News Summary
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has confirmed the conviction of former Providence school administrator Olayinka Alege for simple battery, following an incident in which he was accused of touching a boy’s foot without consent. Alege’s appeal was denied, maintaining his probation sentence. Concurrently, the Providence School Board faced public support for teachers Em Schluter and Sam Wallace, who challenged non-renewal of their contracts amid ongoing concerns regarding educational governance in the district.
Providence, Rhode Island – The Rhode Island Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of former Providence school administrator Olayinka Alege for simple battery. Alege’s appeal was denied, confirming his probation sentence stemming from an incident in which he was accused of touching a boy’s foot without consent at a gym in Warwick in April 2021. The court’s decision comes following a thorough review of the case, including security footage that documented the event and played a crucial role in Alege’s conviction during his third trial.
Alege, who served as network superintendent of secondary schools, was placed on leave following the allegations and subsequently resigned from his position. In his appeal, Alege claimed that procedural errors had occurred during the most recent trial. However, the justices of the Supreme Court disagreed with his assertions, leaving his conviction intact.
Simultaneously, a related education matter unfolded as the Providence School Board held an open meeting where they faced significant public support for two teachers, Em Schluter and Sam Wallace. These teachers, both members of the Providence Caucus of Rank and File Educators (PVD CORE) and identifying as non-binary, were under consideration for non-renewal of their contracts, which would disqualify them from teaching positions within the district.
During the meeting, approximately 24 community members spoke in defense of Schluter and Wallace, who contested their non-renewal notices issued by the district. A total of around 15 teachers received such notices, although Schluter and Wallace actively sought public backing and legal representation from attorney John DeSimone. In an unusual shift, the two teachers opted for the open meeting format to challenge the district’s recommendations, attracting attention to potential flaws in the state’s judgment against them.
The Providence School Board ultimately voted to reject Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez’s recommendations for the non-renewal of both teachers’ contracts. However, it’s important to note that this decision is merely advisory owing to the ongoing state takeover of Providence Schools. This situation curtails the school board’s authority and underscores the complexity of the current educational governance in the area.
Schluter, a sixth-grade English Language Arts/English as a Second Language teacher, had faced criticism regarding grading practices and student attendance. Their attorney contested these critiques by presenting evidence of previous evaluations that reflected significant improvement in Schluter’s performance. In contrast, Wallace, the school librarian, encountered challenges related to library management and student behavior during their absence due to ongoing construction affecting library operations.
The board meeting revealed tensions within the school district, with both teachers receiving encouragement from community members and fellow educators. Many speakers pointed to the seemingly arbitrary nature of the non-renewal recommendations, arguing for a more transparent and fair evaluation process. This discussion sparked calls for further investigation into the decision-making procedures regarding teacher evaluations and non-renewals.
The events surrounding Alege’s conviction and the non-renewals of teachers Schluter and Wallace highlight broader tensions in the Providence school system. Many perceive a disconnect between school district leadership and state education officials, especially concerning funding allocations and teacher evaluation methods. As these issues unfold, the community remains engaged and concerned about the future direction of education in Providence.
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Additional Resources
- Turn to 10: Olayinka Alege Loses Appeal
- Rhode Island Current: Non-Binary Teachers Fight for Jobs
- WPRI: Providence School Staff Non-Renewals
- Wikipedia: Providence, Rhode Island
- Google Search: Providence School Board
