State Green Party Press Release

Rhode Island
Gerritt Declares State Intervention at Hope High School Demonstrates Clear Need for Improvement in Providence Schools.

Greg Gerritt, candidate for Mayor of Providence, under the Green Party banner, today declared that the recent intervention by the State of Rhode Island Department of Education at Hope High School clearly demonstrates that the Providence School System continues to fail the students and the families of Providence. Gerritt said though it does demonstrate at least a glimmer of hope for the future, as the State and larger community, are finally getting involved.

The Gerritt Campaign released the following statement: "The future of education is always in the news these days, with standardized testing and school accountability receiving the lion's share of the coverage. What is neglected is that real improvement in schools comes from strong effective leadership at the school level. The Principals are the key to school reform, and every effort must be made to get principals and teachers on the same wavelength, with principals spending time in the classrooms and helping teachers become more effective. When this happens, schools improve."

Gerritt added "The improvements at Feinstein High School show this is possible in Providence, but too much of our time is spent wrangling over the politics of the School Board, instead of putting resources in the right hands. That Providence continues to wrangle over the School Board nominating process points out the need for a new process that allows real community input and takes it out of the hands of the power brokers."

Gerritt noted his support for an elected School Board.

He added, "Another factor in school improvement is the involvement of the parents and the community. Right now parents feel left out of the process. When this is combined with the animosity between the teachers and the administration it is hard to move forward." Gerritt concluding by stating "The Mayor's role, and one that has been neglected in Providence, is to facilitate communication. The Mayor must sit down with all of the stakeholders, parents, teachers, administrators, sit down with them in the same room, and help them build trust and communication. Without that we are condemned to further deterioration of education in Providence."

GERRITT FOR MAYOR
Green for Providence Mayor-(401) 490-7602 office, 331-0529(home)
Contact: Tim McKee, Green Party spokesperson (401) 273-2763
http://www.gerrittformayor.org/