Providence Public School Board approves legal engagement, launches 90‑day review of superintendent contract

The Providence Public School Board reported that, following an executive session, it approved an engagement contract with Wayland Florente and Flanders LLP to engage Sarah Rapoport as chief legal counsel and established a temporary committee to review Superintendent Javier Montanez’s employment agreement.

Board member S2 reported that the engagement contract vote passed in executive session with eight votes in favor, one opposed and one abstention. "Executive session, there were 2 votes taken," S2 told the board when the matters were announced in open session. The board approved the contract to retain Rapoport through the firm as presented to the board.

The board also voted unanimously to create a temporary "committee of the whole," composed exclusively of board members, to conduct a 90‑day review of Montanez’s current employment agreement, which the transcript records as expiring on 06/30/2027. The committee is directed to report findings and any recommendations at the October 2026 board meeting.

Earlier in the open session, the board moved to seal the minutes of the executive session. The motion was reported as made by Dr. Williamson and seconded by a board member whose name is spelled two different ways in the transcript (Brampton in one line and Bramson in another); the voice vote passed. The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn, which was moved by the same board member (recorded as Bramson later in the transcript) and seconded by Chairman Jones. Clerk (speaker S1) called for voice votes and closed the meeting.

The board did not provide additional public details about the terms of the engagement contract or the specific membership of the temporary committee during the open-session report. The committee’s review is procedural and will return to the full board with any recommendations at the October 2026 meeting.