In advance of the 2022 General Election, The Newport Daily News reached out to candidates running in contested races via emails filed with the Board of Elections to learn more about their candidacy.
All candidates were asked the same questions with a 350-word limit per question and provided two weeks to respond. Responses can be seen below without editing to ensure voters are reading the candidates’ own words.
Position running for: Newport School Committee
Current office held (if any): Newport School Committee
Occupation: Retired background Finance & Operations
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
First, I have a finance and operations background thus I constantly look for effective and efficient processes along with appropriate offerings. As Chair of the Finance Sub-committee and Co-Chair of the School Building Committee I leverage my background and now I have 4 years of Newport Public School knowledge. Once appointed Chair of the Finance Sub-committee we began having weekly meetings, as done in other districts. This is to perform our advise and consent responsibilities. The administration has found these meetings helpful with lots of questions and suggestions while it allows us to stay on top of all expenditures and revenue.
Further, the hours and hours of work each week that Rebecca Bolan, Superintendent Jermain and I spend on the school building projects is essential to ensuring that we get the very best facilities for Newport Public Schools on-time and on-budget. Continuity of this leadership team is critical to ensure retention of past details and lessons learned throughout the entire building process.
Second, my goal is to improve education in the Newport Public Schools. I want our schools to be a welcoming, rigorous and engaging for student learning and for all NPS students. I believe a mixture of academic and experiential, hands-on learning with opportunities available to all is the best system for student learning. Career training and workforce learning should be required by all students as young people need academic and life skills to be successful in life.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Newport and how would you approach improving the situation?
The School Committee is mission-driven. We have one goal – to make Newport Public Schools more educationally effective for all students and at an affordable cost to taxpayers. To do this properly we need a new Strategic Plan with strategic goals. Without the right goals we will not move as quickly nor as effectively towards a high performing district. Not having a current Strategic Plan is my number one issue. Twice it has been delayed due to Covid and then Regionalization. That Strategic Plan needs to include better communication with residents sharing the great things happening within our Newport Public School.
Two immediate things residents should know:
1) The recent Rogers High School Accreditation Report received 9 Commendations! A few examples: a) establishing a culture of student voice, b) numerous resources secured to meet the needs of growing ELL population, c) partnership with community to offer wide range of supports, both academic and social-emotional, d)progress on a coherent curriculum in a common format… Rogers has moved into the RI Top 25 High Schools in 2022 and sits at 23. A Strategic Goal should be to move up this list annually.
2) NPS fiscal operations is strong. During Covid, when buses weren’t running for 4 months, the NPS contract had a no pay clause which saved NPS about $1.5M. That coupled 4 months of low use of water, sewer, utilities and supplies ended 2020 with a surplus of $2.2M. During the 2021 year, again primarily due to Covid, our administration created a plan allowing NPS to use our bus contract vs the State bus contract to carry Out of District students saving NPS about $500,000 per year. Other savings and increased revenue, some due to Covid and others improved processes, have resulted in a total combined surplus of more than $5.5M going into fiscal year 2023. NPS plans on leveraging these funds as a Quality Education Fund extending our ESSER funding for an extra 2-4 years.
Will you vote to support regionalization? And why?
My vote will be NO for educational reasons. When we asked Middletown in 2019 to come together to “discuss” Regionalization and they said “No”, while I was disappointed, my next step was to do research “What is the optimal Size of a high school?”
Interestingly, I found studies and articles saying the optimal size of a high school is 600-900 students; for improved student-teacher relationships, a sense of community and fewer students falling through the cracks to quote a few of the benefits. Ever since I have been all in on the new Rogers High at 755 students with integrated academics and career for all students. The fact that Rogers is an Area Career Technical Center and as we have invested and improved our Career programs our enrollment has grown. I see this continuing after investing in the new Rogers High School facility with it’s integrated academic/career design ensuring all students are exposed and have access to all opportunities. I am very excited about the new Rogers and it’s impact on students learning.
