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Parents, students and staff urge board to preserve Beat The Streets program and to review principal's leave transparently
Summary
Dozens of public commenters urged the Providence School Board not to end the Beat The Streets wrestling program and asked for a fair, timely review and potential reinstatement of Principal Maria Petrucinelli, who was reported placed on administrative leave. Speakers described academic gains, attendance improvements and social-emotional benefits.
During public comment multiple parents, students, coaches and teachers urged the board to preserve the Beat The Streets wrestling program and asked for a fair, transparent review of Sacket/Sachet (Sachet) Elementary Principal Maria Petrucinelli's administrative leave.
Brandy McKinnon (speaker 6), a parent of an eighth grader at Bishop Middle School, raised concerns about a new middle-school pod schedule and the "Discover Zone" block, saying parents had little advance information and that implementation produced inconsistent learning experiences across pods: "From what we've observed, there's no defined curriculum. Some pods are doing in-depth projects. Others have study halls," she said, and asked the board to clarify the Discover Zone purpose and share data on its effects.
Multiple speakers testified in strong support of Principal Maria Petrucinelli. Elena Davidson (speaker 17), an educator with 25 years in the district, said Petrucinelli had led measurable gains at Sachet Street School and urged a "fair, transparent and timely" review and reinstatement.
A large block of speakers — students, parents and community program staff — urged the board not to end Beat The Streets wrestling programming. Thirteen-year-old Zakia (speaker 10) told the board the program helps her "stay focused, healthy, and powerful" and described its role in building discipline and confidence. Coaches and program leaders cited participation, academic support hours, and graduation- or placement-related outcomes when urging the board to preserve the program.
Procedural note: after extended public testimony the board voted to reduce public-comment time from three minutes to two minutes per speaker; that motion was moved by Secretary Funtz and seconded by Board member Mendoza and passed by voice vote.
The board did not take immediate action on personnel questions raised during public comment; the presiding officer said staff would follow up with the superintendent and promised to provide additional information about personnel and program status.
