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D'Agostino was put in the position as an interim on an emergency basis. We were able to choose someone on staff that had the requirements. I believe at the time there were only 2 staff members that met the requirements, D'Agostino and Mr McCaffrey. I would have voted to go out for a search if given the opportunity. During the short time period he was in charge while I was there, I thought he did a good job. The committee after me hired him full time by renewing his contract.

The "good job" I think D'Agostino did when I was on the committee was his constant ability to always be within or under the budget he presented to the committee at the end of the fiscal school year. If you go back and review the budgets from 2008-2012 you will see that the Special Education Budget was always within budget, he actually saved the schools millions by applying for federal grants for special education. These federal grants are a reason the schools do not have a deficit at the end of each year. The same could not be said for all other departments. This was a major consideration for me as when I arrived on the School Committee and the previous superintendet and his finance director had amassed a $3.2 million dollar deficit in 2 years (a 900,000 and 2.3 million deficit which HAD to be paid back in the first 2 years I was on the committee.) Let me be clear, again, I had a chance to vote not to renew the previous superintendent and replace him with someone I thought was better.

The previous superintendent was notified that his contract was not going to be renewed. If you remember correctly, I did not vote to renew the previous superintendent's contract back in 2010. At the time, I thought we could find someone better. Why would I vote to renew someone's contract if I thought I could find someone better? Three members of the SC thought he should be renewed, 2 did not vote to renew, I was one. I then voted to put him on leave. After my first year on the school committee, I felt we needed a change and that is why I voted not to renew his contract at any time his contract came up for renewal before the committee. I am on record multiple times saying I did not think his contract should be renewed. I voted to not renew it in 2010 and was outvoted. You can review any Warwick Beacon article at the time, the performance of administration was under just as much scrutiny then as it is now. If you thought you could find someone who could perform better, would you renew the person in the position? I know I wouldn't and I didn't.

So, let me be perfectly clear when I say again, I was not satisfied with the previous superintendent's performance which is why the entire time I was on the committee, I voted to not renew his contract. Others felt differently so his contract was renewed 1 time while I was on the committee. The decision to hire from within Warwick on the emergency temporary basis is in the Policies of the School Committee. It is policy and it was temporary until a full replacement could be found. I did NOT have a chance to vote on a permanent replacement as I was no longer on the committee but would have opened it up to a nationwide search for the best candidate.

How lucky for us that the best candidate comes from right within our own school system. I guess we don't need to look outside for someone who has new ideas to make things better. All the answers we need are here and the schools will certainly be better off with someone who has had all the answers to make it better all along.

I mock the council and Mayor not because they want the superintendent out but because they do things based on the premise that they want to make the schools better and make things safer. If you have ever attended a SC meeting when a council person gets up to the microphone you would know it is a soap box and it is embarrassing. The fact is they couldn't care less about the schools and this situation like many others is a way for them to have a photo opportunity. They all want the school committee gone. They want direct control of the schools,give it to them and the school budget will be as out of control as the city budget. the budget will be put together based on politics and not education. They don't care about consolidation, they care about getting re-elected. I would be happy to see them work together. If the city and the schools worked together maybe they could solve some problems. They could consolidate departments. They could all stay within their budgets. Taxes could level off and not go up. People could stay here or not worry about moving here. We could have our population grow. We could widen our tax base so we don't have as much of a burden. We could find solutions to common problems.

Feel free to contact me directly Patrick@Maloney4schools.com and I would be happy to share any information you want to ask me about the schools. When you contact me, we can meet in person to discuss it. I will be happy to meet.