Further, for taxpayers, this Regional plan includes 2 separate districts each with new high schools facilities. The consultants have identified “potential” efficiencies but they compared us to districts with 1 high school. I find this disingenuous as all the buildings will be brand new and have educational plans for 2 separate high schools. I can’t image taxpayers/voters wanting to spend more money on facilities, even at 66%. to re-configure and grow building sizes to accommodate a combined high school to achieve “potential” operational savings. For me to change my mind on Regionalization, I need a “discussion” ending with a single vision that will provide benefits to all students and identify operational savings. Marriages work best when there is a shared vision going into the marriage. Any questions: L.boat@cox.net
Position running for: Newport School Committee
Current office held (if any): Newport School Committee
Occupation: Retired Elementary Teacher
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
I believe that I am highly qualified to serve on the Newport School Committee. My husband’s military career brought us here 32 years ago. This experience as a military spouse allows me to understand and advocate for our military families. My 6 children attended Newport Public schools and during this time I was a highly involved parent serving on SIT teams, strategic planning , district building committee, and teaching CCD. I am a retired elementary school teacher which allows me to understand the issues from a boots on the ground perspective. I have been serving on the School Committee since 2008 bringing a great deal of institutional knowledge to the group. I work collaboratively with the committee helping to bring the group to consensus on issues. I take pride in researching materials and being prepared for meetings. Most importantly though I was asked to chair the Building Committee, when l accepted I knew this was a multi year project. Being re-elected would be an honor, so that I might fulfill this commitment. I would greatly appreciate your support in voting for me.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Newport and how would you approach improving the situation?
Having our students graduate on time and prepared for college or the work force is probably the school department’s biggest challenge. The problem begins with getting our students to consistently attend school. You can’t teach them if they are not there! Chronic absenteeism is a huge issue. This past year we have used ESSER money to hire an attendance advocate for each school to work with families. So far the results seem promising . It is our goal that all of our students graduate with a hands on skill, ready to continue their education either in college or the workforce. The new Rogers will make this possible. It is our plan to make our facility available in the evenings and on weekends to our larger community. We are also concentrating efforts to make sure that no child goes hungry, removing this obstacle to learning. Covid was tough on our student’s mental health and definitely affected attendance We are striving to provide the needed supports to address this. We have an ever increasing English Language learners population which contributes to our extremely high mobility rate. Our students need a great deal of support and we are striving to provide that.
Will you vote to support regionalization? And why?
I am truly conflicted on the issue of regionalization. I was all in favor of “true regionalization” as we proposed a few years with Middletown, One new high school for all. What is being proposed is not true regionalization, This is unification of two administrations into one. Newport is in excellent shape! We have three new or renovated schools, a high school with a glowing accreditation report, that just made the top 25 list of the best high schools in the state. We have a dedicated future education fund of over 5 million which is to be specifically used to support Newport students. Will our students get that or will we have to share it? Middletown on the other hand has over a 2 million deficit! Newport Public Schools has a very collaborative relationship with our City Council, Middletown’s relationship with their city council seems quite contentious. We have already taken out the full bond to cover construction at Pell and Rogers.
If regionalization goes through, Newport will receive an additional 46 million over the 30 years from the state but, Your taxes will still go up each year to payoff the original bond. This is not a tax avoidance. It is up to the city to decide what to do with this money. There is no guarantee this money will go towards education or paying off the bond. The scariest part of this venture, is that no one has been able to come up with a single educational advantage. All educational decisions will be completely up to the newly combined elected school board. I would love to see the children of Middletown receive the same educational support that our children in Newport receive but I have to remind myself that I am elected by the citizens of Newport to act in the best interests of our students. I suggest that all voters read the legislation carefully because rarely do the voters get this chance to weigh in on such an important decision. I will wholeheartedly support whatever the voters decide.
Position running for: Newport School Committee
Current office held (if any): Newport School Committee
Occupation: Account executive and Real Estate Agent
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
I believe that I am the best candidate for the Newport City Council. I am a product of the Newport School System, and I am finishing up my first term on the School Committee and I will continue to bring a unique perspective since I have children who attend the Newport Public Schools. Currently, there are no other members of the School Committee or even anyone on the City Council who have children in the Newport Public School system. I am also a homeowner and taxpayer, so I see both sides of the issue when it comes to educating our children and how we pay for it. My mantra has always been to “Put the Kids First”!
