Partnership to help struggling schools

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Providence School District is teaming up with the Providence Teachers Union to create a first-of-its-kind partnership, aimed at turning around struggling city schools.

The collaboration will be known as United Providence, or "UP!"

"This is really an opportunity to meet a challenge with a uniquely collaborative and positive solution," said Neil Steinberg of the Rhode Island Foundation, which provided a $100,000 grant to help establish the labor-management collaborative.

Providence Superintendent of Schools Susan Lusi explained some of the changes that are being implemented at some of the city's poorest performing schools.

"Extended school days, there are additional services and support provided for students, both academic and also social, emotional, and other types of supports."

The organization will begin by working with three of the lowest performing schools in the city: Gilbert Stuart Middle School, Carl Laurel Elementary School, and Alvarez High School.

"These schools are being asked to look at anything and everything they do on the behalf of kids," Lusi explained.

With the schools in desperate need of money, Eyewitness News asked the superintendent Tuesday why the grant would go toward a management group rather than directly to the schools.

"The structure is enormously important to really support the kind of changes we need to see in these schools," Lusi answered.

With 23,000 students depending on change, organizers agree teamwork will be the key to building success.

"Issues and challenge these days, especially in education, are so complex, so expensive, so challenging that no one entity alone can accomplish these goals," says Steinberg.

The final budget for United Providence still needs to be approved by the Board of Education and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.