sides” returning to “the table,” which is some of the common parlance used when it comes to contract negotiations. In the ProJo…

Rhode Island Statewide Coalition Winter Meeting Table of Contents

By Justin Katz | February 28, 2010 |

Anchor Rising’s complete coverage of the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition’s winter meeting: My on-the-scene liveblog Video: RISC Chairman Harry Staley’s opening remarks Video: 630AM/99.7FM Host John DePetro Video: Central Falls Superintendent Frances Gallo Video: RISC President James Beale and Business Network Organizer Jeff Deckman Video: Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri Video: Board of Regents Member…

Board of Regents Member Angus Davis at RISC’s Winter Meeting

By Justin Katz | February 27, 2010 |

NOTE: Any members of the media who couldn’t make it to the meeting and rely on this video for future reports are encouraged to do so, but a brief note of the video’s source would be appreciated. Rhode Island Board of Regents member Angus Davis came out with guns blazing in a surprise speech at…

Central Falls Superintendent Frances Gallo at RISC’s Winter Meeting

By Justin Katz | February 27, 2010 |

NOTE: Any members of the media who couldn’t make it to the meeting and rely on this video for future reports are encouraged to do so, but a brief note of the video’s source would be appreciated. Herewith, the video of the speech given by Central Falls Superintendent Frances Gallo at the Winter meeting of…

Yorke Airs Both Sides of Central Falls Debate

By Marc Comtois | February 26, 2010 |

Dan Yorke spoke with both Central Falls Superintendent Francis Gallo (podcast link) and Central Falls High School Guidance Counselor George McLaughlin (podcast link) on his show yesterday. Supt. Gallo explained that she was stymied by the union in trying to work out a solution based on the “transformation model.” But first she wanted assurances on…

The Cause of the Firings

By Justin Katz | February 23, 2010 |

Every working Rhode Islander, and all of those looking for work, can see the disconnection of Central Falls union rhetoric: “We still hold that this termination of the entire faculty is a violation of the contract and contrary to state law and federal law as well,” [teachers union President Jane] Sessums said. “This is a…

Learning to Hear the Union

By Justin Katz | February 19, 2010 |

Mike at Assigned Reading is dead on that the Newsmakers head-to-head between Central Falls union representative Jim Parisi and Superintendent Frances Gallo is very revealing about the two sides’ priorities. Perhaps the most crystallized example of unions’ determination to spin rather than inform — because everything’s “negotiable” — comes at approximately 9: in the video:…

The Union Chooses Firings

By Justin Katz | February 13, 2010 |

Anybody who’s surprised that the teachers’ union in Central Falls has chosen to stare down mass firings and do battle rather than submit to some eminently reasonable additional responsibilities should think through the future scenarios of the game. With administrators now standing firm on key planks that were previously popular political catch phrases, the unions…

Good for Students Versus Good for the Public Education Industry

By Justin Katz | February 12, 2010 |

Tom Ward writes on the success of Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley charter school in Cumberland, noting: “My concern, as the [Lincoln] superintendent (Georgia Fortunato), is that if they move into Fairlawn, Democracy Prep, people are going to think they are part of the Lincoln School Department and I think we are going to lose a…

A Clash of Realities in Central Falls

By Justin Katz | February 12, 2010 |

You’d think some higher-up planner in the teachers’ union would begin advising members that it’s time to back off for a while for the purpose of public-impression rehabilitation. Apart from the wholly inappropriate imagery of using a candle-light vigil for a union action, the particulars of the circumstances in Central Falls are absolutely certain to…