The school committee has accomplished a lot in my first term. We have a 5.5 million dollar surplus, and the Pell School addition was built on time and under budget. How often does that happen?
I will continue to speak up when I believe our children’s well-being and education is at risk of being hindered or compromised. For example, distance learning did not work and I was vocal and was instrumental in getting our children back in school full time and out of the hybrid model, which had our kids distance learning and in school only a couple of days a week. Our children were the least affected in our society by Covid and I strongly advocated to get our students out of masks as quickly as was safe to do so. I look forward to accomplishing in the next term including finishing the new Rogers High School and the possibility of regionalization.
It is my hope that the voters of Newport will return me to the Newport School Committee for another term and I ask for your vote and your support.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Newport and how would you approach improving the situation?
Without question, the biggest issue facing the Newport Public Schools is the regionalization question that is on the ballot on November 8th. This issue is up to the voters of Newport and Middletown and we will have clarity and know what we need to do after the votes are counted on election night.
Will you vote to support regionalization? And why?
Yes, I support regionalization.
At its core it is a regionalization of the administration of the two schools. Newport will receive 46 million dollars paid over the life of the bond that was passed to build a new Rogers High School and to add a new addition to Pell School. The 46 million will be paid to Newport from the state twice a year at $900,000 for a total of $1.8 million per year and the taxes will be adjusted accordingly. Going forward, Newport will receive 67% state reimbursement if a boiler needs replacing or on any new capital projects. We will also receive annual savings for combining the administration through economies of scale.
Some argue that it’s about the money, but education and money go hand in hand. Can we adequately educate our children without adequate funding? The simple answer is NO.
I have not heard a single argument against regionalization that suggests that the students in the Newport schools will be hurt by regionalization. No one is suggesting that the test scores will go down, absenteeism will go up or that we will see a drop in the graduation rate. We have already combined with Middletown in theatre, hockey, art shows and even teacher training.
Some say let’s wait a year or two to regionalize, but once Rogers is completed in September of 2024 we will get nothing more towards our bond if we regionalize after that date.
Middletown is our neighbor. We drink the same water. We drive on the same roads, and we eat in the same restaurants. For those who are upset with the way we were treated years ago by a different Middletown Town Council, I ask “do we want to do the same thing to them that they did to us and deprive Middletown children of a 1st class learning environment and a better level of education out of spite”?
We need to take advantage of the savings and have faith that the new SC will do the right thing and come up with policies that will benefit all the students.
Position running for: Newport School Committee
Current office held (if any): Newport School Committee
Occupation: Retired Newport Public School Teacher
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
I have served the children of Newport honestly and tirelessly for 30 years as a public-school teacher and 14 years as a School Committee member. I have an energetic attitude, dedicated and always available for comments and input. As a veteran educator, I seek innovative and data-driven educational practices and am committed to ethical actions and fair decision-making. My professional experience, commitment to the profession and Newport’s students, and my ability to learn and research all sides of issue are key strengths for reelection.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Newport and how would you approach improving the situation?
Addressing the social/emotional/mental health of all students and families, while improving students’ academic achievement to better than pre-pandemic levels is a major concern. While many people still regard mental health issues as stigma, those closest to the situation—parents and educators—must see this as a top priority. In order to provide the teachers will the information to identify and assist youngsters in need, we need additional support from children’s mental health professionals. Access to current research and open communication with the students’ families are key to resolving the negative issues that impact many students’ social and academic progress.
Will you vote to support regionalization? And why?
The short time frame that has been given for setting up a good working plan for a new school system, including appropriate and effective governance, is not conducive to informing the voting public who should be truly informed voters. The concept of regionalizing two or more districts has many merits; however, the motives behind such a move must be addressed. If the communities involved are looking solely, or primarily, at the dollars that might come their way, that, in my estimation, is not a sound move. Many voters are not clear about where the rebates will be sent—toward improved educational opportunities, paying down the debt of building the new schools, going into the communities’ general funds—or a combination of all these. To provide for a truly informed electorate, I believe that the current process needs a much longer time to be finetuned so that both communities will benefit educationally.
