Education

Private School as Money Saver

By Justin Katz | June 28, 2009 |

Think about this, from amidst the continuing saga of the West Warwick school budget: After one resident learned that it costs about $15,000 to educate each child in West Warwick, she suggested that the town simply send its students to private Catholic schools. [Town Council Member Angelo] Padula quickly agreed, saying, “If we sent 200…

A Press Release to Emulate

By Justin Katz | June 23, 2009 |

East Providence School Committee Chairman Anthony Carcieri has issued a press release on which other elected representatives throughout the state should take notes: On being informed that NEA has voted “no confidence” in the East Providence School Committee, its Chair, Anthony Carcieri, said this. “So what’s new? No union is going to give a big…

Obama Admin Tells RI: Charter Schools or Else

By Marc Comtois | June 23, 2009 |

It should be no surprise that the Obama Adminstration, which is on the record as favoring Charter Schools and other education reform, would raise its eyebrows when a state cuts such funding. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has made it pretty clear that the President won’t look favorably upon those who turn their backs on educational…

Jim Quinlan: Another $25,000 Wasted by the Cranston School Department

By Engaged Citizen | June 18, 2009 |

According to a Projo article by Randy Edgar: The [Cranston] School Department will pay outgoing Supt. M. Richard Scherza $25,000 this summer to work as a consultant and help with the transition to a new superintendent, according to an agreement signed last month. Scherza will work on an as-needed basis during July and August, providing…

Physics First in Woonsocket, Portsmouth and Elsewhere

By Carroll Andrew Morse | June 15, 2009 |

Since we devoted space last week to education problems in Woonsocket, I think it’s only fair that we note the city’s (and other city and town’s) initial successes with a Rhode Island science education initiative that’s been showing some promise. From Gina Macris, in today’s Projo…With the backing of the state, Woonsocket and five other…

Surreality in Johnston Contract

By Justin Katz | June 14, 2009 |

Rhode Island’s circumstances won’t change until enough voters see the scam in such news as this: The agreement, ratified by the committee on Tuesday night, gives all teachers a 2-percent raise for the 2010-2011 school year, said the schools superintendent, Margaret A. Iacovelli. The most experienced teachers (at the 10th step) will receive a 1.75…

The Kids Get the Power Structure

By Justin Katz | June 13, 2009 |

Details are sparse in the Sakonnet Times account (which isn’t online), but from what’s presented, I’d suggest that the teacher-student power structure is out of whack in American education: According to police, Wayne Collins… an industrial arts teacher at Tiverton Middle School, made a comment at around 9:18 a.m., on Friday, May 29, to a…

Pay Increases But No Pay Raises in Johnston

By Carroll Andrew Morse | June 12, 2009 |

Has the Johnston teachers union sold its junior members out? A cursory reading of Mark Reynolds’ 7-to-7 item in yesterday’s Projo could lead one to believe that the union has secured raises for it’s higher-paid members, but nothing for the lower tiers…Teachers at the 10th step will receive a 1.75 percent raise during the upcoming…

The Funding Formula: Meanwhile, in Woonsocket…

By Carroll Andrew Morse | June 10, 2009 |

In response to recent postings on the education “funding formula”, commenter “John” offers this forthright reporting and analysis on the situation with regards to the City of Woonsocket… The Woonsocket school representatives that testified in favor of a formula (a bad formula) today in the Senate Finance Committee hearing were ridiculed and insulted. The committee…

The Funding Formula: Considerations from Outside the Box

By Carroll Andrew Morse | June 9, 2009 |

As the result of historical and civic inertia, the discussion over public education in Rhode Island often begins and ends with plans for shifting money between district-level bureaucracies, the assumption being that money can be sent across municipal borders, but students are inalterably trapped within them. But, especially in a state as densely populated as…