Finance committee backs slate of Providence school board appointees, forwards recommendations to full council

Chairwoman Helen Anthony convened the Providence City Committee on Finance on Jan. 23 and moved to take action on several mayoral school board appointments, recommending each nomination to the full City Council.

The committee recommended approval of the mayor’s nominees after brief remarks from each candidate about their experience and priorities. Melissa Hughes, currently serving on the Providence School Board and chair of that board’s policy committee, described the board’s recent work revising the district’s school-closure policy and said she wants continued collaboration with the city as the district prepares for a return to local control. "We were able to pass a revised school closure policy," Hughes said, adding the policy had not been updated since 1991.

Angel Newman, who described community organizing and board service over the past year, told the committee she has focused on relationship-building between board members and community partners and said much of the work of making change must be done between public meetings. "If anything is really going to happen, it needs to happen between the board meetings," Newman said.

Jenny Mercado, who immigrated to the U.S. as a teen and works as a nursing assistant, cited work with families and bilingual residents and said she intends to be a bridge between families and schools. "I want the safest access to high-quality education no matter the background," Mercado said.

Nigel Morinabo described his work with newcomer and refugee communities and with school wellness initiatives, including a fitness program that he said reached hundreds of students. He said bilingual programming and reading-level improvements would be priorities. "We need our school back," Morinabo said, referring to state intervention in the district.

Steven (Steve) Williamson, who does not have children in the district but described long-term community involvement and nonprofit work, said he wants to help the district prepare for local control and improve educational outcomes citywide.

Committee members asked each nominee about the timetable and preparations for returning the district to local control; nominees uniformly praised closer collaboration between the city, the school board and district leadership and said readiness would depend on staffing, finances and concrete transition plans. Councilor Miguel Sanchez asked Hughes whether the district is closer to local control after her year on the board; Hughes said progress has been made but successful transition will require continued trust and joint work.

The committee recorded motions recommending each appointment to the full City Council. Where recorded during the meeting, motions were made and seconded and the committee voiced approval; the clerk will forward the committee recommendations to the City Council for final confirmation.

Votes at the committee level were procedural recommendations and do not by themselves effect final appointment; the City Council still must vote to confirm each nominee.

The committee also received letters of support for nominees that were entered into the record.