News Briefs

Tim Conley to take on Chrissy Rossi in Council Ward 4 Race

The political season has begun in East Providence as several incumbent and newcomers have announced intentions to seek elective office. Political machinations in the city had cooled off a bit with the onset of the former state appointed budget commission. The commission pretty much ran the city and controlled all aspects of city funding. The commission basically said no to any funding beyond state mandates. While some liked these austere measures, others like current interim city manager, Paul Lemont thought they went too far, hurting the city's ability to maintain and improve on an aging infrastructure and popular local programs. "When I was here before, I knew where every penny went and I want to get this city back on track again, now that I'm back," Lemont told the city council upon his interim appointment. Lemont's interim status may be an immediate issue for the next city council to deal with. The city is also facing a major decline of its' fresh water supply, distribution and storage systems and how to best remedy the problem.

The school department is entering another year with several new administrators and is facing continuing issues with building and grounds repairs. The high school has come a long way and has impressed many visitors who remember the many deficiencies of the recent past. A combination of bond funding and community fund raising, like the John Carnevale (class of 2000) gymnasium project, have brought many improvements to the high school. Most of these improved areas were deemed mandatory in nature in order for the high school to be accredited. "They like our academics, it's the physical plant that has accrediting boards unhappy," Superintendent of Schools, Kim Mercer told a group of parents and others touring the high school during its' renovations.

Tim Conley versus Chrissy Rossi in the Ward 4 City Council race is the headliner. Brian Faria also seeks same seat. Here are the rest:

City Council-At-Large:
Incumbent Tracy Adams Capobianco will be running for reelection. The following have announced their candidacy for the At-Large council seat: Michael Baptista, Hicks Street; David Boucher, Catlin Avenue. Capobianco lives on Merritt Road.

City Council Ward One:
Incumbent member and Mayor, James Briden is not seeking reelection. Those seeking the Ward 1 seat are: Robert Britto, Byron Avenue; Edward Lynch, Don Avenue; Robert Silva, Dewey Avenue and David Sullivan, Lillian Avenue.

City Council Ward Two:
Helder Cunha is seeking reelection. His opponents are Brian Castro, Grosvenor Avenue and Eric Zollo, 4th Street. Cunha lives on Williams Avenue.

City Council Ward Three:
Incumbent Thomas Rose is seeking reelection. Also running in Ward 3 is Joseph Carter, Oak Avenue; Candy Seel, S. Broadway and Chelsie Tague, Ide Avenue. Rose lives on Warren Avenue.

City Council Ward Four:
Incumbent Chrissy Rossi is seeking reelection. She will be challenged by current school committee member Timothy Conley, Terrace Avenue and Brian Faria, Lunn Street. Rossi lives on Woodbine Street.

School Committee
At Large Seat:
Incumbent school board chairman, Joel Monteiro has announced that he will run for reelection. He is unopposed and will retain his at-large seat.

School Committee Ward One:
Incumbent Elizabeth Clumpny will not seek reelection. Former school board Chairman, Charles Tsonos will run unopposed and will return to the school board. Tsonos lives on Wilson Avenue.

School Committee Ward Two:
Incumbent Anthony Ferreira is seeking reelection. He lives on Brightridge Avenue. He will be challenged by Gary Pascoa, Summit Street.

School Committee Ward Three:
Incumbent Richard "Spunky"Pimentel, Dover Avenue will seek reelection. Also running is Nate Cahoon, Greenwich Avenue.

School Committee Ward Four:
Incumbent Tim Conley will now run for the ward 4 city council seat against Chrissy Rossi. Those running for this seat are Karen Doucette, Peck Avenue and Jessica Beauchaine of Winslow Street.

State House Legislators:

Representative Katherine Kazarian, D-Dist. 63 is seeking reelection. She will be opposed by Independent, Danielle Boucher, Catlin Avenue.
Representative Gregg Amore, D-Dist. 65 is unopposed.
Representative Helio Melo, D-Dist 64 will be opposed by Republican, Robert Botelho in November.
Representative Joy Hearn, D-Dist. 66 is unopposed.
Senator Daniel Daponte, D-Dist 14 is unopposed.
Senator William Conley, D-Dist. 18 is unopposed.

The Reporter has been contacting all candidates for office and will soon publish candidate's comments and answers to questions. Check ReporterToday.com for regular updates.