Position running for: Newport School Committee
Current Office Held: Newport School Committee
Occupation: Retired Teacher, Parking Lot Attendant
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
Newport community is extremely important to me. I have tried hard to give back to my hometown where I am so grateful to have been born, raised, and live. Thus, I’m committed to community service like 12 years as a volunteer IRS trained AARP sponsored tax preparer. Spending countless hours doing taxes for people at the Edward King House, Newport Public Library, Martin Luther King Center.
Here is one other example Teaching Intervention Procedures ( TIPS program) to restaurant servers of alcohol. This is required by Rhode Island Law. I done this for the past 20 years as a volunteer. I have certified and recertified over 2,000 restaurant servers at no cost to them.
I have severed on the Newport School Committee for the past 20 years. Not once did I think of this position as a “political jumping stone”.
So why do keep doing this:
What you get from me is commitment and to fight for what is right. Bruce Long ( of Del’s Lemonade) said to me one day recently. Bobby, you remind me of the Tareyton cigarette advertisement in the 1950’s and 1960’s. In the advertisement a man walks out of a cigarette store he has a black eye and pack Tareyton’s in his hand. He says, “I rather fight than switch”. Bobby you’re a fighter for students and taxpayers.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Newport and how would you approach improving the situation?
Newport’s school departments dismal test results year after year. I’m appalled by our test results we must do something different. We have a budget of over $46,000,000 a year that is over $23,000 per student.
To start with we must develop a turnaround action plan. How do you know it’s working you measure it. Part of that plan must consist of performance-based contracts. This is imperative!
Our students fell woefully short of Massachusetts (number one in education in the nation). This is our truth- telling moment. Even when you factor in the disastrous impact of the pandemic on student, Newport latest scores on the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment (RICAS) are distressing. Even if you go back to NECAP or PARCC test results before RICAS test Newport results were in the toilet. You as the public should demand better results. Where is the outrage by the public or school committee? I’ve been that lone voice on the committee, but it is silenced by other members. This is part of the systemic issues that has plagued Newport schools for years. Its sobering and sickening! The risk of continuing this way is grave and severe.
Newport failing to make rigorous use of data … and deluding themselves into thinking that they are just fine.
We already know that we have swaths of students (across the testing domain) drowning at the lowest tier of performance. This should be much more than finding that elusive “golden nugget” to move students across the proficiency goal line. Economically Disadvantaged Students RICAS test results in math percentage of proficient in math at Pell was 11%, at Thompson was 9%, and at Rogers (PSAT) 10% in 2018 – 2019. I can longer accept the excuse that math results are weak because we are being flooded with Hispanic students. It is done in other states.
Here is one example at Rogers High School they have a hybrid schedule only one day a week do all the classes meet. Otherwise, they meet every other day. I checked with Fall River, New Bedford, and Brockton and every one of these school said they got rid of the hybrid schedule to having classes meet every day.
Will you vote to support regionalization? And why?
If you go back to the election of 2018 when the ballot question was asked would you support exploring regionalization with Middletown, I was the last person standing according to Sean Flynn. To the very end I agreed to one school. It passed in Newport but failed in Middletown.
That was then this is now. That was one school high school not two high schools.
Does Bristol and Warren have two high schools? No, one high school Mount Hope.
Does Richmond, Charlestown, and Hopkinton have three high schools? No, one high school Chariho High School.
There are two other regional districts in Rhode Island, and they all have one high school not two high schools what is being proposed for us.
There are too many unanswered questions / concerns that I have here are a few:
• What does it mean for the students?
• Middletown is in Special Education partnership with Tiverton and Little Compton.
• Federal impact aid could change. Thus, federal funds to district would change
• An appointed finance committee not elected by the voters
• One Superintend give me a break!
We told the voters when Pell School opened there would be one upper school principal and one lower school principal. Now there is one principal, two vice principals, a behavior specialist, and dean of students. So, we will have one superintend, right. I was born at night but not last night.
Finally, this appears to be an emergency for Middletown but not so much for Newport. Here is my blunt reaction since I think it is simply about getting more cash from the state and has nothing to do with improving Newport’s dismal educational outcome.
