JIM: THIS WEEK, HOW LONG WILL RHODE ISLAND THE AND THE STATE OF EMERGENCY?

THE GOVERNOR HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION TO RENEW THE ORDER AGAIN.

AND IT IS OFFICIAL, THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION GETS A THREE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION BUT SHE IS NOT GETTING SUPPORT EVERYWHERE.

>> "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" IS GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITTEN BY -- >> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, "A LIVELY EXPERIMENT" HAS PROVIDED INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE RHODE ISLANDERS.

I AM A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM AND RHODE ISLAND PBS.

JIM: JOINING US WITH THEIR INSIGHTS, BOB WALSH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION RHODE ISLAND.

LEE ANN SENNICK, NATIONAL COMMITTEE WOMAN FOR THE RHODE ISLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY AND BOSTON GLOBE COLUMNIST DAN MACGOWAN.

HELLO AND WELCOME, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS GINA RAIMONDO AND DAN MCKEE HAVE AGREED ON, REPEATED RENEWAL OF AN EMERGENCY ORDER INITIALLY ISSUED 18 MONTHS AGO BECAUSE OF "DANGEROUS TO HEALTH AND LIFE."

IT WAS UPDTATED IN AUGUST.

SHOULD HE LET IT EXPIRE ON NOVEMBER 27?

WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 18 MONTHS.

LEE ANN: ABSOLUTELY, THE STATE OF EMERGENCY SHOULD END AT THIS.

THE REASONS WE ENTERED INTO IT ARE NO LONGER THERE.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES FOR VACCINATION OF PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE TWO WEEKS TO SLOW THE SPREAD TYPE OF THING WHEN WE WENT INTO THAT.

WE HAVE PPE AVAILABLE NOW, EMERGENCY ROOMS, ALL OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO FIGHT THIS VIRUS, SO THERE IS NO NEED TO CONTINUE THE STATE OF EMERGENCY WHICH HAS LESSENED OUR REPRESENTATIVE STYLE OF GOVERNMENT.

THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR VOICE AS PART OF THESE DECISIONS.

JIM: THEY WANT TO GIVE THEIR VOICE ON THE FEDERAL MONEY.

IT ALSO SEEMS A LOT OF IT WAS THAT WE COULD GET ACCESS TO MONEY.

DAN: GOVERNOR MCKEE'S IS HINTING THAT IT MAY BE TIME TO RELAX THESE THINGS.

THE NUMBER ONE THING RIGHT NOW IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WAS MASKS IN SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE THE VACCINE NOW FOR KIDS, BUT UNTIL YOU START TO SEE MORE KIDS ACTUALLY GETTING VACCINATED, I THINK THERE IS A REASONABLE ARGUMENT TO SAY YOU NEED TO KEEP MASKS ON IN SCHOOLS OR AT LEAST SOME VERSION OF A MASK PROGRAM.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRITE THE SITUATION WHERE, CAN YOU DO IT FOR A MANDATE OR HOPE THAT EVERY CITY AND TOWN COMPLIES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR?

THERE WERE A FEW THAT DID NOT WANT TO COMPLY.

JIM: IS THAT THE QUESTION THOUGH, IF YOU ELIMINATE THE EMERGENCY ORDER, YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THAT MASK?

BOB: IT WOULD PROBABLY REVERT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THERE WAS AN OLD CARTOON IN THE 1970'S DURING THE ENERGY CRISIS THAT SAID THE CRISIS IS NOW STATUS QUO SO WE WILL DECLARE THE CRISIS OVER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE SHOULD BE IN A HURRY TO GET RID OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE FOLKS ARE GOING ON TALK RADIO AND SAYING WE SHOULD GET RID OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THAT IS NOT THEIR JOB RATE ASKED THE DOCTORS IF THEY THINK IT IS TIME.

JIM: BUT GOVERNOR MCKEE HAS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT.

BOB: YOU SAY HE IS HINTING AT IT.

WHAT IS YOUR HURRY?

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR KEEPING IT?

YOU FEEL BETTER?

HOW IS IT GOING TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE IF THEY GET RID OF IT VERSUS HOW IS IT GOING TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE IF THEY KEEP IT?

THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE RELAXED STANDARDS HAVE SEEN INCREASES.

THE KIDS ARE JUST STARTING TO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

WHAT IS THE HARM IN WAITING UNTIL THE LAST CHILDREN, FIVE TO 11, HAVE TIME TO GET A VACCINE, THEIR SECOND VACCINE IN THREE WEEKS?

WHAT IS THE HARM TO WAIT?

I'M NOT SAYING DO IT OR WAIT, I AM SAYING WHY DON'T WE ASK THE EXPERTS WITH MEDICAL DEGREES WHAT THEY THINK AND FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE.

WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL IN THIS STATE.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY, BUT WE ARE NOT DONE YET.

I'M NOT IN A HURRY.

LEE ANN: I SAY WE ARE MORE IN A HURRY BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET THE LEGISLATURE BACK ON BOARD AND TAKE SOME OF THE POWERS THAT WERE KIND OF SWITCHED OVER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

JIM: WHAT ABOUT THE DYNAMIC THAT -- GINA RAIMONDO IS WRITING CHECKS LEFT AND RIGHT AND NOW, THEY WANT TO STEP IN AND SAY WE WANT A LITTLE CONTROL OVER THIS MONEY?

DAN: THIS ALL DOES COME DOWN TO SOME LEVEL OF POWER AND WHO CONTROLS THINGS.

I THINK IN THE MOMENT OF GINA RAIMONDO, PEAK OF THE VIRUS, IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO HAVE A ONE PERSON IN CHARGE OR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN CHARGE.

NOW, IT STARTS TO BECOME LESS ABOUT ARE WE MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE HOSPITALS OR NOT GETTING SICK AND IT IS MORE ABOUT WHO CONTROLS MONEY LONG TERM OVER HOW YOU SPEND IT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT SORT OF DEBATE.

I TEND TO AGREE WITH BOB.

LET'S SEE IF THE HEALTH EXPERTS SAY IT IS OK.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THAT MASK IN SCHOOLS.

BUT, I DON'T LOVE THE IDEA OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT ALWAYS CONTROLLING ALL THE PURSE STRINGS.

BOB: NOVEMBER 27, WE SAY WAIT AND SEE.

I DON'T SEE ANY COMPELLING REASON TO CHANGE THE WAY THINGS ARE UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AND WE GET BETTER DATA ON HOW MANY OF OUR YOUNGEST KIDS ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

THE LEGISLATURE IS MOST LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE COMING BACK INTO SESSION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

I DO AGREE ON THE TRANSPARENCY THING AND I THINK YOU CAN STILL HOLD MEETINGS OPEN AND I THINK FOREVER MORE, -- AND I THINK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB GETTING THESE THINGS TELEVISED AND RECORDED ANYWAY.

I LIKE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPTION TO WATCH FROM HOME OR EVENTUALLY GET BACK UP THERE IN PERSON.

JIM: THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, THEY MADE IT OFFICIAL THIS WEEK.

THE BOARD SAID THEY WANT INFANTE-GREEN TO STAY ANOTHER THREE YEARS.

YOU COVERED HER FROM A START WHEN SHE CAME.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC IN PROVIDENCE HAS ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE TEACHERS UNION.

NOT YOUR UNION.

WHAT DOES SHE HAVE TO DO NOW GOING FORWARD TO REALLY SAY OK, ALL OF THIS IS BEHIND US.

NOW, LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT I WAS BROUGHT IN TO DO?

DAN: THE NUMBER ONE THING SHE NEEDS TO DO IS GET THE FOLKS FROM THE TEAM IN THE ROOM AND ACTUALLY START TO HAVE PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO MOVE THE STATE FORWARD.

THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET ABOUT THE WAY INFANTE-GREEN CAME IN WAS GINA RAIMONDO CONTROLLED EVERYTHING BEHIND THE SCENES.

IF YOU WANTED TO FIGHT WITH THE UNION, GINA CALLED BOB WASH, -- BOB WALSH, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SHE NEEDS TO BUILD HER OWN RELATIONSHIPS.

IT DOES NOT HAVE A FRIEND AT THE STATEHOUSE.

ONE HAD 13 OF THEM IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

NOT ONE OF THEM WILL GO TO BAT WITH HER ON ANY AND.

SHE NEEDS TO IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS IF SHE IS GOING TO GET ANYTHING DONE WEATHER IN PROVIDENCE OR STATEWIDE.

JIM: CAN YOU CONFIRM OR DENY THAT GINA RAIMONDO WILL BE CALLING YOU ABOUT THESE THINGS?

BOB: I CAN CONFIRM THAT AND I THINK DAN HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD.

I MAKE THE SAME OFFER TO EVERY COMMISSIONER.

I AM WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AT THE BEGINNING.

WE CAN HAVE AN OFF THE RECORD RELATIONSHIP AS WELL AS A PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP.

I CAN GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS ON NAVIGATING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EDUCATION AND RELY ON -- RHODE ISLAND AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE FOUR OF US AS A GROUP MET WITH THE COMMISSIONER EARLY IN HER 10 YEAR.

I MEAN MY COUNTERPART, OR STATEWIDE PRESIDENT WAS ALSO ON THE BOARD, COLLEEN CALLAHAN AND FRANK, THEIR PRESIDENT.

THE FOUR OF US HAD COFFEE WITH THE COMMISSIONER WANTS.

I HAVE OCCASIONALLY BEEN IN A ROOM WITH HER ON VERY LARGE COMMITTEES.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO TALK TO ME AT ALL.

THE REASON THAT LARRY AND COLLEEN HAVE THEIR VARIOUS MEETINGS AND VOTED AGAINST THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT IS THERE IS NO MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP.

THAT IS FINE.

IF YOU THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL AT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN RHODE ISLAND, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE HER.

JIM: WAS THAT TO GET HER ATTENTION?

WHY DID HE VOTE AGAINST HER.

DAN: IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WHEN HE MADE THE COMMITMENT HE WOULD GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION AND COULD NOT KEEP THAT COMMITMENT OR CHOSE NOT TO KEEP THE COMMITMENT, AT LEAST THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND DO EXACTLY WHAT DAN MACGOWAN JUST SAID, SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THESE FOLKS.

AS YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE GROUPS WE REPRESENT ARE THE SUBURBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.

EAST PROVIDENCE AND NEWPORT ARE ON THE LIST OF TARGETED FUNDS.

I SAY WE ARE GETTING MOSTLY BENIGN NEGLECT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THAT MANIFESTS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF WENT IN AND TO GOVERN NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET IT DONE.

NORMALLY, WE LIKE TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ED.

THEY HAVE GOT 200 HARD-WORKING EMPLOYEES.

BUT YOU CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE SO YOU GO TO THE LEGISLATURE.

LIKE THE FINANCIAL LITERACY BILL.

WE WERE ORIGINALLY OPPOSED TO THAT NO BECAUSE WE DID NOT THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT, THEY SHOULD HAVE A PROCESS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ED.

NOW, WE THROW UP OUR HANDS AND SAY PASS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PASS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

LEE ANN: BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY HAVE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP AND HAVE PARAMETERS.

PART OF THE CONTRACT DOES NOT HAVE ANY PARAMETERS TO GAUG THE SUCCESS OF CHILDREN AND OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WE JUST SAW WHAT CAME OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND 95% OF KIDS IN PROVIDENCE HAVE NOT -- ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING AND MATHEMATICS.

ALL OF THESE THINGS AND THERE IS NO PARAMETERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF THIS ARE GETTING THIS DONE.

I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RENEWING THE CONTRACT.

DAN: I SHOULD SAY, WHILE I THINK THEY NEED TO GET IN A ROOM AND SHE NEEDS TO BUILD BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IT IS NOT BECAUSE I THINK BOB AND FRANK FLYNN ARE ALWAYS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING IN EDUCATION.

IT IS A MATTER OF YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME WORKING RELATIONSHIPS TO GET ANYTHING DONE AT ALL.

BOB: I ALWAYS ACCEPT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF DISAGREEMENTS.

YOU ALSO DID NOT SEE US RAISE A HUGE RUCKUS ABOUT IT BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS A WORK AROUND.

LIKE THE -- KNOWING THE WAY NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING?

LET THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TAKE IT OVER.

THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY DID NOT HAVE GREAT FAITH BECAUSE HE HAD THIS OUTSIDE CONTRACT AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

JIM: I SAID LAST WEEK, I THOUGHT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH DAN MCKEE -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS BETTER, BUT IT SEEMED TO BE PRETTY GOOD EARLY ON WHEN HE TOOK OVER BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS WONDER, ALL THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS, SHE HAS SPOKEN AT LEAST IN THE VENUES THAT I HAVE SEEN WARMLY OF THE GOVERNOR, EVEN THOUGH SHE GOT BOOTED OUT OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP?

DAN: I THINK SHE DOES NOT DISLIKE THE GOVERNOR.

IT IS NO SECRET SHE WAS INTERVIEWED OR TALKED TO ABOUT GOING TO WASHINGTON A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

SHE HAS OBVIOUSLY LOOKED ELSEWHERE.

I THINK HER FAMILY REALLY LIKES IT HERE.

SHE HAS TWO KIDS IN SCHOOL, SHE WANTS TO BE HERE.

AND THEN, THIS DOES PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF SECURITY ALTHOUGH WE ALL KNOW THAT NEXT YEAR, IF EDUCATION IS A HOT TOPIC IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, EVERY CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED, WILL YOU KEEP HER AND THE OUT HERE IS YES, SHE HAS A CONTRACT, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS BUY HER OUT.

>> I OTHER SCORES DON'T ALWAYS REFLECTS.

THERE ARE OTHER METRICS -- EVERYBODY SAYS HIM CAST -- MCAT.

THE TREND DID NOT LOOK GOOD.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN THOSE CAME OUT?

BOB: OBVIOUSLY, I WAS NOT SURPRISED THAT DURING A PANDEMIC, SCORES DROPPED EVERYWHERE.

JIM: MY KIDS ALMA MATER.

BOB: THE 11 DISTRICTS AT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS WERE NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE NEA, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAD INVOLVED PARENTS AND I HIGH-LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION AND DISTANCE LEARNING AND GREAT TEACHERS.

WE NEED MORE HELP.

HOW MANY TIMES I COME ON THIS SHOW AND I CAN SAY THE SAME THING.

YOU WANT TO BE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS, PONY UP.

GIVE ME $5 MILLION AND IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PROVIDENCE, GIVE ME AN ARMY OF READING AND MATH TUTORS AND GO INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND BRING KIDS UP TO GRADE LEVEL.

WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO GO IN.

AND HERE'S THE OTHER PART ABOUT TEST SCORES.

WE ARE NOT UP TO PAR ABOUT HOW FAR BEHIND ARE WE.

ARE WE ONE PANDEMIC BEHIND AND THE THIRD GRADE KIDS ARE TESTING LIKE SECOND GRADERS?

OR ARE THE THIRD GRADE KIDS TESTING LIKE KINDERGARTEN KIDS AND HOW MUCH WORK DO WE HAVE TO DO TO BRING THE KIDS UP TO PAR BECAUSE TEST SCORES DON'T TELL YOU A WHOLE LOT.

THEY JUST SAY THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING WITH THIS AGE GROUP SHOULD BE DOING.

BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW FAR BEHIND AND THEN WE HAVE A DIFFERENT STRATEGY FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS OF KIDS.

IF YOU ARE SIX MONTHS BEHIND IN READING, WE CAN MOVE YOU PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T GO INTO THIRD GRADE ALREADY READING AT GRADE LEVEL, THE REST OF YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER, FROM THIRD GRADE THROUGH LIFE IS READING TO LEARN.

AT THE LEARNING TO READ PHASE, PRE-K, KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADE IS CRUCIAL AND WE CAN DO INTERVENTIONS THERE.

WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT, WE JUST NEED THE RESOURCES.

EVERY STUDENT HITTING THIRD GRADE IS READY TO LEARN FOR THE REST OF THEIR CAREER.

AND DO MATH AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT IS NOT THAT HARD, IT IS JUST GOING TO COST A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.

DAN: I DON'T MIND THE CONTRACT EXTENSION.

WHAT YOU WOULD ALMOST LIKE TO SEE HIS HERE IS OUR BIG BOLD PLAN.

SUMMER SCHOOL FOR A YEAR FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS FLOATED THIS IDEA OF YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLING IN SOME TROUBLE DISTRICTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

LET'S SEE SOMETHING REALLY SUBSTANTIAL.

BOB: WE PROBABLY AGREE WITH THE COMMISSIONER ON 80% TO 90% OF THINGS RELATED TO EDUCATION OUTCOMES.

I KEEP WATCHING THE SHOW AND BEING TOLD THE UNIONS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL THING IN THE STATE.

I WOULD SAY GEE, MAYBE WE SHOULD MOVE THE BALL FORWARD ON ALL OF THE AREAS ON WHICH WE AGREE.

JIM: DO YOU THINK MONEY CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

LEE ANN: WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF MONEY GOING TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST AND WHERE HAS THAT MONEY GONE?

WE'RE STILL HAVING CRUMBLING SCHOOL BUILDINGS, NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE PLANS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WHY ARE FUNDS NOT GETTING WHERE THEY NEED TO GO TO?

THAT IS INCUMBENT ON THE COMMISSIONER, THE GOVERNOR, ON ALL OF THESE PEOPLE INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

IF YOU CAN DO AN INTERVENTION, IF IT SEEMS THAT CUT AND DRY THAT WE CAN GET THIS UP TO PAR WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, WHY HAVE WE NOT DONE IT?

WHERE'S THE MONEY?

WHERE HAS IT GONE?

JIM: MASSACHUSETTS SPENDS $2000 MORE PER STUDENT THAN RHODE ISLAND.

WE ARE NOT MEETING THE NEEDS AND OUR KIDS, WHEN THEY REACHED THE STARTING LINE OF SCHOOL, ARE NOT AS WELL-OFF GENERALLY AS MASSACHUSETTS KIDS.

WE KNOW THE DATA.

THE TWO BIGGEST PREDICTORS ARE THE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF THE PARENTS, THE EDUCATION LEVEL OF THE MOTHER.

IN BOTH OF THOSE CATEGORIES, WE ARE FURTHER BEHIND THAN MASSACHUSETTS BY ABOUT SIX PERCENTAGE POINTS.

THAT IS FINE, THAT IS THE SHAPE OF OUR STARTING LINE.

IF I'M GOING TO PLAY GOLF AGAINST DAN MCCOWEN, WHO LEARNED HOW TO PLAY GOLF, HE HAS TO GIVE ME STROKES SO THAT WE CAN COMPETE AS EQUALS ON THE GOLF COURSE.

IF OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO COMPETE AGAINST MASSACHUSETTS, WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM STROKES.

THAT IS ALL THE TYPE OF INTERVENTIONS I TALKED ABOUT AND THAT IS GOING TO COST US MORE MONEY.

FINALLY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE MONEY, SO LET'S SPEND IT WISELY.

JIM: TO BE CONTINUED.

THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER SHOW.

BOB: WE AGREE ON MOST OF THIS.

THIS IS NOT DEMOCRAT VERSUS REPUBLICAN.

DAN: IT IS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.

JIM: THIS IS ABOUT THE KIDS WHO ARE GOING TO BE TAKING CARE OF US IN OUR APPROACHING OLD AGE.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION BOTH IN THE RACE IN VIRGINIA AND SOME OF WHAT IS GOING ON HERE ABOUT SCHOOL COMMITTEES, THAT NOW, PARENTS ARE COMING OUT, I SENT YOU GUYS A WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL, ALSO, PEGGY NOONAN WROTE LAST WEEK AND SAID SOMETHING UNDER -- INTERESTING.

