For a first time in recent memory this year all three incumbent Warwick School Committee district members chose not to seek reelection. As there are five committee members – the other two citywide candidates whose terms expire in 2024 – this means a majority of the committee taking office in January 2023 will be new to the job. In an effort to give voters an idea of how these candidates would deal with key issues facing Warwick schools, the Warwick Beacon sent questionnaires to the candidates as well as asked them to provide the paper with a brief biography. Some candidates systematically answered the questions, some generalized and one wrote more of an essay on Warwick Schools and what she sees as important. Although contacted and said he would participate, Stephen DiPalma in District 2 did submit a response. As DiPalma was a candidate in the school primary held on September 8 and submitted a brief outline of his campaign at that time, it is being rerun here.

DISTRICT 1 Wards 1, 2 & 3 

Frank Brown

My name is Frank Allan Brown and I am a candidate for District 1 School Committee here in the city of Warwick. As a resident of over 20 years and raising three children, all who have journeyed through Warwick Public Schools, I am very aware of the current status of our School District and have outlined a four point program to guide our district to a better path.

We need to improve our school facilities. With 35 million dollars of repairs scheduled for our elementary facilities in 2023 and the possibility of new schools being constructed, I will explore that our district has a comprehensive preventative maintenance plan in place. We cannot let our facilities fall into despair like they have in the past.

I will ensure our schools are safe for students and staff.  With the recent hiring of a Coordinator of School Safety and Security, we are on the right path. I will explore that every safety issue is reviewed, addressed and comprehensive plans of action are in place.

Our District shall provide a quality education for those students that wish to go on to post-secondary education and for those who wish to enter a career. I will explore that programs are in place for all students. Post-secondary education is not for every student and the cost of such puts Individuals in financial debt for years to follow. Warwick Schools are unique, in that we have Career and Technical Center. Some of the programs that are currently offered, such as the Culinary, Studio 107, Biomedical, including a program that students earn certification as an EMT are not promoted in ways to encourage students to stay in our District, and are not presented in ways that would bring students from outside districts into ours. We need to make sure we are promoting the center and the programs it has to offer to our own students and those in other districts. In addition, I would explore partnering with local businesses for internship programs. This would allow for students to test a career field before graduating and entering into a financial commitment of a post-secondary education, whereas many students find out that the field of study is not for them, and are stuck with insurmountable debt.

Last but not least, we need to increase state education aid to our city. Our schools are not adequately funded. I will explore and fight for increased educational funding from the state to reduce the tax burden on the residents of our city. In addition, I would work with legislatures to put an end to the Pathways Program set forth by the RI Dept of Ed. This program accounts for over four million dollars a year being sent to other school districts. I would also explore that the city adequately funds our schools. Over a decade ago, the city cut school department funding by over 5 million dollars because of Maintenance of Effort (MOE) and was intended to be a one year cut, but the school district still has not fully recouped those funds over the years. During this time, the school department has closed and consolidated schools and has had significant staff reductions in attempt to make up the funds that have not been restored fully.

Our schools are such a major component of our city. They are an important factor in attracting families and businesses to Warwick. I have been part of the Warwick community for years and as mentioned my three children have received a quality education within Warwick Public Schools. I have an extensive history of volunteering for the youth of the city and continue to do so, as well as currently serving on the Warwick Juvenile Hearing Board. I currently, and for the last 33 years, work with individuals with developmental disabilities, serve on a Behavior Health Disaster Response Team and remain a vital part of our community. On Tuesday November 8th, I humbly ask for your vote. I promise you will be getting a dedicated committee member with a history of and current commitment to assisting others rather than just another politician.

Shaun Galligan

What can Warwick’s school district do to better prepare students as citizens?

We must recognize that not all students who graduate go onto universities or colleges. We must invest in our career and technical programs, and advertise to our students that these career fields are admirable, necessary, occur within stable industries, and financially fruitful.

Additionally, we need to bring back home economics which have been gone for nearly a decade (i.e., textiles and cooking) as part of the core curriculum.

What do you see as the major issue(s) facing Warwick schools? 

The root cause of our major issues can be summarized using two categories: a lack of vision, and fiscal mismanagement. These two categories over the past several decades have contributed to budgetary constraints, which have: impacted availability or adequacy of transportation, while increasing the walking distances of students, reduced staffing and social services offered (i.e., school psychologist or IEP professionals), facilities fell into states of disrepair due to a lack of capital investment, and our curriculum went nearly a decade without revision.

One of the School Committee’s tasks is taking part in the districts budget process. If money is tight, where would you look to make budge cuts? Are there any areas you would not consider cutting?

Should we continue to face budgetary shortfalls and see decreased enrollment, future reductions must occur at the administrative level. If times are tough, we cannot, nor shall not, continue to eliminate teachers, TA’s, social workers, or faculty, who are employed where the learning is occurring. If times are tough, and if we are supposedly losing students at an alarmingly high rate, then there is no need to have significant overhead or redundancies at the top. I would first look to these budgetary costs before making cuts which could impact the quality of our student’s education, or their public school experience.  Secondly, and outside of the approximate 4.4 million which we spend to send students out of district through the pathways program, we also spend a significant amount of money to send ‘high needs students’ out of district. I would like to examine how we could retain these students within the community they live, so they feel valued and supported, while also providing a cost savings to our school district.

I would not consider making cuts to after school programs, as they: are an expansion of an adolescent’s development outside of the classroom, provide added structure to a student’s life, and help to make a student more marketable to colleges or universities. This includes after school clubs, the arts, or athletics. As a former high school athlete, I grew socially, mentally, and physically, from the opportunities which were afforded to me outside of the classroom. I believe many of the lessons I learned on the field helped to shape who I am today as a person, business professional, and community volunteer.

What do you see as outstanding features and/or accomplishments of Warwick Schools?

We have so many talented and passionate educators within our school system. For example, Mrs. Tamburini has created a pathway “Lifesavers Program” at Pilgrim, using the Red Cross curriculum. This program in my opinion is a step above basic First Aid/CPR training, and nearly replicates several components of an EMT-B course. This is a program that if properly funded, will benefit our community greatly; imagine these young adults out and around the city with those skillsets, ready to assist until EMS can arrive? It’s educators like Mrs. Tamburini who are making this possible, and she is just one example.

Brief Biography

My wife, Amy (Torres) Galligan and I, graduated from Pilgrim High in 2007. We both had incredible academic and athletic experiences, which were provided to us by some of the most talented and inspiring educators, adjunct faculty, and coaches.

We married in May of 2015 and purchased our home within the Massasoit Terrace area of Ward 2.

Our family has grown in the past 7-years. We are now proud parents of three young boys, Brayden (6.5), Trevor (5), and Chase (3). My oldest boys are actively enrolled within our school system.

Currently, I am the Director of Environmental, Health and Safety for a UK owned business with facilities across Rhode Island and the United States. In that role, I am responsible for ensuring compliance to applicable regulatory requirements. In addition to these responsibilities, I also manage Worker’s Compensation. I have worked within the private sector for most of my career, being employed by small-to-medium sized businesses, as well as Fortune 100 and 500 organizations.

District 2 Wards 5, 6 & 7

Leah Hazlewood

• What can Warwick’s school district do to better prepare students as citizens?

 While we do have students involved in community service now, I would like to see civic empowerment through civic engagement. We need to begin early (elementary school), and have activities built into the current curriculum that can be expanded upon from year to year, giving the students an opportunity to be active citizens now. Small steps built upon throughout the years leads to an overall better community with active citizens.

• What do you see as the major issue(s) facing Warwick school?

There is an infrastructure issue that we are addressing right now. Our aged buildings are no longer conducive to optimal learning. The schools our grandparents attended are not the same schools that their grandchildren are attending. The need for improvement in this area is a must. Along with this, we need to bring up our test scores. Last year, we did see improvements, so let’s continue that trend. I cannot ignore the fact that the budget will always be a major issue, and managing how we spend the taxpayers money will be a responsibility that I will take very seriously should I be elected.

• One of the School Committee’s tasks is taking part in the district’s budget process. In the event that money is tight, where would you look to make budget cuts?

The Superintendent proposes the budget, and then the School Committee would go through it line by line. Almost every year we have surpluses and expenses from line items that were not foreseen. I would rather cut from areas that do not directly affect student programming and services.

 Are there any areas you would not consider cutting?

It would be a last resort to cut any area that affects the quality of services to the students. People are needed in schools, and that should be clearly noted.