Position running for: Newport School Committee
Current office held (if any): none, first time candidate
Occupation: Office Manager for an International Sailboat Design Company in Newport
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
I do not believe there is any one best person, we have 8 candidates running for 7 seats. I do believe what sets me apart and what is unique to me is that I am not only a parent of a Newport student but have been actively involved in Newport Public Schools. It was never a question that our daughter would attend public schools, we started in Kindergarten at Pell Elementary and she is currently an 8th grader attending Thompson Middle School. Since the very first day I have volunteered my time and talents. Joining the Pell PTO and then serving as President for 4 years and continuing to serve as Thompson PTO President. I have been involved on the School Improvement Teams and since 2018 have served on the School Building Committee, overseeing the Pell expansion and Rogers High School new build. Being on these committees has kept me actively engaged in our schools and has shown me the importance of having a seat at the decision-making table.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Newport and how would you approach improving the situation?
While there are challenges facing Newport schools, they are not unique to Newport. I believe the problem most likely to have the greatest impact and the hardest to solve is the nationwide teacher shortage. A quick check of School Spring (think Indeed but for school districts) shows over 1000 openings in RI. We are beginning to see the impact on a small scale here in Newport. All three of our schools have openings, including but not limited to math teachers, long term substitutes, lunch aids, custodians, and coaches. It does not matter what programs we put into place or the high-quality curriculums we purchase, if we do not have the staffing to support our students and buildings. Unfilled positions add to the teachers, staff and administrator’s workload. It impacts the quality and equity of education our students are receiving. We should reach out to our current high school students and recent graduates and offer them opportunities to return to Newport for their teaching careers. We know we have students, past and present, who are passionate about education and want to give back to their community. However, finding housing is a massive barrier to attracting new teachers and retaining our current teachers. Teachers who have shown interest in teaching in Newport could not find local affordable housing and many who have left Newport schools, did so to be closer to their home. As a school committee member, I would support a change to allow sign on bonuses, retention bonuses, and recruitment bonuses to current staff. I would encourage the city council to prioritize work force housing, so our teachers can have the opportunity to live in Newport.
Will you vote to support regionalization? And why?
I will not be supporting Question #5 on this year’s ballot. This ballot question is not regionalization. Rather, ballot Question 5 calls for keeping all school facilities separate. I am not a gambler and I am certainly not going to gamble on a rushed, flawed process that has only given Newport parents and taxpayers hypotheticals and open-ended questions such as “Do Newport and Middletown share the same vision for education”? We do not know the answer to this question because in the rush to get Question 5 on the ballot, we did not hold visioning sessions to vet whether our communities align on educational goals and needs. Furthermore, I do not feel comfortable with the makeup of the finance committee, specifically, we are moving financial decision making away from elected officials to unelected bureaucrats, with no clear terms of service. I am concerned about what happens when Thompson needs to undergo a major renovation or likely be replaced? Under the plan, the “new” combined district would have bond issuing powers, requiring a majority vote to pass. I cannot imagine the voters of Middletown will vote to approve a bond for Thompson, after approving their bond totaling $449.4 million (principle plus interest) as cited by the Woolpert and Cooperative Strategies consulting report. If I am elected to the Newport School Committee, the educational wellbeing of our students will be my top priority. With no transparency, no educational study, no clarity on how this will impact students, and no true financial benefit or time for state and local officials to clearly answer these questions, I will be rejecting Question #5.
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
I am a good candidate for the Newport school committee because not only do I have 12 certifications in teaching and administration, but also, I have worked in 11 different school districts in the state of Rhode Island, I have worked with many school boards and have been on the school board, I have been superintendent of schools in three different school districts, and I have worked in the Newport Public Schools for over 16 years. A lifelong resident, I have also served on many Community boards.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Newport and how would you approach improving the situation?
The biggest issue facing the Newport schools is regionalization. By asking questions in public forums, I am helping to make sure voters get as much information as possible. This is important to make an informed vote and I see it as my responsibility to help get the word out.
Will you vote to support regionalization? And why?
