R.I. education commissioner denies bid by parents, students for role in Providence takeover
But Angélica Infante-Green says the community’s input with be important in creating a plan.
After hearing four hours of testimony from various community representatives, Infante-Green ruled that the Crowley Act, the state law that gives an education commissioner authority to assume control of a local school district, does not give a “small subset” of students and parents legal standing to intervene in the order. Infante-Green released a draft order last month that builds a case for the state takeover and will issue a final order within three weeks.
She said that Friday’s show-cause hearing was a legal proceeding that, by law, only four parties — the Providence School Board, the City Council, the superintendent and the mayor — were able to participate in, but once she issues the final order and assumes control of the district, community members will be given a seat at the table.
“You will see that when the plan is developed, because they will be part of developing that plan,” she said. “I can’t develop a plan, I don’t even have control of the district. Legally, I cannot do that. So I think that there’s a lot of angst, there’s a lot of worry, and I don’t blame people. People have been let down. I feel the pain.”
In the hearing — on a motion filed last week with the Rhode Island Department of Education by students, parents and community organizations — representatives from those groups expressed their desire to be given a role in the CONTINUE READING: R.I. education commissioner denies bid by parents, students for role in Providence takeover - News - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI