Biography

Roger Williams University - Writing

Town Councilor, Middletown Town Council
Barbara
VonVillas
United States
My interests are in education and the economy. As a Middletown Town Councilor, I strive to keep those 2 passions in balance, recognizing that the growth of the economy, especially the local economy, is based on ensuring that our public schools provide the opportunities for all of our students to succeed - not only those who will go on to higher education but also those who need the skills and training to enter our local workforce.

The schools on Aquidneck Island can no longer do that unless we pool our resources. While school enrollments are declining, per pupil costs are increasing because facilities and staffing cannot be decreased proportionately. As long as we maintain the same number of buildings, our operating costs will be the same. If we cut teaching staff to serve reduced enrollments, we also have to cut programs. The skills programs are always the first to go.

Test scores are only one measure of a school district's success. The better measure is the graduation rate and the extent to which the students achieve success afterwards. If they go on to post-secondary education, will they finish college in 4 years? If they go directly into the workforce, will they be able to get a job that will allow them to support a family? Those are much better measures. You need to ask - How are we doing?