EP School Dept. Has $2.5M Surplus
Money earmarked for schools, instruction, supplies and staff. Teachers to get $200 Check

City Finance Director, Malcom Moore gave the school committee the good news that the school budget has now had a surplus for two years in a row. "This is a long way from the $7 million deficit of the past," said Moore. "We are fully funding pension issues and items we need to. We've had a savings with Blue Cross. The Superintendent of Schools (Kim Mercer) has been very strict on spending," he told the committee and public at the June 10th meeting. "It was a very good year," he added.

"In the past, instructional materials and textbooks were not supplied well. We will use this surplus to give money back to teachers and administrators to use for whatever," said Mercer.
The school committee approved the Superintendent's spending plan as follows:

An increase in textbook and instruction supplies at $142,523.90; technology at $60,000; equipment at $25,000; benefits at $600,000; capital expenditures at $1,533,718,10; and $110,400 for teacher stipends for a total of $2,471,642.

"We all know that teachers have spent hundreds maybe thousands of dollars on school supplies for their classrooms in the past," Mercer told the committee. "Each teacher and administrator will receive a check for $200.," Mercer said. The district calculates this will cost $107,200 for 536 teachers and $3,200 for 16 administrators.

Items being covered by this surplus include $113,000 for much needed math workbooks; $25,000 for a special needs playground at Waddington; $60,000 in wireless laptop computer "movable" labs at Martin and Riverside middle schools; $29,000 for social studies middle school texts; and $600,000 in required post-employment benefits. $1.5 million will go for capital improvements.

Mercer told the committee that the high school plant improvements are in wonderful condition. "Our accrediting issues because of physical deficiencies will be looked at by the end of June. We are in good shape. We have completed just about every recommendation from N.E.A.S.C. The new science construction has given our high school a state of the art chemistry lab that better colleges would like to have. We have enlarged the guidance area with separate student entrance. It's a beautiful job," she said. "We have also expanded and better arranged the nurses area and a better location for the school resource officer," said Mercer. "There will also be a $500,000 state funded wireless technology which will include every school. High school teachers will get laptops and docking for classroom use, etc. There is over 190,000 square feet of new floor tiling which is the entire school now," Mercer continued. "Please come in and visit the high school, it's looking great, including our new gymnasium and small gym thanks to John Carnevale and alumni," Facilities manager Ed Catelli also told the committee that over 6 classrooms of furniture have been donated from Roger Williams University.

Silver Spring teacher Mary Texeira spoke briefly on the $200 stipend she and others will receive. "I know people will be very appreciative, so don't take this wrong. Teachers have spent much, much more than $200, maybe that $100,000 could have gone to hire a couple of teachers or something else. But, please, we really appreciate the gesture," said Texeira. "The money is only available as a onetime source. It couldn't cover permanent hiring," replied Mercer.

Oldham Closing - Revisited at Board Meeting (Silver Spring Space Issues?)

Although it wasn't on the school committee agenda of June 10, 2014, the first topic of discussion became a rehash of why the Oldham School building on Bullocks Point Avenue in Riverside was closed. In 2013 the School Committee was basically under an order from the city Budget Commission and the State Department of Education to close a school with most fingers pointing at Oldham. At a meeting back then, Interim Superintendent John DeGoes addressed the community: "It wasn't until this past September - after being here as your interim Superintendent for one month - that I learned there is not enough money to operate all schools come next year," said an exasperated looking John DeGoes. DeGoes is a former Superintendent of Schools in East Providence who was brought back to stabilize the local schools until a permanent Superintendent is hired. "Because of the financial condition of the city, I have been instructed to close a school. The budget commission and the R.I. Department of Education (RIDE) do not think our student census warrants the number of school buildings East Providence has," DeGoes said. Oldham School has about 178 pupils after once having a few hundred more. DeGoes disclosed that he attended a meeting at RIDE at which time he was told that the state does not want some $2 million plus in bond money spent to repair the old school on Bullocks Point Avenue. "I looked into several other options, I don't enjoy closing a school, but closing Oldham is our only move - if we have to close a school," he said. "There is a large cost savings, it is the least disruptive, all Oldham kids will remain together, there will be no added bus costs and Meadowcrest (pre-school) will benefit (new kindergarteners would be sent to Meadowcrest)," DeGoes said as he tried to convince the school committee to support his recommendation. It didn't seem to ring well with most on the committee.

