Schools

Three-Person Subcommittee to Appoint Interim Superintendent

Diane Brennan, the new budget commission chairman, Charlie Tsonos, the current School Committee chairman, and a yet to be determined member of Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) will comprise the committee.

A soon-to-be formed subcommittee is on the search to find an interim superintendent to take the helm of the East Providence School District.

Budget commission members made fast moves to replace Edward Daft, the current superintendent who is  in Barrington at the end of the week.

Diane Brennan, the new budget commission chairman, Charlie Tsonos, the current School Committee chairman, and a yet to be determined member of Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) will comprise the committee.

Find out what's happening in East Providencewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to Tsonos, the resumes of potential candidates have been collected. But until a member of RIDE is chosen to sit on the committee, no immediate action can be taken. He said budget commission members are eager to find a suitable replacement as the city is operating without key department heads.

"It's going well with the real skeleton staff," Tsonos said adding permanent finance and human resources directors have not been hired. "The entire city needs to retool and move forward."

Find out what's happening in East Providencewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mayor Bruce Rogers thinks a candidate with experience in the East Providence school department is the logical choice.

"I'm a firm believer in hiring from within," he said, noting September is quickly approaching making the need for an experienced superintendent with a deep East Providence knowledge base all the more necessary.

"Ed Daft is leaving at the end of the week, he said. "So it makes it a very volatile situation."

Members of the school committee formed a search committee to find a superintendent months ago to relieve Daft of his extra duties. Action was paused by budget commission members due to a hiring freeze.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here