SHE SAID PARENTS ACTUALLY FINALLY SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, GOOD BACK-AND-FORTH, BUT MAYBE THERE WERE SOME SURPRISES.

THE NORTH KINGSTOWN THING HAS ITS OWN NUANCES TO IT.

THE INVOLVEMENT NOW WITH PARENTS AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND DYNAMICS AND NOW THE HAS BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE.

DAN: AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS A GOOD THING THAT PARENTS ARE GETTING MORE INVOLVED AND GETTING TO SIT AND SEE HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE IN SOME WAYS.

I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU POUR ON THE POLITICAL DYNAMIC OF THE COUNTRY, I THINK THE PANDEMIC, I THINK EVERYBODY'S TENSIONS ARE VERY HIGH.

I THINK A FEW YEARS FROM NOW, IT IS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE MORE PARENT INVOLVEMENT, MORE SAY OVER WHAT IS HAPPENING DAY TODAY IN SCHOOL.

IT IS JUST RIGHT NOW, IT IS SORT OF A TOXIC MIX.

THE QUESTION IS, DOES IT WORK POLITICALLY FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN RHODE ISLAND?

IT DID WORK IN VIRGINIA.

I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT IT WORKS UP HERE IN PART BECAUSE THE CITIES PLAY SUCH A MAJOR ROLE IN ELECTIONS AND WE ARE NOT SEEING -- THERE IS NOT A CRITICAL RACE THEORY CONVERSATION HAPPENING ON THE PROVIDENCE SCHOOL BOARD OR IN THE BIGGER CITIES.

SO I'M NOT SURE POLITICALLY IT IS THE BIGGEST DEAL IN THE WORLD, BUT GOING BACK TO IT, I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA FOR PARENTS TO BE INVOLVED AND GETTING TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS.

LEE ANN: I THINK IT IS GREAT PARENTS ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN THEIR KIDS EDUCATION, AND I THINK IT IS INTERESTING NOT JUST THAT THEY ARE GETTING INVOLVED, BUT THE RESPONSE THEY ARE GETTING.

I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE POLITICAL SIDE OF IT COMES IN.

IF THEY HAVE A CONCERN TO BE ADDRESSED AT A SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING AND THEY ARE BEING REBUFFED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THEM AND TO REPRESENT -- TO DO THE BEST THING FOR THEIR KIDS AND THEY ARE BEING SHUT DOWN.

THEY ARE BEING TOLD THEY ARE DOMESTIC TERRORISTS, THEY ARE BEING TOLD THEIR VOICE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HEARD RIGHT NOW, THEY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH.

THESE PEOPLE KNOW BETTER THAN THEY DO AND THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE HUGE POLITICAL MOTIVATOR.

PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE RESPONDING TO THOSE PARENTS WHO ARE NOW WOKE TO THIS WOKE TEACHING WE ARE HAVING.

IF THEY DON'T PICK UP ON THAT AND RESPOND TO THESE PARENTS, THERE IS GOING TO BE HUGE POLITICAL RECOURSE FOR THAT.

JIM: ARE YOU WELL?

BOB: I HAVE BEEN AWAKE MY WHOLE LIFE.

DAN: YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS KEY.

ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOL IS IT IS LIKE THEY WALK TO THE PARENT-TEACHER ORGANIZATION AND SAY, ARE YOU ALL INVOLVED PARENTS?

GOOD, GRAB YOUR KIDS AND COME WITH US.

