In an effort to inform voters for the November General Election, the Cranston Herald asked School Committee candidates to partake in a written Q&A composed of four questions. (Two of their responses will be included in print and the rest will be made available via the paper’s website.) Candidates were asked to submit a short biography followed by a maximum 200-word response to each question. Individuals who did not submit responses will have their Q&A’s in the paper’s later editions once they are received.

Candidates facing opponents on Nov. 8 election include Kristen Haroian and Christopher Maxwell for the Ward 2 seat, Domenic Fusco and Paul Archetto for the Ward 3 seat, Tera Norberg and Arthur Scavitti for the Ward 5 seat and Anthony Melillo and Dylan Zelazo for the Ward 6 seat. Unopposed candidates include Citywide candidate Michael Traficante, Ward 1 candidate Keith Catone and Ward 4 candidate Frank Ritz.

Cranston’s early voting will take place on weekdays from Oct. 19 through Nov.7 at the Peter T. Pastore Youth Center (155 Gansett Ave.). Election Day will be held on Nov. 8.

 

Ward 1

Keith Catone

Keith Catone is a resident of the Edgewood section of Ward 1 where he lives with his wife, Dulari, and their son – a student at Rhodes Elementary School. Keith has a doctorate in education and masters in school leadership from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in public policy from Brown. He is also certified as a teacher for secondary school social studies, and as a secondary school administrator. He is currently the Executive Director of the Center for Youth & Community Leadership in Education at Roger Williams University.

How can Cranston schools be improved?

Engaging families and students as leaders, and educators as experts, while focused on leveraging diversity and achieving equity, backed by increased resources can make Cranston Public Schools the best in RI.  

For thousands of students, our public schools provide spaces where they are supported to learn, grow and thrive. Where this is not happening, we must ensure our schools promote equity, happiness and success for every student and family.

We have stable district leadership, strong administrators, dedicated teachers, hard-working staff, wonderful students, engaged families and supportive communities. These strengths provide a solid foundation for improvement.

Working with communities to advocate for school improvement, I know people care deeply about their schools and jump at opportunities to help make them better. I support district priorities that include engagement with families, students and educators whenever possible. Listening to all stakeholders is how we can leverage our city’s diversity and develop policies and practices that achieve equity.

Additionally, strong schools are investments in our city’s future. Increased funds will maintain and upgrade facilities, recruit and retain top talent, keep up to date with curricula and teaching practices and provide reliable support services and operational infrastructure. We must advocate at the city, state and federal levels for increased district resources.

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

First and foremost, I am a parent with a child in Cranston Public Schools. I lend important perspective for School Committee decisions as a public schools parent from personal experience as a Rhodes Elementary PTO treasurer and school improvement team member, and from what I know of other families’ experiences.

Additionally, I am a career educator, having worked in and around K-12 public schools for the past 25 years. I was a public high school teacher and have current certifications to teach secondary social studies and in secondary school administration. My educational training provides a rich background from which to draw, with an undergraduate degree in public policy, masters in school leadership and doctorate in education.

Through my current work, as executive director of the Center for Youth & Community Leadership in Education (CYCLE) at Roger Williams University, I have the privilege of supporting youth and parent organizations to organize and advocate for better schools in their cities across New England, and nationally. CYCLE also supports school districts to more effectively partner with youth and parent leaders to shift systems and practices for educational equity.

What I’ve learned from my personal and professional experiences make me uniquely qualified for School Committee.

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

Cranston is an increasingly diverse city where residents have many different identities and backgrounds. Not every group of students is the same, each school has unique needs and no two individuals are identical. Diversity within our schools can be our community’s superpower if we support educators to develop students into leaders who know how to celebrate and work across difference; embrace all identities; combat racism, sexism, classism, and other forms of systemic injustice; and challenge white supremacy, patriarchy, heteronormativity, and any belief systems designed to divide and diminish people.

We must identify disparities where they exist, then tackle them head on as challenges to be overcome. Some cities, across the country, have adopted an approach to achieve equity called “targeted universalism,” which unites communities around commonly held goals — like student success, for instance — but also embraces the reality that different people will need different supports to achieve these goals.