• What do you see as outstanding features and or accomplishments of Warwick schools?

Although Warwick faces obstacles, we do have schools where there is a clear sense of community and students do thrive. We have clubs, sports teams, and many extra curricular offerings that help develop friendships and foster the learning environment. This is key to forming the culture and directly affects students and their families. From our Warwick Early Learning Center, which is an integrated preschool program, to the Warwick Area Career and Technical Center, we have many hidden gems in Warwick, and what we have is going to grow. We are going to be even better!

My name is Leah Hazelwood and I am a candidate for Warwick School Committee, District 2. I have been a resident of Warwick for most of my adult years. My late husband and I raised our children and many foster children through Warwick Schools. My background is in Special Education, along with experience in Behavioral Health. As a parent and foster parent, I have advocated for at least 7 children with IEPs from within my own household, and have watched these children cross the stage and graduate. I currently work for the school district and have 22 years’ experience; 2 years as a substitute and 20 years hired as a teacher assistant. Previously, I owned and operated a DCYF Licensed Home Daycare for 10 years. I am also licensed as a DCYF Therapeutic Foster Care Provider for children who have experienced extreme trauma and have held this license for the past 28 years. In addition, I am an active community member of Warwick. Over the last 10 years, I have been serving as one of the admins for the Facebook Group “Community of Warwick Schools – Better Together,” which has 5,800 plus members. This page was developed at a time when consolidation was the main focus of the School Committee. Community members were taken by surprise and I became very determined to stay informed going forward. I also serve in the following ways: Warwick Police Explorers, Executive Chair; Member of Warwick Citizens Police Academy Alumni, former Secretary; Member of Fraternal Order of Police Association, Lodge #7; Member of the National Night Out Committee; Member of Oakland Beach Association, former Secretary; Member of Sacred Exchange Fellowship, former Elder, and Leader of Women's Group and Events. With this experience, and qualifications I ask that you vote for me on November 8th.

Steve DiPalma

I am Steve DiPalma, a candidate for Warwick School Committee, District 2. I graduated Bishop Hendricken, am a Veteran and a resident of Warwick for over 18 years. I’m a husband and father of two children. My background has over 10 years of Operational Management experience along with knowledge in Strategic Planning & Financial Budgets. I have an international business acumen with economic development, am highly motivated, hard working and a willingness to accept challenges.

I have no political ties nor connection to the current school system. I’m just your average resident/parent who has an OPEN mind to make a difference within the Warwick Schools and the community.

I decided to run because I have seen what the Warwick school system was like 10-15 years ago when relatives and friends attended. A lot has changed over the years and looking back can bring concerns to many residents. I want to help grow the school system reputation back to what everyone saw.

Yes… is the answer for new schools. The real question is, can the residents afford to fund them??? I think Warwick needs new schools to bring the learning environment forward. This also needs to be done in a complete and transparent way allowing the residents to fully understand the costs and outcomes of the decisions. If the benefits outweigh the costs, then the decision is up to the resident. The City of Warwick deserves to have the proper schools to support the future of the city. These schools need to be up to today’s day and age with proper technology, security and teachers to sustain the growth of the students and the city.

Over the last two years, the children have suffered far beyond what was ever necessary, and we will be dealing with the negative consequences of virtual learning, school closures, and other COVID side effects for years to come.

If elected, I will work to ensure our schools have a proper (3-5 year) strategic view in place which includes maintenance plans and financial budgets. I want the decisions to be made hand in hand with all constituents and in full transparency. I am a proud resident of the city. I am committed to making a difference in the Warwick Schools by advocating for a better learning environment for our children and the teachers, good paying jobs, more technical learning, and for a brighter future for our youth.

District 3 Wards 7,8 &9

Michelle Kirby Chapman

My name is Michelle Kirby Chapman. I am running for school committee because I have a first grader at Robertson here in Warwick, and I want to ensure that she receives the best possible education.

 Like many parents, I have been frustrated by the lack of communication and transparency regarding decisions that affect my daughter and your children as well. As a result of these issues, confidence and trust in our leaders has waned. I would like to change that. I believe that communication is essential to building the school/family partnership.

