Closing of Providence schools is racist, says former NAACP officer and member of Team Smiley

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Wednesday, December 14, 2022

GoLocalProv News Team

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Pilar McCloud, speaking at an NAACP Final Dinner. PHOTO: Go Local

Community member and member of Providence mayor-elect Brett Smiley’s transition team calls the announcement of the city’s school closures “racist,” ahead of a community meeting Wednesday night.

On Tuesday, students and families learned that Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School in Broad Street and Carl G. Lauro Elementary School will close permanently at the end of the year, and Gilbert Stuart Middle School will close after the 2024-2025 school year to allow for the construction of a new Kindergarten to Grade 8 facility.

Pilar McCloud, the founder of the nonprofit organization “A Sweet Creation” and former president of the NAACP Providence youth branch, accuses the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and the Department of Public Schools of Providence (PPSD) of “gaslighting” the community – and of racism.

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This fall, McCloud was named to Providence mayor-elect Brett Smiley’s transition team.

“They tell you what you see is not what you see,” McCloud said. “This is the greatest manifestation of racism I have ever experienced in the state of Rhode Island.”

McCloud said families in the city have been left out of the conversation about the future and direction of Providence schools since the state takeover in 2019.

The Providence Teachers Union and the Providence School Board have also criticized the school closure process, citing a lack of stakeholder involvement — and a lack of transparency by school administrations.

“Towards the end of last year, black teachers and educators were fired, resigned or demoted [in Providence]”, McCloud said. “And the name Joan Jackson kept coming up.”

Jackson is the Superintendent’s Senior Advisor and, according to her biography: “Joan oversees the academic leadership and student support teams to determine programs and policies focused on creating high quality, equitable, and focused learning environments. on data for all PPSD students. Joan comes to Providence with more than 35 years of experience working in schools and turnaround districts across the country.

Wednesday night’s community meeting has two main topics on the agenda – the closure of the three schools and a call for the “immediate resignation of PPSD’s senior adviser” – Jackson.

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