We can adopt this approach by identifying what works for different schools, classrooms, teachers, students and families, and orienting policies and practices tailored to what everyone needs to achieve our common goals. Smart and fair policies and practices can be developed that are responsive to diverse circumstances. Everyone gets what they need to achieve our common goals.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

This is a difficult question to answer without specific context. Overall, the Cranston School Committee has an obligation to ensure that Cranston Public Schools is in compliance with any and all legal requirements. In cases where residents raise disagreement or objection to current laws, then I would want to understand more fully the reasons for such grievances. In the event that present laws might run counter to the mission and vision of Cranston Public Schools and/or cause harm to our community, we could seek to change them. However, it is important to note that when it comes to public schools, local policies are subject to state and federal regulations, which local school committees do not have the power to set and can only raise concerns and advocate for change.

In cases where grievances are within our local control, we need to establish if proposed changes are actually in the common interest, not self-interest. The conversation should, then, be about whether a proposed change is for the benefit and betterment of our community and schools or not. Where the common interest prevails, we should seek to change policies; where it is merely self-interest, then I likely would not support change.

Ward 2

Kristen Haroian

I’ve been an active volunteer in our community since moving to Cranston in 2007. I’ve served on the School Committee since 2019 and on the Juvenile Hearing Board for several years. I work full-time for the state of Rhode Island, and part-time for The Trudeau Center and Fogarty Center, assisting people with disabilities. I have no children of my own, but I’m an exceptional aunt and love all kids. On the school committee, I treat every child as if they were my own.

 

How can Cranston schools be improved?

Our students would benefit greatly from updating our school buildings so children feel safe and have all the tools they need to prepare them for adulthood in the 21st century. Also, like other districts, we need to combat the effects of Covid learning loss. Kids lost so much in the isolation and disconnection of the last two years, and it’s going to take real effort to make up for the disruption to their education.

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

I am experienced in the budget process and committed to ensuring that all students’ needs are met. I am chairwomen of the wellness committee. I have demonstrated my ability to work cooperatively with the administration, the union and my colleagues to find solutions. I am always available and accessible for parents and care very deeply about making sure every student is safe, supported and getting the education they deserve.

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

Public schools should always be committed to equity. Every single Cranston student is an individual who is important, who should succeed and who deserves to have their basic needs met each day. It’s important to recognize that while every person needs to work to succeed, the starting line isn’t the same for everyone. Many kids face challenges, and they all need and deserve the opportunity to achieve and succeed.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

Our school committee has to follow laws, no matter what special interests may want. Everyone has the right to their opinion, but ultimately, I have to do what is right for our kids. I will not be pressured by special interest groups or allow politics to influence the safety, support or education of our students.

 

Christopher Maxwell

My name is Christopher Maxwell. I am currently an IT Analyst for CVS Health, supporting the IT infrastructure for the Pharmacies across the country. I currently hold an Associates Degree in Computer Programming and a Bachelor's Degree in Network Engineering from Johnson & Wales University. Growing up I was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning my Eagle Scout in the process.

How can Cranston Schools be improved?

I believe Cranston Schools can be improved by ensuring facilities are up to date (i.e. classrooms) and providing teachers and students with the most up-to-date tools so teachers can provide students with the education they need to succeed in life while keeping the students invested and involved with the subject matter involved while students take advantage of any and all resources available to them.

I also believe participation in extracurricular activities can help expand the students becoming more involved and working together and potentially expand their knowledge in certain areas (i.e. teamwork in sports, or work with computers within a computer club, etc.).

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

I feel I am qualified to be a member of the School Committee because I will always put the

teachers and students, and the school system as a whole, first. I will give a fresh voice and insight to the committee while listening to parents and the people in general of Cranston. I think education is one of the most important items we can give to our children and I would like to see them succeed in life. If I am elected to the School Committee, I will always fight for our schools and ensure we provide the teachers and students what we need to make the Cranston School System great.

I may not have always been given everything in life and had to work towards a common goal at making sure I learned what I could growing up. Even today as an adult, I am still learning and growing, and that is the most important thing. The children not just attending Cranston Schools, but all schools in Rhode Island, and the country at large, are our future, and I believe they deserve an education that can make us proud and give them a bright future.

