The Senate passed a joint resolution (
2021-S 0015) introduced by Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) that would ask Rhode Island voters to amend the state constitution, allowing for a special election when vacancies occur in the offices of secretary of state, attorney general and general treasurer, as long as there is more than one year remaining in the term. For situations where there is less than one year left to a term, the General Assembly would elect a replacement in grand committee. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Senate passes bill establishing a public safety records management system
Friday, May 14, 2021
Rep. Julie Casimiro
When I was contacted by a concerned family over the turmoil at the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College, I was horrified. How could these blind and visually-impaired students lose their teachers that have often been with the child since they entered the school system? How could the years of trust and familiarity built up between the students, their families and their teachers be so carelessly tossed aside? This was a serious situation involving some of our most vulnerable students and time was of the essence.
Thankfully, the General Assembly leadership, rank and file legislators and Governor McKee recognized the issue and in rapid time, pledged to fully fund the Sherlock Center in the state’s budget so that our blind and visually-impaired students and their teachers remain together.
May 11, 2021 9:07 am
PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) – The Sherlock Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired at Rhode Island College will stay open for at least the next two years.
Governor. Dan McKee and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi on Monday said funding for the school will be included in the state budget.
The contract with the company which runs the program through RIDE was set to expire in June and RIDE was looking at other options to try and save money.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives and Senate will form a joint committee that will work toward a long term state funding plan for the center.
After a monthslong battle by parents and students to save their teachers from layoffs, Rhode Island College s Sherlock Center on Disabilities will remain fully funded with no program interruptions for the next two years.
On Monday, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio pledged that the funding would be made available through the state budget, and that the layoff notices issued to more than a dozen teachers in March would be rescinded.
That month, the state s Department of Education announced that the teachers five-year contract was set to expire in June, and that the department was obligated to put the work out to bid.
Opinion/Butler: Don t let history repeat itself
Christopher Butler
Christopher Butler is the executive director of IN-SIGHT, a nonprofit organization that provides programs for Rhode Islanders of all ages who are blind and visually impaired.
In 2002, frustrated that blind and visually impaired children could not fully access the services and support they needed to be successful in school, a group of parents and advocates pleaded their case before the Rhode Island House Finance Committee.
Their pleas were heard and the legislature formed a commission to investigate the issues and develop recommendations to improve educational and social outcomes for these children. After three years of study, the commission filed its final report in 2005 outlining recommendations, based on best practices, for building a comprehensive system of services and supports for all children living with visual impairments.