Citywide: Kerri Kelleher

Making her first bid for elected office, citywide School Committee hopeful Kerri Kelleher says she felt compelled to become involved in the electoral process.

“I felt like I had to,” she said. “We need to push to make sure every kid is getting the same great education.”

A native of Massachusetts, Kelleher moved to Rhode Island with her husband 11 years ago and has been in Cranston for the last eight years. The couple has two sons and a daughter.

“We picked Cranston as a good place for us,” she said, largely because of the quality of the school system.

Employed with a cleaning and organizational company, Kelleher is best known for her work as president of BASICS, or Benefiting All Students in Cranston Schools, which she co-founded in 2009. Since the elimination of music programming as a result of budget cuts, the BASICS has instructed more than 700 students through its music program.

“It’s been really, really great,” she said.

Kelleher said she and fellow candidates who have been involved in BASICS felt a need to run for office because, in spite of the group’s success, current officials are no longer as responsive as they once were.

“Now, we don’t get answers,” she said. “Ultimately, we were feeling like you had to get into the system to change the system”

A cornerstone of Kelleher’s candidacy is working to restore the music, sports and enrichment program lost to budget cuts.

“We want to see programs back straight across the board,” she said. “Everything we’ve done with BASICS has been citywide.”

Kelleher also points to improving safety measures at schools and integrating technology into classrooms - especially in light of the arrival of computer-based testing - as top priorities.

“The bottom line is, what we have done with safety is not enough,” she said.

Being responsive to parents and encouraging them to be actively involved in education is another area of focus for Kelleher.

She is critical of some current committee members and their approach to dealing with members of the community.

“To be treated with any degree of disrespect really upsets me,” she said.

Kelleher said people can become “detached,” and through her work with BASICS and in other capacities it is “so rewarding to see that light kind of come back into their eyes.”

“When you feel like your opinions don’t matter, you stop caring,” she said. “I’m confident that trust can be rebuilt because of the respect I’ve gotten through my work with BASICS.”

Kelleher said she strongly favors the $15 million bond question for school building improvements - “If this bond doesn’t pass, these buildings are going to fall down” - and the institution of term limits for committee members.

Citywide:

Michael Traficante

A longtime fixture in local government, Michael Traficante says he is seeking a new term as the citywide representative on the School Committee to continue serving the city.

“I’ve always been honored by being elected by the people of Cranston,” he said. “My first love has always been education…I have a lifetime of public service.”

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Traficante began his career as an educator in Cranston in the 1960s and in the decades since has served multiple terms as mayor and on the City Council. He has served on the school committee since 2004 and has also been a football and wresting coach.

Traficante is currently employed as the director of governmental affairs and educational initiatives for the New England Laborers Labor Management Cooperation Trust Fund.

Traficante cites the development of the District Strategic Plan, contract agreements, new teacher evaluation tools, the creation of a district safety plan and work on curriculum updates among his achievements.

Looking forward, Traficante said working to improve the city’s school buildings, instituting an all-day kindergarten program and restoring elementary and middle school music, sports and enrichment programming are the top priorities.

“These are the big issues facing the school committee,” he said.

Traficante said the current committee has “worked well together for the most part,” and he pointed to recent contract agreements with the Cranston Teachers’ Alliance after many months as a significant accomplishment.

“If you’re placing demands on the table, you’ve got to be willing to give something back,” he said.

Traficante also credited the district’s administration for their work in the face of “a myriad of regulations thrown at them” from the state level.

Traficante also said he has a positive relationship with the administration of Mayor Allan Fung and the members of the council.

“I really don’t see it as an issue for me,” he said. “We’re beggars at the trough…the City Council controls our budget.”

Traficante said he does not oppose term limits for school committee members and spoke highly of those seeking office this year.

“The candidates that are running are good candidates,” he said.

Ward 1: Jeff Gale

Running without opposition for a second term as the Ward 1 representative on the School Committee, Jeff Gale says he wants to continue working on key initiatives and investments for the district.

“I’ve really enjoyed my two years,” he said.

