School committee approves recalls for five teachers, funds transportation audit and several routine items

Providence Republic School Committee on a unanimous set of routine motions voted to recall five teachers previously laid off, approve a third‑party transportation review, reschedule a September meeting and approve other agenda items.

The committee voted to recall five educators effective Sept. 11: Andrea Mayer (school nurse), Emily Mowery (librarian), Ashley O'Loughlin (science teacher), Shannon St. Angelo (math teacher) and Rachel Zeltzer (intensive support teacher). Superintendent Don Cowher summarized the recalls before the vote, saying, “This is this is pretty, straightforward. So last year, we had to, we had to lay off some teachers. And, you know, we said at that time that, you know, we were hopeful that, you know, we'd be able to recall many of them. We've already recalled some of them back.” The motion to approve the CTA recall carried 5 to 0 while one member had recused themself from that item.

The committee approved an $11,540 contract to participate in a statewide transportation analysis conducted through the Rhode Island Department of Education portal. The administration told the committee the analysis would aim to identify cost‑saving opportunities — including potential reductions in bus routes or shared services across districts. The superintendent said the district previously saved the equivalent of a bus through statewide coordination and argued an $11,540 investment could pay for itself if it led to eliminating even a single route.

Other motions the committee approved included sealing executive session records taken earlier in the meeting, approving minutes for July 17 and Aug. 14, authorizing a SkillsUSA student field trip to Washington, D.C., and rescheduling the Sept. 25 meeting to Oct. 9 to avoid a town redevelopment meeting at the high school. All of those motions passed on unanimous recorded tallies where shown.

Why it matters: The recalls restore classroom capacity in multiple subjects and the transportation review commits district funds to an outside analysis intended to find operating savings. Rescheduling the Sept. 25 meeting aims to avoid a calendar conflict with a town redevelopment meeting at the same venue.

Votes at a glance

- Seal executive session records — motion carried 6 to 0. - Approve minutes (07/17/2025 and 08/14/2025) — motion carried 6 to 0. - CTA recall (five staff, effective 09/11/2025) — motion carried 5 to 0 (one member recused during the vote). - Bus route and transportation review (contract/analysis costing $11,540) — motion carried 6 to 0. - Reschedule Sept. 25 meeting to Oct. 9 — motion carried 6 to 0. - SkillsUSA field trip to Washington, D.C. — motion carried 6 to 0.

What happened and what was said: The superintendent presented the recalled‑teacher list and recommended committee approval. After the vote the chair noted the mayor rejoined the meeting. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the transportation analysis timeline and funding; the administration said the analysis would be billed through the statewide transportation portal and that results would be returned in time to inform budget deliberations.

Next steps: The recalled teachers will be returned to district payroll per the effective date read into the record; results of the transportation review will be returned to the committee when the analysis is complete.