School Board Region and Ward Maps
FILING DEADLINE: Friday, December 13, 2024 by 4:30PM
PLEASE NOTE: All applicants must attend the public forum scheduled to take place on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 5PM at Providence Career and Technical Academy (PCTA) located at 41 Fricker St, Providence, RI 02903 in order to be considered for this appointment.
SUMMARY
The Providence School Board is the governing body responsible for ensuring that the Providence Public School District provides a high-quality education for all Providence students. The School Board is not an administrative or day-to-day operations body but instead, governs by establishing a policy to guide the Superintendent in the administration and operation of the schools. This is achieved by monitoring progress toward achieving direct goals, and by engaging the community in planning for and supporting schools. The individual School Board Member works with the School Board as a whole and collaboratively with the Superintendent to accomplish the district’s mission.
PPSD Turnaround Plan and RIDE Intervention:
On July 23, 2019, The Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education voted to enact The Crowley Act, which authorizes RIDE to exercise control over the Providence Public School District’s (PPSD) budget, programming and personnel. RIDE is charged with developing and implementing a Turnaround Plan for PPSD. The Superintendent will be hired by RIDE and will report to the Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner of Education is required to provide an annual report to the Mayor, the School Board, the City Council and the public on the implementation of the Turnaround Plan and its progress. It is essential that while during this turnaround period that Providence School Board members, the Mayor and Providence City Council collaborate as strong community advocates, dedicated to supporting the sustainable change that is needed to improve the quality of education for our children.
In November 2022 the voters of Providence voted and approved a hybrid model school board.
Commencing January 1, 2025, there shall be a school board consisting of ten (10) members, five (5) members who shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council and five (5) members who shall be elected at the November 2024 general election, one from each of the five regions as specified in Section 201 of this Charter. Commencing January 1, 2025, of the five (5) members first appointed, one (1) shall serve a term of one year, two (2) shall serve a term of two (2) years and two (2) shall serve a term of three (3) years. All subsequent appointments or reappointments shall be for a term of three (3) years. No more than one (1) individual shall be appointed by the Mayor from each of the five (5) electoral regions as set forth in Section 201 of this Charter. No appointed member shall continue in office after his or her term expires without being reappointed by the mayor with approval of the city council. Elected members shall be selected in a nonpartisan election and shall serve four-year terms.
PRINCIPLES FOR SCHOOL BOARDS
In the public education system, a School Board member is a person elected or appointed to serve on a school district board of education. Individual Board members bring unique skills, values, and beliefs to their Board. As the corporate entity charged by law with governing a school district, each School Board sits in trust for its entire community. The obligation to govern effectively imposes some fundamental duties on the Board. In order for the School Board and Superintendent to govern effectively, individual members must work and learn with each other and the Superintendent in a collaborative manner to ensure that high-quality education is provided to each student. Each School Board member understands that the authority rests with the School Board as a whole and not with individual Board members. The School Board has the overarching responsibility for ensuring that every student reaches established learning standards. In order to do this, the School Board must:
- Review annual reports on the implementation of the Turnaround Plan and its progress provided by the Commissioner of Education.
- Serve as community advocates dedicated to supporting and improving the quality of education for Providence students.
- Engage the community in establishing the mission of the public schools, and adopt goals designed to achieve the mission of the school district.
- Understand the distinction between Board and staff roles and, by policy, delegate all management and administrative functions, including personnel functions, to the Superintendent.
- Communicate district needs to local voters and local, state and federal elected officials.
- Select a Board president (chairperson) a Board member who demonstrates essential leadership qualities to preside at Board meetings, work closely with the Superintendent to establish meeting agendas, and be an articulate spokesperson for the Board. The person the Board elects as its president is key to what the Board accomplishes and to the nature of the relationship between the Superintendent and Board members.
- Evaluate its own performance and periodically take part in workshops with the Superintendent, aimed at strengthening their collaborative leadership for high student achievement.
- Come to meetings prepared with a thorough knowledge of all pending items before the Board.
- In the process of meeting the above responsibilities, the School Board will focus its meetings and other activities on improving student achievement.
OTHER INFORMATION
School Boards govern within a complex environment shaped by the current national focus on improving student achievement and constrained by Federal and State laws and regulations, often limited resources, and sometimes competing for demands from community members and various constituencies. The Providence School Board exercises its authority as a whole and does not advance individual or constituent agendas. The Board actively seeks to represent the entire community and is responsive to community expectations but resists pressure from groups seeking to advance a position inconsistent with the good of the school district as a whole. Individual School Board members debate issues, but once the policy has been adopted, the Board speaks with one voice through policies adopted. Board members adhere to the highest ethical standards, including but not limited to those defined by state law, city codes of ethics, and adopted Board codes of ethics. Board members receive a modest annual stipend.
TIME COMMITMENTS
Regular School Board meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 P.M. to approximately 9:30 P.M. Meetings consist of an “open session” (for public observation) and may include a closed “executive session”; meeting agendas are posted on the Providence School District website (http://providenceschools.org). In addition, special meetings are scheduled as necessary for personnel grievances and disciplinary matters of litigation. Board members also visit schools and attend various special events such as award ceremonies, graduations, conferences, seminars, etc. This averages approximately four meetings per month.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Must be a resident of the City of Providence and a qualified elector of the city. May not hold other paid office or employment with the city. May not have a direct or indirect financial interest in any contract concerning the public schools.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise a leadership and governance role, collaborate with the Superintendent as the district’s chief executive officer, and delegate responsibility for the administration of the schools to the Superintendent.
- Knowledgeable about current issues and best practices in education in an urban school system, including all current and proposed local, state and federal legislation, as well as current research and policy initiatives across the country.
- Knowledgeable about current challenges and plans for Providence schools.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in strategic planning, policy development, principles of Board governance, and financial oversight. Demonstrated an understanding of the Board’s role as a policy-making and governance body.
- Excellent analytical skills; demonstrated ability to base decisions on research and data; active learner.
- Experience working collaboratively with a group.
- Understanding of the importance of working with diverse constituents to develop a common vision.
- Commitment to public service and public education.