Gale, who grew up in Edgewood, is the owner and director of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services. He previously worked on for the Rhode Island Afterschool Initiative, and on the America Reads America Counts program in Washington, D.C.

In terms of accomplishments, Gale points to budget management, repayment of the so-called Caruolo Act debt and the creation of the Attendance Counts! Task Force.

Gale said promoting expanded learning opportunities - programming both during and after the school day - is his passion. He is also committed to restoring the elementary and middle school music, sports and enrichment program lost to budget cuts in recent years.

“The hard part is…the money’s still tight,” he said.

Gale said he believes the relationship between city and school officials has improved - “We’re both communicating better with each other,” he said - and he cited the successful completion of labor negotiations as another achievement for the current committee.

“All of our staff do a great job,” he said.

Gale said he strongly supports the $15 million bond question for school building improvements, and does not oppose term limits for committee members.

Ward 2: Ed Angilly

Campaigning to represent Ward 2, Ed Angilly says new voices are needed on the School Committee.

“It’s time for a change,” he said. “It’s time for a fresh set of people in there.”

A Cranston native, Angilly works at Schneider Electric, formerly American Power Conversion, as a senior planner. The parent of a son with Down syndrome, he has served on the Special Education Advisory Committee, the Cranston Education Advisory Board and as a board member for BASICS, or Benefiting All Students in Cranston Schools.

Angilly said his experiences working parents through BASICS and the other groups have given him a perspective on how the process works, and how it needs to change.

“The parents - we know what’s best for our kids,” he said. “We’ve got to take the politics out of it.”

Angilly said he strongly supports the restoration of elementary and middle school music, sports and enrichment programming lost to budget cuts in recent years.

“We’ve got to get that back on track,” he said, holding up the lack of students joining the high school bands as an example of the negative consequences associated with the program cuts.

He is also an advocate for the establishment of an all-day kindergarten program.

“We’ve got to make sure we set it up right,” he said.

He supports the $15 million bond question for school building improvements, but does question whether officials will move quickly enough to utilize the funding. He also supports term limits for committee members.

“I’m all for term limits,” he said. “You need that changeover.”

Angilly is a proponent of the move to the Common Core curriculum, which he said will allow for “ideas from all over the country” to be utilized in improving education locally.

“You can take advantage of what other people have done,” he said.

He does question whether education has become too singularly focused on integrating technology, with a broader perspective on students’ needs being lost in the process.

“It makes sense. You’ve got to get back to basics,” he said. “We’re so focused on the technology, we’re forgetting he basics.”

Angilly said he wants to explore any innovative solution or approach to the school system’s busing service - “We’ve got to think outside the box,” he said - and to continue working with the district’s unions to find an appropriate fiscal balance.

Angilly said the relationship between city and school officials “definitely needs to be worked on.”

“I hope to kind of smooth some of those things out,” he said.

Ward 2: Stephanie Culhane

Seeking her fourth term as the Ward 2 representative on the School Committee, Stephanie Culhane says she wants to continue her advocacy for education and her work to achieve several major priorities.

“It’s really personal for me,” she said. “I want to continue to promote the greatness of the Cranston Public Schools and move it forward…What really brings people in [to a community] is the quality of schools.”

Culhane moved to Cranston at age 6 and attended Catholic schools. She and her husband have three children in the school system. She is employed as discharge planner with the state Department of Corrections through Westbay Community Action.

Culhane first became civically involved as the sixth grade was being transitioned from the middle school level back to the elementary school level.

“Real answers weren’t being given,” she said.

Eventually, Culhane decided to step forward as a candidate. She said that experience, and her perspective as a parent, continue to serve as motivating factors.

Culhane said restoring elementary and middle school music and sports programming lost during the budget cuts of recent years is a top priority and that doing so would bring her service “full circle.”

“I want to be part of the committee that brings it back,” she said.

With the so-called Caruolo Act debt now retired, Culhane said the school committee has been working toward the restoration of the programs. The plan, she said, is to “bring them back in such a way that they are educationally viable,” and can never again be considered merely “nice to have.”

