Woonsocket
Valley Breeze publisher Tom Ward has written an apology for a previous column where he described changes in the Woonsocket Fire department platoon structure and scheduling as being correctives to “overtime abuse”…My column this week went over the line in its tone, and for that I apologize to our readers, especially the firefighters of Woonsocket…
Uncharted territory necessitates the invention of terms: what to call a reverse Caruolo Action? The Woonsocket Call reports; h/t today’s RISC-Y Business Newsletter. Mayor Leo T. Fontaine fired a shot across the bow of the School Department on Thursday while opening a Superior Court bid to win an immediate reduction in school spending. The city…
This was the prospect raised at a meeting Wednesday between Mayor Leo T. Fontaine, the city’s finance director and state officials. Granted, the state already funds 75% of the Woonsocket school budget. And yes, the School Committee has an almost comical approach to bookkeeping. School officials, who were predicting an $800,000 surplus just weeks ago…
Apart from the complications of Rhode Island law, as a matter of political theory, this strikes me as a reasonable argument: The lawsuit [by the city of Woonsocket], which also names State Controller Marc A. Leonetti and General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio as defendants, said the money [that the state was supposed to give towns…
While not taking our eyes completely off the fast and furious developments at the state level, a glance northward is in order. From today’s Valley Breeze. In a letter addressed to Superintendent Gerardi, [Mayor Susan] Menard said, “Continued operation of the school department at the projected costs will cause a significant deficit to accumulate.” She…
Doesn’t it seem that school districts somehow always just happen to find money? I mean, sometimes a car’s brake lines just happen to go the day after it’s been in the shop for a tuneup, but it’s difficult to know what to make of the Woonsocket superintendent’s claim that the district can now hire a…
Developments in Woonsocket are fascinating: Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist has warned School Committee members that they could be sued and Supt. Robert J. Gerardi could have his superintendent’s certification questioned if the committee follows through on its threat to defy state rulings on hiring new staff for its literacy program. … She warned the…
During tonight’s Citizen Good and Welfare (public comment portion – cities and towns around Rhode Island, take note: in Woonsocket, this item is close to the top of the agenda) of the School Committee meeting, a citizen asked a question about a payment received by the city from the state, how it was applied to…
Contradicting her own repeated affirmations, including one as recently as ten days ago to the Woonsocket Call, incumbent Mayor Susan Menard took out nomination papers Monday, signaling an apparent intent to seek reelection. Russ Olivo at the Woonsocket Call correctly points out that the declaration period that ended Tuesday [yesterday] is merely a preliminary placeholder…
Amidst all the talk about what can and might be cut in Woonsocket, this paragraph stands out: The 40 no-pay days were intended to save about $5 million. Council President Leo T. Fontaine questioned why the committee considered that approach, saying it was a violation of federal labor law. Schools Supt. Robert J Gerardi Jr.…