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PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Seeking to separate himself from his leading opponent, state treasurer and Democratic candidate for governor Frank T. Caprio declared his intent Tuesday to keep the state's high-profile Education Commissioner Deborah Gist.
In actuality, the $190,000-a year Gist has a contract with the Board of Regents that runs through June 30, 2013. The governor is only one vote on that board.
Caprio's key rival, independent Lincoln Chafee, has said he would want to sit down with Gist and "compare our education philosophies" before committing to keeping her in the job.
Chafee also said he did not support all of the "reforms'' outlined in the state's successful application for $75 million in federal funds, over four years, including possibly doubling the number of publicly-funded charter schools.
At a news conference Tuesday outside Hope High School, Caprio acknowledged that he had not chosen to send his own children to public schools in Rhode Island. Two of Chafee's children are also in private schools; the third is at Brown Unviversity.
But Caprio faulted Chafee for not making the same commitment he made to keeping Gist.
"Rhode Island is lucky to have a commissioner that's focused on doing what's best for the kids, a focus that's delivering results. She's been widely praised for her work in Rhode Island, and she is without question the woman for the job." said Caprio, citing the praise Gist's work in Rhode Island has earned from school committees and President Obama, as well as her being named one of Time Magazine's 2010 most influential people in the World.
"I've supported the reforms that Commissioner Gist and her team are proposing and the work they have done. As governor, I will work with her to ensure our students reach their full potential," Caprio said.
A spokesman for the Department of Education confirmed that doubling the number of charter schools is one of the possible "innovations'' cited in the state's application for the "Race to the TOP'' money, but he said the money is not contingent on that possibility.
When Caprio was asked if he intended to keep other department heads, including, for example, state Labor director Sandra Powell, he said he would ask every director to reapply for their jobs.
Asked if he was willing to commit to keeping any other department heads, he said they would each have an opportunity to reapply for their jobs.
Responding to Caprio's comments, the Chafee camp said: "We all share the same goal: the best public school system that we can build and nurture,'' but "within the education community, there is a great deal of ongoing discussion about what is working and what is not.
"What we need is a legitimate debate on the issues. Issues such as school choice and standardized testing. Our children deserve a real debate on policy, not a typical political debate that centers on accusations and political attacks.''