Culhane said she supports keeping the district’s bus service locally operated, with a plan in place to begin replacing the aging fleet of vehicles. Investments are also being made in safety and security upgrades, she said.

Instituting an all-day kindergarten program is another top focus for Culhane.

“I think we’re in a position, finally” to realize the all-day program, she said, praising committee member Janice Ruggieri’s work on the matter.

Culhane urged voters to support the $15 million bond question for school building improvements, and said she is not opposed to the creation of term limits for school committee members.

“I’m fine with it,” she said. “Ten years…that’s enough time to get stuff done.”

In terms of the relationship between city and school officials, Culhane described the current budget process as “backwards” and said a greater level of communication is needed. She also said all the city’s elected officials must be united in making a commitment to supporting education.

“We need to see elected officials who want to make a commitment to education,” she said. “There’s definitely been a lack of community when it comes to wrapping our arms around education.”

Ward 3: Domenic Fusco

Vying for the Ward 3 seat on the School Committee, Domenic Fusco Jr. said he hopes to bring a “new perspective” and a “new voice to the mix” with a focus on innovation and educational quality.

“Sitting in the classroom today is your future cardiologist, your future lawyer,” he said. “They deserve more than a basic education.”

Fusco and his wife have two children in Cranston’s schools. He serves as senior manager for systems and data at SunLife Financial.

Fusco spent four years on the Cranston Educational Advisory Board (CEAB), and is a founding member and vice president of BASICS, or Benefiting All Students in Cranston Schools.

“It really opened my eyes to a lot of things,” he said of his experience with CEAB and BASICS, the latter of which has provided music programming for hundreds of students over the last five years.

Fusco said he is committed to the restoration of elementary and middle school music, sports and enrichment programming lost to budget cuts in recent years.

“I want to make sure these programs are put back in a way that they can never, ever be taken away again,” he said. “It’s a process … We’ve got to make sure that it’s done right.”

Fusco also said he will work to ensure the district’s educators and staff get back some of what was given up at the height of the fiscal crisis.

“They stepped up … now it’s time to start giving back,” he said.

Regarding the relationship between city and school officials, Fusco said he hopes to help change the “us versus them” attitude that is often present.

“We’ve got to end the bickering,” he said. “We’re one city. The children should be one of our top priorities.”

Maintaining communication with the district’s parents is another point of emphasis for Fusco.

“We need to have some sort of a mechanism to create that open dialogue,” he said.

Fusco said prudent decision-making and fiscal responsibility are also a key part of his approach.

“I’m kind of familiar with how the budgeting process works,” he said. “I want to make sure the money is being spent correctly.”

In terms of busing, Fusco said he is not generally supportive of privatization. He did say that the condition of the district’s aging bus fleet means the discussion must be ongoing, and that innovative solutions should be sought and considered.

Fusco said he is strongly supportive of the $15 million bond for school building improvements, and has always been a proponent of term limits.

Ward 3: Richard Tomlins

Running for the Ward 3 seat on the School Committee, Richard Tomlins says his experience, dedication and approach would make him an effective public servant.

“I look at the human element of everything,” he said. “I want every person, from the guy who shovels the sidewalk to the superintendent, to know they’re respected for the work they do … I have that ability to bring diverse groups together.”

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Tomlins spent his career as a general manager and business manager for hotels and universities. He and his late wife had four children. He has lived in Cranston for 15 years, and was a candidate for mayor in 2010.

Tomlins has also been active as a mentor and with non-profit efforts for many years.

“The educational part of it, I’ve been involved in for my whole life,” he said.

As a committee member, Tomlins said he would be a constant presence at state-level hearings related to educational issues. He opposes the Common Core standards, and is critical of state and federal involvement in education.

“There’s so many demands that don’t come with funds,” he said. “We’ve got to cut out, or at least streamline, federal and state involvement in education.”

Tomlins said he supports the creation of an all-day kindergarten program, as well as the restoration of music, sports and enrichment programming lost to budget cuts in recent years.

