In Fiery Meeting School Committee Quarrels Over Language Expanding City Schools for Pre-K

NEWPORT, RI— A fight over starting pre-Kindergarten in the Newport Public Schools, for possibly as many as 300 children, erupted in insults on Wednesday night, and with the superintendent briefly stepping off the board.

She and Kathleen Silvia, school committee member, stood up and left their seats as the panel argued over a small part of the Executive Summary for the strategic plan for the schools.

Robert Leary, member of the school committee, wanted to amend the language about pre-Kindergarten because it appeared to commit the department to expanding the Newport schools.

Leary pointed out Head Start and other organizations are providing pre-K for Newport children, and the programs are free. There should be no need for the public schools to add a pre-K program. He also felt the move might hurt private businesses.

There's no way he could be convinced the public schools could do a better job than private organizations, he said.

However, Jo Eva Gaines, the school committee chairwoman, thought there was a need, although she could not provide numbers. She claimed the children are being kept at home and are behind the other youngsters when they start Kindergarten,

"How do you know they're at home?" Leary said.

Gaines said she talked to parents and attended meetings.

She went on to say the plan was a "living document" and would not commit the schools to institute a pre-K program.

David Carlin, member of the school committee, suggested tabling Leary's motion in favor of his own. He proposed not taking any action and allowing the new school board to deal with the strategic plan.

The school committee voted to table the Leary motion, but then quarreled about parliamentary procedure,

Carlin complained that Gaines and the superintendent were sighing while he was speaking.

Hank Kniskern, a member of the strategic plan committee, suggested an amendment to say expanding pre-K opportunities in Newport, but without mentioning the public schools.

But several school committee members insisted the teachers had suggested the language.

"If we really have their backs," said Sandra Flowers, school committee member, then the panel should vote for the strategic plan as presented.

Some insults flew during the meeting.

"I thought you had a doctorate. I thought you were well educated," Carlin snapped at Flowers. He also complained the other board members had not bothered to learn Roberts Rules of Order.

Ultimately, the committee adopted the strategic plan 5-2, with Carlin and Leary opposed.