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

I would create fair policies which affect all students and staff in a very diverse community by listening to teachers, students, and parents and understanding their needs. Policies passed by the School Committee affect everybody, so we need to ensure we have an understanding of what the needs are before voting on anything that would have potentially negative lasting repercussions on both the staff and students.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston Schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

I would need to understand what the Special Interest groups are and what they are disagreeing with. I can understand that not everyone is going to agree with present laws, or with what gets passed by the School Committee (or by the City Council or General Assembly for example that would impact the school system in Cranston).

From where I sit, balancing the legal obligations of Cranston Schools with special interest groups who disagree with present laws would also mean hearing out the special interest groups as well as reviewing any current laws/policies that exist that they may disagree with so that we can find common ground.

Ward 3

Domenic Fusco

I have served as Ward 3 School Committee representative 6 of the last eight years. I am married to Shelley Fusco (you all might know her as the crossing guard in front of Bain and Du Temple!) and father to Kailey and Domenic III.

I am also a member of the Cranston Schools building committee, and Board member of the Cranston YMCA.

I am a former band parent and huge supporter of the Cranston East Thunderbolt Band. I am a former member and past president of the Cranston Education Advisory Board, as well as former co-chair of the parent organization, ‘Building a Better Cranston’ (a parent group to publicize support for the passing of the school bonds). I am also a former member of the Cranston Board of Contracts and Purchasing.

How can Cranston schools be improved?

The most important improvement that can be done is what is being undertaken now, upgrading/replacing our buildings. Garden City school is moving forward for a September 2023 opening and, my most important initiative, the rebuild of Gladstone School. Our kids are getting a great education, however, the buildings are outdated and in need of repair. I have been very active in every phase of the Gladstone rebuild plans, even when I was not on the committee, and look to continue to advocate for the children to get the building they deserve.

We also must take care of our staff. Our staff, from teachers, paraprofessionals, to custodians have had a very difficult time during Covid, have done things I never imagined could be done, and are leaving the profession in droves. We must take care of them. I am proud to have done a little to help them with the recent contracts we approved for all our bargaining units. These contracts are a first step to getting and retaining the quality teachers our children deserve.

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

I have been on the School Committee six of the last eight years. I know what the plans are, and I know what needs to be done. I am also a parent of two wonderful children who are products of the Cranston School system. As such, I feel I can relate to the parental concerns and look to continue to help alleviate those concerns. Also, I listen to the community, and I want to be a part of the assistance where I can – whether in our schools or in the community. After all, we are all part of the same city!

Finally, I am not in this for anything except to ensure that the children of Cranston get a quality education. I have no further aspirations other than that. Being 100 percent focused on the school’s success only, provides me with the focus needed to keep Cranston Schools the best!

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

Ward 3 is probably the most diverse community in Cranston, as such everything that comes across to us on the School Committee, I must look at with that in mind. I realize, for example, how families are struggling with day-to-day life, so I want to ensure we take those into account for policies and actions that affect our children. I believe we must be inclusive and from what I can see, Cranston does a very good job trying to do that, but if I see something not right, I contact school administration immediately to get it rectified.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

The laws are the laws, I try to take the emotion out of any decision on how I vote. Anything that comes before us for a vote, I do my research. For some of these I realize there are passionate views on both sides, as such I do as much research as I can on the item. For example, the debate over mask mandates for the start of school in 2021. I mentioned in the meeting that I think I did more research on the one topic than I did for some of my research papers I wrote in college. I also listened to everyone who called, read every email and listened to everyone who speaks at the meetings during public comment. In the end, if the laws do not agree with public outcry, I will try to be as compassionate as possible when explaining our position. I am a parent, I understand the emotion when it comes to our children, I will never deny anyone their opportunity to talk to me about those passions.

Ward 4

Frank Ritz

Frank Ritz is the parent of three children in Cranston Public Schools and is running for the Ward 4 School Committee seat. He is also a Rotarian and chamber board member.

 

How can Cranston schools be improved?