“I want full education for everybody - music, sports, whatever the interest of the student,” he said.

Tomlins also supports the $15 million bond for school building improvements - “Personally, I don’t think it’s enough,” he said - and term limits for school committee members.

“Any organization needs fresh blood,” he said.

Tomlins also spoke of finding a balance with the district’s teachers and staff during labor talks, and said his business background makes him well prepared for the budget process.

“I’ve got a fairly good understanding of budgets,” he said.

Ultimately, Tomlins said his focus would be on doing whatever is necessary to help the district thrive, which in turn is vital to the future of the entire community.

“What do we have to do to fix [the schools]?” he said. “That’s why people used to move here, because of our school system.”

Ward 4: Trent Colford

Trent Colford is running without opposition for a second term as the Ward 4 representative to the School Committee. He is employed as the director of operations for The Wendy’s Company.

Ward 5: Jonathan Keith

Seeking the Ward 5 seat on the School Committee, Jonathan Keith says his candidacy is rooted in a desire to bring new ideas to the table and promote involvement and discussion among various members of the community.

“I need to get more involved and try and make changes, as a parent, as a taxpayer,” he said. “It’s not about politics … It’s about the children’s education. I really have no agenda [beyond that].”

A native of Newport, Keith moved to Cranston with his wife after living for a time in Providence. The couple has two children. Keith works as a mechanical designer in Woburn, Mass.

Keith said he first became active in local politics in 2012, working on the City Council campaign of Chris Paplauskas. That experience, he said, led to his decision to seek office.

Keith said he wants to see the district begin making new investments in key areas, and to take a new look at its operations.

Working to find efficiencies and savings is a major piece of that approach, he said. He pointed specifically to moving the district toward paperless operations, and more fully integrating current technology into offices and classrooms.

“We need to open a discussion, but to do that you need a fresh perspective,” he said.

Restoring music and other programming lost to budget cuts in recent years is a top focus for Keith, who grew up in a musical family. His goal is a full restoration of what was previously in place.

“Every child should have the opportunity” to take part in music, sports and enrichment programming, he said.

Keith supports the $15 million bond question for school building improvements and term limits for school committee members. In terms of busing, he said exploring privatization is a possibility he “wouldn’t take off the table,” although he hopes to look at alternatives such as investing in diesel buses.

Keith hopes to help foster an improved relationship between city and school officials.

“I don’t think that communication is really happening,” he said.

He also wants to bring the district’s educators and parents to the table, and to serve as a voice for them in local government.

“We have a great teaching staff … they just need to be brought into the discussion more,” he said. “Parents, too. They care. They’re involved.”

Ward 5: Janice Ruggieri

Janice Ruggieri says she is seeking a fourth term as the Ward 5 representative on the School Committee to continue positioning the district for success now and in the future.

“We can look up now and see what we can do for the future of this district … I’m excited about that,” she said. “This is a job for me and I take it very seriously … I do my homework.”

Originally from New Jersey, Ruggieri and her husband - a Cranston native - have lived in the city for 15 years. The couple has two daughters, both in high school. Ruggieri previously worked with a pre-kindergarten program, and is now employed as a customer service representative for Alex and Ani.

Ruggieri said she initially ran for the committee in hopes of brining a parent’s voice to the table.

“I felt that I could offer a voice that at the time maybe wasn’t there,” she said. “I do have the parent perspective.”

Looking ahead, Ruggieri said the establishment of a full-day kindergarten program - on which she has been working - is a top priority.

“We want to make sure we have the space, that it’s sustainable,” she said.

Restoring elementary and middle school music, sports and enrichment programming lost to budget cuts is another focus for Ruggieri. She said the new programming is “not going to look like it did before,” but the committee is resolved to work the programs back into schools in such a way that they cannot be cut again in the future.

“It’s a great opportunity to make it sustainable, cost-effective and provide opportunity for our students,” she said.

Ruggieri cited review of the district’s policies and curriculum as achievements, and said she is also working with the assistant superintendent on a residency task force focused on ensuring the student population lives in the city and determining whether, and to what extent, any issues exist on that front.

