To the Editor:
The packed house at the recent Newport School Committee meeting made me think: If only we could harness that same energy to improve academic outcomes across the board, our schools wouldn’t be stuck in a cycle of low achievement.
Many attendees mistakenly believed the agenda item was aimed to kill the district’s DEI policy. The vote was simply to send it back to the policy subcommittee for legal review, an essential step to ensure our cash-strapped district isn’t exposed to costly lawsuits. Unfortunately, Newport’s attention-seeking “Havoc Divas” sounded a false alarm that fanned the flames of misinformation. The passion in the auditorium at Pell was palpable, but misplaced.
Grand policies, like grand plans, are meaningless without clear, data-driven, and actionable language that ensures accountability—all things our district has long struggled to implement. Ironically, the same crew of folks – Ms. Machado’s “Building Newport’s Future” gangwho hastily promoted building a high school in the wrong location without proper scrutiny, and fought against regionalization – were behind the unnecessary chaos and confusion we witnessed.
A solid DEI policy is needed, no doubt, but it alone won’t fix the deep-seated issues in our schools. Low expectations, cell phone distractions, favoritism, staff disengagement, chronic absenteeism, and weak oversight – all demand urgent action.
Especially now, with all the turmoil that’s happening at a national and international level, it is time to redirect the powerful energy and emotion we witnessed at the February Newport School Committee meeting toward serious solutions, locally. If we’re serious about our mission—to challenge and prepare all students for success—then let’s all move beyond rhetoric and drive meaningful change. Our students deserve more than words from adults; they deserve action, equity, and a bright future full of opportunity. Let’s work together to build a stronger, and more substantive tomorrow for every student!
Ready to get to work?
Elizabeth “Beth” Cullen
Newport School Committee member
What’sUPnewp’s reporting on this topic
Equity policy debate draws crowd at Newport School Committee Meeting
Newport School Committee to vote on rescinding equity policy