Having the right people on the School Committee is important to every resident regardless if they have children in school. Strong schools attract families, which attracts business, which helps keep everyone's taxes low! There are three main areas I would like to address:

School Safety: I want to find the funds to improve the safety of all schools and ultimately have a full-time police officer at every school. Not only for the safety aspect, but so the students can build a healthy relationship with the police department.

Transparency: I want parents to know what is being taught in the schools and allow them easy access to this information. Also, the Mayor, City Council and School Committee do a great job managing the school funds, but I want that information available to anyone that wants access.

Modernizing Schools: I want to help to continue the work being done by the Mayor, City Council and School Committee to rebuild schools (Garden City and Gladstone) and modernize all of our classrooms. The way children learn has changed and we need to update our schools to meet their changing needs.

 

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

• I have been in Management with AAA for 25 years.
• I have my MBA from JWU.
• I create and work within budgets, negotiate contracts and address many complex business issues.
• I have been a mentor in the Cranston School system for years and I am raising three children, so I am very intune with the current climate.
• I am a coach for several of my kids' sports teams which allows me to talk with parents frequently, so I am aware of their concerns.
• I am a Rotarian and chamber board member, so I am very involved with the community.

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

We need to be unbiased and listen to all opinions. We need to create policies that help the majority and address unique situations separately with the students’ best interest in mind.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

We can have open discussions and look to find common ground to build upon.

Ward 5

Tera Norberg

Tera Norberg is a mother of two current CPS students and is running for the Ward 5 School Committee seat. She has served on the Stone Hill Elementary PTG (parent teacher group) Executive Board since 2014 and is currently the PTG President.

How can Cranston schools be improved?

I believe we can improve our schools by:

• Taking, and making, school funding a priority.
• Consistently reviewing and bettering our curriculum and ensuring that said curriculum is transparent and easily accessible – parents want to know what their children are and are not being taught and should be able to easily find that information.
• Continuing to keep our schools safe – our school resource officers are a valuable, crucial piece of our school communities. We need to increase this resource if anything.
• Creating a better school to community environment – we need to support our educators, admins, support staff etc. Be willing to collaboratively work together as a school to home team will aid in creating a better learning environment for our students.

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

I feel that I am qualified to be a member of the School Committee for the following reasons:

• I am a mother to two current CPS students – one in high school and one in elementary. One of my children has an IEP and has received Special Education Services and support through the Cranston public school system. I am knowledgeable in SPED policies, procedures and have had the pleasure of working with the educators and various special education coordinators within our district over the years.
• In the past, I have served on various hiring committees for CPS as a parent/community liaison.
• I have voluntarily been a mentor and parent advocate for families across CPS.
• I have served on the Stone Hill Elementary PTG (parent teacher group) Executive Board since 2014 and I am the current PTG President.
• Though I'm not teaching, I do have a B.A. in Elementary Education, B.A. in Elementary Special Education as well as a T.A. Certification for the State of RI.

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

Fair policies begin with unbiased foundations. We need to value the importance of the wide variety of learners we have in our district and be willing to meet students where they need to be met. Policies should be made to serve the needs of the students and the educators, individualized situations should be looked at individually and policies should be implemented to best serve that situation.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

Common ground can always be found. The top priority should always be what is best for the students of Cranston Public Schools directly followed by what is best for the educators that serve those students day in and day out.

Ward 6

Anthony Melillo

Hello my name is Anthony Melillo, and I am a resident in the Garden City area of Cranston. I am married and I am father to three adult daughters, all who attended Cranston Public Schools.

How can Cranston schools be improved?

• Strong Neighborhood Public Schools: Each public school should be a resource-rich nucleus of the communities it serves. To address all needs of CPSD students, our schools need to be fully staffed with full-time counselors, psychiatric social workers, librarians, nurses, supervising aides and paraprofessionals.
• Early Childhood Education: The immediate and long-term cognitive benefits of high-quality early education, including preschool, is unquestionable. It will be my priority to provide improved access for all parents.
• Student Mental Health: Covid has set back mental health and social-emotional well-being of many students. I want schools to have ready access to qualified psychiatric social workers and mental-health resources to address this trauma.