I cannot tell you whether I will vote for or against regionalization. I need more information. I have asked that both superintendents meet and answer two questions. The first question is, what are the real numbers regarding the budget? The second question is, what programs can be developed for students that don’t currently exist but would be possible through regionalization? After hearing all the candidates for school committee interviews I have a third question, if regionalization passes would there be any kind of negative impact to the Newport School students?
Position running for: Newport School Committee
Current office held (if any): Newport School Committee
Occupation: Business Intelligence and Analytics Developer
What makes you the best candidate for the position you are seeking?
My motivation is driven by a desire to serve and a passion for education. I believe that public schools are the heart of a community. Good schools recruit residents who give back; schools are where we make life-long friends; school is something we all have in common. The more we make education a priority, the more collective success we all enjoy. I believe that working to support my local public school system is the most effective way for me to work towards positive change for Newport and its residents, young and old. I ask myself before every decision: “What’s in it for the kids?”
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Newport and how would you approach improving the situation?
Newport faces the same issues all American public schools face. Quite simply, Americans ask their public schools to solve for everything: poverty, hunger, unequal access to opportunity, racism and bias, violence, mental, physical, and social health issues, with limited budgets and limited time. We ask our public schools to turn every child into a high performing adult, all in six hours a day, 180 days a year, and 13 years. In communities like Newport, where a high percentage of students suffer the stressors of poverty, racism, low expectations, and poor health, the gaps in where we stand versus where we need to be as a society are more obvious. Today’s students need so much more! It is no wonder that teachers are leaving the profession, burned out and discouraged. Newport is facing a teacher shortage this year, like much of America. This shortage will get worse and must be addressed immediately at the state and national level.
On the positive side, Newport Public Schools has been very focused on creating an inclusive culture for our incredibly vibrant student population. Newport also boasts generous community partners that help students well beyond the school day. I firmly believe in continuing these invaluable partnerships. I also want to continue to prioritize student voice in curriculum and discipline practices. Students need to have a say in their education journey. A collaborative and engaging school climate is crucial to student success. Moreover, culturally affirming teaching practices and extra-curricular activities can help students feel safe and connected to school. Newport Public Schools must celebrate all the unique experiences our students bring to the table.
Newport has also seen rapid growth in its English Learner population. Many of these students come from backgrounds with different education values; it is up to us to make our schools work for them. Enabling regular dialogue in neutral settings where new families are most comfortable will build positive relationships. Newport Public Schools should continue to engage families with the intent of helping them navigate the public education system and advocate for their children.
Will you vote to support regionalization? And why?
I will vote no on Question 5 to regionalize only the administrations of our two school districts. Regionalization could likely be very successful if carefully planned, with purpose and intent, and with both short- and long-term strategy considered. Above all, student outcomes should be the primary reason to bring us together. Saving money could be a bonus but should not be the main goal. They key to achieving a successful partnership is joint school facilities coupled with genuine plans for student equity and success. The current proposal is none of these things.
This is simply a short-sighted cash grab to facilitate school construction only in Middletown, locking us into segregated schools. In 2019, when Newport officials approached Middletown about discussing a regional high school, they were met with fear mongering about the negative impact Newport students would cause and accusations of seeking a bailout. Now suddenly, when allowed to keep separate schools, Middletown is willing to give up their school administration, take hundreds of millions of dollars in loans, and say they support “hybrid” regionalization. Numerous press releases and website posts point to separate schools as a way to “preserve…traditions” and “identities” and tout that Middletown students “will never have to attend school in Newport.” This is horrifying.
Voters should expect that when a referendum of this magnitude is on the ballot, due diligence has been done. In reality, this deal was struck between select Newport city and Middletown town councilors and has been focused solely on a legal framework. There has been absolutely no public discussion of a shared academic vision, nor has the input of education experts been incorporated. Moreover, the rushed process has lacked transparency. Public workshops have been sparsely attended and contentious. Meanwhile, consultants have pushed a rosy narrative focused only on potential financial savings. Unfortunately, there isn’t even a mechanism in place to put any potential savings back into future education budgets.
Money for education is a great thing, but informed vision and well executed plans will realize greater savings in the long run.
