Joint Meeting Council School Board

A joint City Council - School Committee meeting was also held on October 21st. "As new City Manager in East Providence over the past few weeks, I've worked on a budget which I didn't prepare," said Richard Kirby. "Hopefully a working relation between the City Council and the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools, etc., will help us to move forward," Kirby told members of a joint City Council, School Committee meeting at City Hall. "I feel responsibility that all of you (council & school committee) are here tonight. You can say what you expect from the meeting," he said.

School Committee chairman Charlie Tsonos started the meeting by saying he was grateful for the opportunity to attend the meeting. "This is an important meeting that will hopefully lead to a better city for all of us. Thanks to all the parties involved." said Tsonos. Much of the joint meeting enveloped discussion on needs of the school department due to building infrastructure. "All of these ideas on how we can move our schools forward," said Mayor Tom Rose. "Some of us, including me, focus too much on what the city does that we over think the importance of the schools," said the Mayor.

Much of the meeting dwelled on the physical needs of the high school and the school department's procedures for dealing with necessary repairs. At times the meeting raised to a contentious level between some of the participants.

Ward 4 council member and former school committee member Tim Conley stressed that he wanted to see an increased proportion of city funding allocated to the schools. "We used to spend closer to 60% of the budget on our schools as many communities do," Conley said. "But we've gotten away from that."

When Ward 2 school committee member Tony Ferreira discussed specific maintenance repair needs of the schools, Ward 2 council member Helder Cunha shot back at Ferreira, "Why are you coming to us? You should put it out to bid, get an RFP (request for proposal) and get it done." "We can go to bid," responded Ferreira, "but we have no money."

Much of the discussion also highlighted the "low" salaries of East Providence teachers. "I get very upset when I see our good teachers leaving for better paying jobs," said Ward 4 school committee member Jessica Beauchaine. "Teachers have families to support, it's only fair they look for more money," Beauchaine added. At-Large council member Tracy Capobianco agreed in part with Beauchaine's assertions stating that "at some levels our top step teachers are near or at the bottom of the salary list in RI."