 Teachers, students, and parents should have clear and consistent communication. I will do my best to foster a healthy effective relationship, to promote a better understanding and reduce unnecessary conflict. The budget has been and remains the biggest issue. I don’t want to criticize what was done with the budget in the past year. I understand the struggle: cutting anything was not an easy task. But moving forward, it is clear that children walking more than a mile to school isn’t right. Nor are overcrowded classrooms, where students with individualized learning outcomes don’t receive the attention they need.

Better physical education remains an issue, as does routine maintenance of our facilities. We need leaders that will make sure the right programs are being funded. 80% of our budget goes to administrative salaries. There isn’t much left. Ours is a flawed system that needs to be put back on track.

I think that Warwick can better prepare our students for the real world by challenging them more. Rather than emphasize standardized tests. We must recognize that each student is an individual, with a different style of learning.

Our children deserve to have their personal and educational growth enabled by effective parent/teacher strategies. 65% of current high school students desire more demanding and interesting courses. We have a great vocational program at Toll Gate. Trade jobs are in demand. Let’s work to put some more emphasis on them. There are so many kids winning countless awards through the CTC. It is one of our great attributes. Not everyone will go to college. Let's prepare these kids to be ready to work when they leave school.

As of last year, Toll Gate’s data stated seniors had a proficiency of 23% in math. Most of these kids went to college. Did we do them any service?

Warwick is a strong community with real strength and resilience. We all want what's best for the kids, our future. We have an opportunity to turn things around and make things right. Regardless of past administrations, we will persevere. Through community involvement and electing the right representatives, our schools will flourish. It’s what's best for our kids.

Charles Donovan Jr.

1. What can Warwick’s school district do to better prepare students as citizens?

• I would advocate on behalf of enhanced civic education and community engagement for all Warwick students. In my opinion it is such a valuable lesson to teach our youth. Having a better understanding of how our system of government works only enhances democracy for generations to come. We are fortunate to live in a state that allows residents to easily interact with their elected officials. Rhode Island is in a very unique position when it comes to an increased focus on civics in education and I would pursue all avenues to incorporate this philosophy into the Warwick School District. As a councilman, I worked with many teachers to arrange for tours to the RI State House. You could see firsthand, the excitement from those classrooms as they sat down with their classmates in the House Chamber for mock legislative sessions.

2. What do you see as the major issue(s) facing Warwick schools?

• An open dialogue and increased communication between the School Department and the City. Although they remain different branches they are still of the same tree and need to coordinate accordingly, to help ensure a successful Warwick School District.
• In today's environment we need to always be planning ahead for the future of our schools. One area to be mindful about is decisions surrounding bringing new teachers into the system. Preparedness for when our teachers retire so we aren't caught off guard and faced with staffing shortages in the future.
• Addressing aging infrastructure issues and increased awareness around student safety upgrades are crucial.

3. One of the School Committee’s tasks is taking part in the district’s budget process. In the event that money is tight, where would you look to make budget cuts? Are there any areas you would not consider cutting?

• This has been an issue dating back as far as I can remember. While on the City Council I witnessed the back and forth negotiations between the Schools and the City. I would work tirelessly with the School administration in formulating a prudent budget request to the Mayor and City Council. I would absolutely not look to cut any more from sports, arts or any areas that would interfere with the betterment of a student’s education. I would closely analyze administration costs while working with our state delegation to increase funding for our district.

4. What do you see as outstanding features and or accomplishments of Warwick schools?

• Our Career and Technical Center remains a top notch program in the state. I will advocate for a continued focus in this area, so that our City becomes the top destination for students looking to advance their careers in these ever important and growing fields of expertise.
• Finally, It only takes someone to view our local print or social media to see just how fortunate our School District is. Warwick has some of the finest students and dedicated teachers in the state. Their commitment to each other shows on a daily basis. I'm proud to have attended Warwick Public Schools K-12 and I'm certain that the same commitment I received, still remains for future students to come.

Background:

-Life-long Warwick resident

-Graduate of Warwick Public Schools (K-12) Warwick Veterans - Class of 1987

- Married to Julie Donovan with two children: Shaelin (Toll Gate) and Matthew (Winman)

-Former Ward 7 City Councilmember

-Involved with the Rhode Island Academic Decathlon

-Previously employed by Fidelity Investment, Smithfield RI

-Currently employed as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Rhode Island House of Representatives