Back at that meeting in 2013, School Committee ward 4 member Tim Conley wasted no time in dismissing the DeGoes recommendation. "I couldn't disagree more with you. There is no way I can support this. Oldham is the best performing school in the city and you want to close it," said Conley in reference to the school's RIDE classification as a "high performing school. "This is a violation of state Title 16 regulations which strictly gives the school committee - not the budget commission - the authority to close a school," said a clearly upset Conley. Conley's district includes both Oldham and Waddington school buildings.

Throughout that meeting, a visibly upset Tim Conley interjected comments. "The logistics of this plan are dysfunctional, there was no public input. Our kids are at risk," he added. "Tim (Conley), you are spot on," said ward 4 city council member and former school board member Chrissy Rossi. "We are losing our rights on a daily basis because of this budget commission," said an upset Rossi. Both DeGoes and School Board Chair, Joel Monteiro indicated that they had been instructed by the budget commission to close a school and the commission believes that the school is Oldham.

After receiving a recommendation from an East Providence teacher, DeGoes revised his plan for Oldham. The Oldham building would be closed but instead of merging with Waddington School on Legion Way, Oldham students and staff would be sent as a group to the closed Meadowcrest School on Bart Drive. The Meadowcrest pre-school program would go to Waddington.

While some parents lamented the reasons which brought the issues to this decision, they mostly agreed with the new plan. "After hearing from everyone, I guess this is a better plan," DeGoes told the committee and a small gathering in the council chambers. "I hope that we replicate Oldham's program, supplies, everything they need when the students move to their new school," said committee member Tim Conley. "I assure you that it will work," answered DeGoes.

At the committee's June 10, 2014 meeting, the committee and Superintendent of Schools Kim Mercer were asked about "rumors" that Silver Spring school may lose a kindergarten class. The Superintendent said that it was "being looked into" but no decision was made yet. A teacher was given a displacement notice "just in case we have to move someone for September". "Our kindergarten registrations are down, the public needs to come in," Mercer stressed. "We are running out of physical space in the district," said Mercer. The problem seems to be more of a classroom space issue rather than an enrollment problem. Speakers lined up to complain that their children may not be able to stay at or go to Silver Spring School next year. Long time Silver Spring teacher and frequent speaker at meetings, Mary Texeira, told the committee that "we have no art room, we have art on a cart. A lot of blame can go around for all of these problems but there remains a passion in this city," she said. "You cannot fund education at under 50% and expect these decisions (closings, etc.) to not happen," added Texeira. "I've worked under a stairwell with kids, there is nowhere to go, no room," she said.

"We closed a school that we shouldn't have," chided member Tony Ferreira. "Open Oldham back up, I have an issue," said Ferreira. "Travelling schools? This city has been taking apart education for the dollar," he added. Patty DosReis, a parent, questioned the cost for possibly moving Silver Spring students. "You're going to move kids from Silver Spring and bussing is expensive. How is that going to work?" she asked.

City council member and former school board member Chrissy Rossi also spoke. "We seem to have an overcrowding problem. This committee told me we have declining enrollment and there was a great savings (in closing Oldham). I feel like I was lied to. I'm besides myself. We closed a perfectly good school (Oldham) and have nowhere to put them now. These are kids lives, fix this," Rossi said.

In an indirect response to Rossi, board member, and potential candidate for Rossi's ward 4 city council seat, Tim Conley countered, "I didn't support closing Oldham. The budget commission and R.I.D.E. (Dept. of Education) told us declining enrollment. The decision to close Oldham was of no educational value. The City felt it would save $3 million. The state needs to lift the moratorium on building of new schools," Conley said.

Chairman Joel Monteiro also looked at the budget commission. "The budget commission ordered the closing of a school. If not Oldham, then somewhere. It was inevitable. There was no decision here (locally) to close a school," Monteiro said. "R.I.D.E. and the budget commission had flawed numbers," Monteiro added. Member Tony Ferreira urged the committee to move on from the budget commission days. "We wasted 15 months. What did we do? Can't keep blaming the commission. This is an East Providence school issue, not the state's problem," said Ferreira. "We need to tell our state representatives to lift the building moratorium," said Monteiro.