I plan to do as much as possible to uplift the voices of my constituents and the people who spend the most time in the classrooms: teachers, administration, students, and their families; I will also host listening sessions periodically (outside of board meetings).

Cranston Public Schools will do the following:

• Provide equitable access and opportunity in a safe and supportive environment that addresses individual students’ needs.
• Align the work of schools and departments and create a system of high-quality accountability for instruction, social, emotional and physical health and safety.
• Create a clear direction for efficient and effective operations to better serve students and improve staff morale.
• Improve all modes of communications to better inform and engage the Cranston community invested in public education.

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

As a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, Culinary Arts, I enjoyed a career in the Foodservice Industry for 30+ years spending 17 of those years as a successful Food Service Director for Cranston Department of Senior services. I’ve created several intergenerational programs with Senior Citizens and Cranston Public School Students, developed department budgets and know the workings of the City Budget process. I am currently Director of Sales for a local foodservice distributor.

I believe in the saying that the first part of your life you learn, second part you earn and as you mature you return. That’s why I am running for Cranston school committee in Ward 6. I have been a resident of Cranston for 30+ years. I have supported many candidates in the past, and I believe that now is when I put my energy and passion toward working with the current school officials and committee members towards making Cranston Schools the best they can be.

I am running for our kids, our neighbors, our educators, and our future. With your vote, I can be a voice for you.

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

We cannot accomplish any of the above goals without the support or buy-in from teachers, staff, students and families. As board members we must support the superintendent on implementation of these goals, listen to teachers and staff to identify challenges and opportunities to actualize these goals, and we must always value the concerns, challenges, and best practices identified by students and families.

I will work with the board and superintendent to always prioritize the equitable support, safety and wellbeing of students and teachers in the classroom. This includes putting aside political rhetoric to do what we must do for the best outcomes for students. How will this impact the classroom? What impact will that have on teachers? What impact will it have on students? Together we can uplift the mission and vision of the district and accomplish the academic goals of the district.

I believe collaboration is important; that every story and voice is a valuable asset. I want to model that in how I approach working with other board members. Listening to their stories, the stories of their constituents, and centering those stories when we develop policy that is equitable.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

Parental rights: Include parents in every decision that impacts their student, and protect parent’s constitutional rights to be heard and address their elected officials.

Teachers and staff: Empower teachers with input into all instructional and learning strategic planning and progress monitoring programs.

Dylan Zelazo

Dylan Zelazo lives on Baldwin Orchard Drive with his wife, Amanda, and three children, Jack, Ari and Brynn. Professionally, Dylan works as Director of Administration for the City of Pawtucket. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the City, as well as long-term budgeting, collective bargaining, and strategic planning. Dylan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Providence College and a Master’s in Public Affairs concentrating in Local Government Management from Indiana University.

How can Cranston schools be improved?

When my wife, Amanda, and I had saved up enough to buy a home, we chose to live in Cranston because it is such a wonderful place to live and raise a family. The public school system is at the core of why Cranston is so great. I want to help ensure that Cranston continues to thrive as a community.

School safety is one of my primary priorities. Students and teachers deserve to go to school every day in a safe, clean and quality environment. This is multipronged, but we need to invest in school safety with SROs, crossing guards, modern safety plans, and improve the buildings themselves. The investment the School Department is making at Garden City School is much needed. Many of the schools that serve our neighborhoods in Ward 6 are aging and require reinvestment. Our plan for improving these buildings must be smart and balance our taxpayers’ ability to pay with the quality facilities our community deserves. The plan must be bold and strategic as we prioritize the best interests of all Cranston students and taxpayers. Every child deserves to attend a safe, modern facility that fosters learning and sets the stage for their success.

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

With three young kids, my wife and I are truly invested in the future of our public schools. I am running because I want to help make the Cranston School Department even better for all kids currently in school and for future generations. Our schools help make us such a great place to raise a family. It’s time to invest in our future as a community, and that starts with education.

I am the Director of Administration for the City of Pawtucket, under the leadership of Mayor Don Grebien. My job is to coordinate the day-to-day operations of city government. I lead collective bargaining efforts regularly with four unions and the annual budget process. Local government is my profession and area of expertise, and I understand the vital role the School Committee plays in maintaining a quality city.

