PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence School Board President Erlin Rogel released a statement responding to PPSD Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez’s ultimatum to Mayor Brett Smiley to give the district more money or “dire cuts” will need to be made. Rogel said that he could not endorse the request as it would be “an endorsement of a broken system that lacks accountability, transparency, and oversight.” Montañez asked for $10.9 million to be given to the district, while Smiley said the sudden request was “alarming and irresponsible.” Smiley said he would give the district an additional $1 million at the conditions that the state, who is in charge of the district, matches the request at $3 million and the district is audited. The full statement reads: Supporting PPSD’s request for more city aid at this juncture would be an endorsement of a broken system that lacks accountability, transparency, and oversight. It would mean endorsing handshake assurances from PPSD that additional funds will be spent responsibly. I am not confident in simply taking their word for it, especially when they resort to “or else” tactics and barter with our students’ wellbeing. I find this approach troubling and irresponsible. I support the mayor’s call for an audit (not an analysis) of the district’s finances to have a dialogue grounded in facts rather than eleventh-hour fearmongering. Categories: News, Providence, Rhode Island