“We do need to look at it,” she said.

On contracts, Ruggieri said the committee wants “to be fair to everyone, but we won’t put the district in a difficult position.”

In terms of the relationship between city and school officials, she said communication is vital.

“I work on those relationships, because we need to support each other,” she said. “What we need to do better is reach out across the table.”

Ruggieri strongly supports the $15 million bond question for school building improvements. She also backs the establishment of term limits but feels the length of each term should be longer.

“Two years isn’t a long enough time to get something done sometimes,” she said.

Ward 6: Jay Rosenfield

Making his second bid for the Ward 6 seat on the School Committee, Jay Rosenfield says he hopes to build on the momentum of his previous campaign and continues to center his message on communication and transparency.

“If we’re honest and communicative, we can get things done,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to do … I understand the whole picture. I’d love to do the work.”

A Pawtucket native, Rosenfield has lived in Cranston for more than 15 years. His wife is a Providence teacher, and the couple has two children in Cranston schools.

Rosenfield is president of ClerkBase, a business focused on government transparency and public records services.

“I know how good government runs. Cranston’s school committee is … not being run the way it should,” he said.

Rosenfield said politics play too large a role on the school committee and in the district’s central administration.

“No one wants to take the lead, because of political issues,” he said. “Someone needs to make the hard choices … The school administration should be strong and transparent.”

Rosenfield is supportive of the $15 million bond question for school building improvements, but said he believes the “schools have been mismanaged facility-wise for way too long.” He also supports term limits for committee members.

Busing is another area in which Rosenfield believes has suffered as a result of poor management. While he questions whether the district should be in the business of running a bus service, he is not ready to make a change.

“There’s a lot of ways to look at it, and we’ll definitely revisit it,” he said. “The way it’s currently run is not efficient.”

Rosenfield also said new steps must be taken to support educators.

“It’s not the pay the teachers care about, I believe it’s the respect and the communication they’re not getting,” he said. “There’s teachers that care, there’s good curriculum. It’s the core. The core isn’t working.”

Rosenfield said in his work, he sees other communities in which city and school officials have a better relationship than in Cranston. He said he hopes to promote a more unified approach.

“It needs to be about the kids and the teachers,” he said.

Ward 6: Dan Wall

Campaigning for the Ward 6 seat on the School Committee, Dan Wall says he believes his experience as an educator offers a unique perspective and skill set.

“I want to bring a balanced perspective,” he said. “I think I bring something to the table that’s rare.”

A resident of Cranston for the last 22 years, Wall has 22 years of experience in the education field. He has worked in the Providence school system for 17 years, serving as a teacher and a department head. Earlier this year, he made a bid for the presidency of the Providence Teachers’ Union.

Wall and his wife have two daughters who attend Cranston’s public schools.

Wall is critical of what he sees as an excessive emphasis on testing, and wants to see a renewed focus on other aspects of curriculum and programming, such as art, music and theater. That, he said, would help produce “well-rounded” graduates. He also favors using tools such as senior projects and internships to provide students with “real world” experience.

“There are so many areas that influence education,” he said.

Wall also hopes to help rebuild trust between city and school officials.

“The city does not succeed by cutting the school side,” he said. “We do have to cultivate a good relationship with the mayor and the council. We are a team.”

Wall favors keeping the district’s busing in-house, calling a comparison of the locally run service with a private contractor “apples and oranges.”

“These are our neighbors,” he said. “They take care of our kids.”

On term limits, Wall said he would defer to the will of voters given that he already sees elections as an effective check on officials. He voiced support for the $15 million bond question going before voters for building improvements.

“Our buildings are in need of repair,” he said. “The last place I’m going to make sacrifices is the kids.”

Wall spoke highly of the work of Cranston’s educators, staff and administrators, particularly given the financial constraints of recent years.

“People are working harder than they’ve ever worked … these are good teachers and administrators,” he said.

Wall said during his travels in the community, voters have expressed their desire for new voices and a new approach.

“You hear that they want a change,” he said.