Providence, RI- After a special meeting tonight, the City Council voted to send proposed changes to the Providence School Board to voters this November. The approval comes after recommendations from the Charter Review Committee and input from the public. Here are the highlights of the proposal:

• Hybrid school board with 10 total members
• 5 elected board members from 5 equal regions of the city (North, South, East, West, Central) for a 4-year term
• Non-partisan elections in 2024 (terms to begin in January of 2025)
• 5 appointed board members by the mayor with a 3-year term (to be phased in 2025)
• No more than 1 appointed board member selected from the same region
• Board members will have no taxing authority

“The people of Providence will have an opportunity to expand representation on the School Board to every neighborhood,” said Council President John Igliozzi. “It’s vital that every region of the city has a seat at the table, and this proposal expands the opportunity to help shape our educational system.”

The hybrid School Board proposal will appear as a ballot question on November 8, 2022.