Parent Jessica Beauchaine also was concerned about crowded numbers. "Remember, Waddington School has 570 plus kids there while Riverside Middle School has about 500. There is no room," she said. Parents continued to question numbers. "We currently have two kindergarten classes close to 50 (total). Yet, next year you show three 1st grade classes at Silver Spring?" asked Amy Tavares.

"We've got to build up education in order to fix this city," said Mary Texeira. "Good teachers are leaving or getting bumped around. Parents don't know where their kids will go sometimes. It comes down to money. The city council must step up. It's about commitment to education, about money," said Texeira. "We're looking at everything," said Superintendent Mercer.

Rep. Amore Bill on School Testing gets Wide-Spread R.I. Assembly Support

In a Rhode Island General Assembly late June press release, it was announced that state lawmakers instituted a 3-year moratorium on high-stakes testing. The bills (2014-S 2059Aaa, 2014-H 8363aa), sponsored by Sen. Adam J. Satchell (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick) and Rep. Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence), state that "no standardized assessment can be used to determine a student’s ability to graduate from high school prior to the Class of 2017." “This legislation does not mean districts won’t use standardized testing, and I want to make that perfectly clear,” Senator Satchell said. “This allows our school districts to properly match curricula to the new Common Core State Standards and when we our students are given a better picture of what to expect in preparation for graduation, then we can move forward with adding an extra layer of requirements. We want our students to reach their highest potential, and that includes raising our educational standards from time to time. This bill does not stand in the way of that. It simply gives us time to ensure that we don’t make the same mistakes with the PARCC exam that we did with the NECAP.”

State Representative Gregg Amore, D-Dist. 65 in East Providence has been the major voice for this legislation. Amore said that "the public school system in Rhode Island has made so many transformations in such a short period of time that no one – including the students – has been afforded enough time to catch up. When a state’s education system goes through a complete upheaval in a matter of just a few years, realistic expectations of our administrators, educators and students need to be set,” Representative Amore said. “That’s not what happened here when RIDE implemented the high-stakes testing policy with a tool that was not intended for such a use. Outside of the practical implications of our legislation, I strongly believe we will improve our ability to retain our most prized education professionals and institute highly effective target remediation. When high-stakes testing finally steps back onto the scene, our students will be better prepared. Our system will never be perfect – nothing ever is. However, the past decade has been overwrought with policy changes, some of which were in direct conflict with each other. Three years of consistency will make a difference for these kids,” continued Amore.

According to the General Assembly statement, 'both legislators added that this policy will prompt comprehensive discussions about placing more support in the classroom for English Language Learners (ELL) and other students grappling with learning disabilities, poverty and other factors that may impede a child’s ability to learn. Upon the governor’s signature into law, the legislation would require that data obtained from standardized assessments be used to promote school improvement and create better programs to fill learning gaps for both individuals and groups of students. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education would also be required to submit an annual report disaggregating performance by race, poverty, native language and gender.'

PondView Operation Stymied By DaPonte / Kazarian Legislation

Senator Dan DaPonte (D-Dist. 14) and Representaive Katherine Kazarian (D-Dist. 63) received General Assembly support for their companion bills to require construction and demolition companies like Pond View in Rumford to operate indoors only if within 1000 feet of a residential zone. "This act would modify the definition of a construction and demolition (C&D) debris
processing facility by eliminating the daily amount of C&D debris a facility may receive and
process. It would further require such a facility that is located within a one thousand foot (1000')
radius of a residential zone district conduct all operations within an enclosed structure," said the legislation's language. "Thanks to our Representatives and Senators for supporting this legislation. Now the pressure will be on the city to enforce this new law immediately, once signed by the Governor," said a resident opposed to the conditions on Dexter Road in Rumford.

Mandatory Summer Assignments for EPHS Students!

EPHS students are required to complete coursework during the summer. Below is information categorized by academic department.

English Summer Assignments (AP & Honors)
English Summer Reading (Grades 9-12)
Math Summer Assignments
Science Summer Assignments
Social Studies Summer Assignments

Go to the following link to access the assignments: http://eastprovidencehighschool.com/web/content/summer-assignments, or go to the high school web site at: http://eastprovidencehighschool.com/web/frontpage.