Separate from our legal challenge, the Providence School District, which was so bad it was taken over by the state, is in even more turmoil, with a press conference held today byCommunity members gathered in front of the Providence Public School Department offices on Westminster Street in Providence on Tuesday morning to express their concern regarding issues in the Providence Public Schools, as well as the state intervention in the district.
“Due to the poor performance of the state intervention and recent allegations against the superintendent’s senior advisor,” said McCloud, “we have a few things we would like to ask of PPSD…. Joining McCloud at the press conference were Gary Dantzler, Executive Director of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island; Dwayne Keys, Chair of the Southside Neighborhood Association; Representative David Morales ; Providence School Board member Ty’Relle Stephens; and Gerard Catala, President Elect of the Providence Branch of the NAACP.
“They are not listening to us,” said Executive Director Dantzler. “It’s really sad that we have to go to this extreme to get the attention of the media. We need to protect our young Black and brown kids for the future of Rhode Island, and it’s imperative that we stand behind these schools and understand what’s going on.”
“Racism is not something you can perform at your job and still be employed,” said Dwayne Keys. “All those who are protecting the senior advisor, or who are ignoring what is being released are all contributing to that racism and white supremacy that is showing up in this situation.” While recognizing the hard work that is being down by teachers and administration every day, Keys stressed the need for truly independent investigations into these serious allegations.