I believe my experience in budgeting and negotiating contracts would be an asset to the Committee and the community. Additionally, as a father of three young children who will all go through the school system, I know I am running for the right reasons – the future of Cranston schoolchildren.

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

This is all about collaboration. Working with the Superintendent’s office and the other members of the School Committee is critical to balancing the needs of our entire community. We are fortunate in Cranston to have a representative School Committee with members from across each of the city’s wards. It is important to listen to people from every neighborhood and school community to make sure that policy formulation is fair and equitable.

Parents, teachers, taxpayers and many other stakeholders have an interest in this process and elected leaders and professional administrators can learn something from each of their perspectives when creating policies for the district.

Additionally, it’s important to use best practices as the basis for all policies. There is typically no need to reinvent the wheel on policies as many other communities deal with the same issues, and the State plays an important role as well. Once best practices are reviewed, Cranston community-specific policy customization is made much easier.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

It is important to listen to people with different perspectives. At the end of the day, I think people want elected leaders who collaborate with the community as well as other elected officials to take in all the available information and make the best possible decision on behalf of the city. That is the leadership style I would bring to the Cranston School Committee. We need to work together to solve problems and to move the school district forward for the future of our children and the community as a whole.

Every perspective should be listened to and used to help formulate the best possible decision. It’s not lost on me, however, that there are regulatory structures in place at both the State and Federal levels that govern how school districts must operate and spend their limited resources. Working closely with the six other members of the School Committee, Superintendent Nota-Masse and her team, I am confident that my background as a local government leader qualifies me to help move the district forward.

Citywide

Michael Traficante

Michael Traifcante has been a member of Cranston’s School Committee for the past 18 years. Prior to that, he served as Cranston’s mayor and on the City Council. Traficante also taught in Cranston Public Schools and is a graduate of Cranston East.

How can Cranston schools be improved?

It is the primary obligation of both the School Department’s administration and School Committee to continually work together to improve upon at the Cranston Schools environment to include its infrastructure, its academic programs, its social and athletic activities, its personnel and its school policies. It is also the obligation of both the School Committee and School Administration to work with and continually communicate with the City's Administration so that the programs and activities for the students are properly funded.

Why do you feel that you’re qualified to be a member of the School Committee?

Upon returning from my military obligations, I had the good fortune to be employed by the Cranston School Department as a mathematics teacher, football and wrestling coach. 10 years later, I was promoted to Vice Principal at Cranston High School East, my alma mater. My 20 years in education were perhaps the most enjoyable and rewarding years of my life. During my latter 10 years in education, I was also elected to the Cranston City Council as a Councilman citywide and served as the Council President for four of my six-year term of office. In 1985, I was proudly elected as Mayor of this great city of ours. I served in that capacity for the next 14 years working closely with all city departments, especially the Cranston School Department.  Following my mayoral experience, I was then elected as the Cranston School Committee member citywide. I have served in that capacity for the past 18 years where I had the privilege of serving the children of Cranston in their educational and social endeavors. I have proudly served my city as an elected official for the past 38 years in a variety of capacities. My experience working with and alongside the citizens and children of Cranston has been not only a great honor but a most challenging, rewarding and exceptional experience. I truly believe my knowledge and first-hand experience of working in and with city government and the Cranston School Department, as a school committee member, for the past several years will serve me well for the next two years as a member of the Cranston School Committee.

How do you create fair policies which affect all students and staff, in a very diverse community?

Whenever a new or an amended school policy is being considered by the School Administration, the Superintendent and the Cranston School Committee, we are all obligated to take into consideration the impact on all segments of this school community to include staff, students and administrators.

How would you balance the legal obligations of Cranston schools with special interest groups who disagree with the present laws?

The Cranston School Committee is at all times obligated to abide by all state educational laws and policies. However, if a special interest group who disagrees with the state law and policy were to come before the committee, we have an obligation to not only allow them to address the committee but to direct them to their local legislators, who have the power to change such laws and policies. If I, as a member of the committee, was in agreement with the special interest group, then I would