A pep rally Friday at Park View Middle School highlighted the importance of public education and the challenges the public school systems face when funding follows students who choose charter schools and other out of district placements.

The event was part of a nation-wide effort among public school supporters to voice concern about President Trump's cabinet choice for the United States Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, who is best known in Michigan for steering funding away from public schools and into private, parochial and charter schools.

According to Joe Balducci, Chief Financial Officer for Cranston Public Schools, the district budgeted approximately $2.0 million for out-of-district charter schools and pathway programs for 2016-2017. The district's projection into next year is approximately $2.8 million, an $800,000 increase. Additionally, the district will spend approximately $6.4 million for out-of-district special education student placements for 2016-2017 and the current projection into next year is approximately $6.7 million. The total requested budget for the 2016-17 school year is $151,498,364.

Using the auditorium for student performances and speakers, and the gymnasium for an overflow broadcast of the event, the rally featured members of the school community showing their support for their public school education.

Speakers at the event included: Frank Flynn, President of the RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP) and the Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers, Colleen Callahan, Director of Professional Issues for RIFTHP and a member of the Rhode Island Board of Education, Lizbeth Larkin, President of the Cranston Teachers' Alliance (CTA), Jack Santangelo, Vice President for the CTA, Kathleen Torregrossa, Secretary for the CTA, Jeannine Nota-Masse, Superintendent for Cranston Public Schools, and Ken Hopkins, Cranston City Council, Citywide. 

“Park View Middle School is the best school in Cranston, we all know, and probably the best in the state,” said Principal Mike Crudale. “Today, we are asked to participate in an event to show just how important public schools are, and how we can keep and make them even better. Public school education is important to our country as a whole, and it's important to show our support for our Cranston Public Schools, to show all the good things that happen here on a daily basis.”

Crudale recognized teachers and staff like himself who attended Cranston Public Schools then returned to the district to teach.

“These teachers all attended Cranston Public Schools, and now they're here educating you,” Crudale said. “It's important for our community. Your home is our home.”

Crudale noted that the pep rally was not just about Park View, but about all the schools throughout the district. A video montage showcased the diverse events that take place throughout the district, including sporting events, multicultural events, musical events and more. The PVMS cheerleaders and the PVMS Pep Band both performed for the audience. The pep band includes eight students who wanted to form a band to play at the basketball games, according to Crudale. “They came up with the idea themselves and they created it and it's all done on their own.”

Flynn talked about his early years in Cranston. “Before all of you were born, I had the pleasure of teaching here at Park View Middle School, and this school looks even better now than it ever did before, and that's because of the taxpayers and the parents supporting the school,” he said. “We need to make sure that at the city, state and federal levels, our schools are a priority. We want to make sure they are healthy and safe, that they have the materials, supplies and support that they need so that you can get a high quality education, get a job, go to a trade school or to college, so that you can live in the city of Cranston and support your families.”

Flynn asked the students to promise him that they would come to school every day and work hard so that they could have a better life. His request was met with cheers and applause.

Hopkins, the next speaker, spoke of his love for Cranston Public schools, where he once worked as the athletic director, and hired Principal Crudale as one of his first coaches.

“After 37 years in education, I retired and I felt that I needed to give back to my community,” Hopkins told the crowd. “I love Cranston, it was so good to me, especially the public schools in Cranston.” He said he and his wife moved in 40 years ago, looking for a place to call home and to raise their family, and that he taught at Bain and Cranston East before becoming the Athletic Director for the city. 

“We could've picked so many places to live. My wife was from Newport, I was from Johnston, but we settled here because of the schools. Cranston has some of the best schools in the state,” he said, noting that his children attended Garden City Elementary School, Western Hills Middle School and Cranston East High School, went on to college, and have careers and families. Two of his children have careers in education and one had a baby just a day before.

He gave the students advice to consider when thinking about their futures. “It's not ‘if I go to college,’ it's ‘what college am I going to go to,’” he said. “If it were easy, then everybody would do it. You have to work hard. It's not easy for me, it's not easy for you, but the support you have at this school makes a difference for you in your life, and you can do it. You can be successful and you can do anything you want to do.”

Larkin, CTA President and a teacher at PVMS, said, “The AFT is encouraging public schools to show that we are the best, to keep funding us and keep supporting us in public education, and I couldn't think of a better place to show off what we do. I have been teaching for 31 years in the Cranston Public Schools and I can tell you, it's not just a profession, it's a vocation. It's absolutely a vocation.”

Nota-Masse, who grew up in Providence, but moved to Cranston when she married, taught at Cranston High School East, and said she quickly learned of the deep, genuine, sense of community pride that the city holds dear.

“Being a middle school student in 2017 is not easy, there are pressures we never imagined, but I give you all so much credit every day for doing what you do. You do amazing things and you are capable of even more amazing things in the years to come.”

She stated that parent support is critical to the success of the schools, and she thanked the students and staff for all they do each and every day to make the school and city great.

Crudale ended the rally by saying, “I love to hear it when my students tell me they don't want to leave Park View,” he said. "But, I want you to love it, to leave and go on and be successful and to come back. Make Cranston Public Schools part of your lives throughout your careers."