AND EVERYBODY IS FRUSTRATING -- AS FRUSTRATING AT IT -- AS IT IS, WHO IS MAKING A POLITE REASON PRESENTATION AT A SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING SHOULD BE LISTENED TO POLITELY AND REASONABLY.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE HAS TO AGREE AND THIS TRAVELING ROADSHOW THAT IS NOW OCCURRING, WE ARE NOT VIRGINIA, BUT THE TRAVELING ROADSHOW OCCURRING IN RHODE ISLAND LED BY A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO DEEM THEMSELVES REPORTERS AND THEY ARE NOT AND SOME OF THIS -- THE SAME FOLKS WHO GO TO US WILL COMMITTEE MEETING AND END UP IN NORTH KINGSTOWN AND BRISTOL WARREN AND THEN DOWN TO JERICHO AND IT IS THE SAME PARENTS.

THOSE ARE NOT INVOLVED PARENTS, THOSE ARE ACTIVISTS.

YOU CANNOT SAY YOU ARE A STAY-AT-HOME MOM ONE EVERY NIGHT, YOU ARE AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING SCREENING AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR SCHOOLS TEACH KIDS AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL ABOUT EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THIS WORLD FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T DO CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THAT IS A COLLEGE-LEVEL.

WE DO TRY TO BE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE IN OUR TEACHING, WHICH LETS KIDS REALIZE THAT KIDS ARE DIFFERENT.

AND IF THERE IS A KID OF A DIFFERENT COLOR SITTING NEXT TO YOU, THAT IS JUST OK. AND IF YOUR PARENTS ARE TELLING YOU IS NOT, THEN THERE IS A PARENTAL ISSUE THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIX.

DAN: ONE THING I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS REALLY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE BETTER MESSAGING THAN WHAT YOU SAW WITH MCGUFFIN IN VIRGINIA.

I THINK WHAT YOU CANNOT BE DOING IS DISMISSING PARENTS WHO DO HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS OR IF THEY ARE NOT LEGITIMATE, JUST HAVE CONCERNS.

THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE GOING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THE FIRST TIME YOU STEP INTO A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND YOU SAY, WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

THAT HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY.

BOB: SOMEONE COMES IN -- THIS IS PART OF THE JOB WHEN THEY ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO SIT THERE AND TAKE IT.

DAN: BUT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO RUN FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE, IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFE HARBOR.

I'M WITH A START ON THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND TALK ABOUT THESE LOFTY THINGS.

NOW, THEY ARE REALLY GETTING IN NORTH KINGSTOWN.

LEE ANN: THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER ISSUES, THERE HAS BEEN A BOOK IN THE LIBRARY THAT IS CONSIDERED PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND IS NOT AGE-APPROPRIATE.

I DEFINITELY DO NOT BELIEVE IN CENSORING, BOOK BANNING, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT AGE-APPROPRIATE THINGS SHOULD BE THERE AND THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THINGS -- YOU WOULD NOT HAVE A, SUTRA IN THE LIBRARY, SO WHY WOULD YOU PUT THIS COMIC BOOK IN THERE WITH PORNOGRAPHIC AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PUSHBACK.

THAT IS WHY I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSE.

WHY ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT TO PUT SOMETHING THAT PARENTS DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO SEE?

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING IT THERE?

JIM: LET'S GO TO OUTRAGEOUS AND/OR KUDOS.

DAN: MY OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK IS MY OLD FRIENDS AT THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE ABOUT TO IMPEACH OR REMOVE THE CITY CLERK -- YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT IN THE JOURNAL.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF GOOD REPORTING.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS, UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT YOU SEE WITH A LOT OF OUR TIME POLITICIANS WHO DON'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION ALWAYS IS YOU GET BORED IN YOUR JOB.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PROVIDENCE RIGHT NOW IS THE CITY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP ARE NOT ON THE FRONT LINES.

THE MAYOR IN PROVIDENCE IS NOW A BACK BURNER PERSON WHO IS NOT GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ATTENTION.

THEY WANT TO REMOVE SOMEBODY -- SHOULD THE CITY CLERK SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL?

I THINK THERE IS A DEBATE TO BE HAD ABOUT THAT.

YOU CAN REMOVE THE GUY AND NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT AND GO AWAY, BUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IS ESSENTIALLY IMPEACH SOMEBODY FOR KIND OF BEING A BAD BOSS.

IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.

IT IS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND IT IS A SHAME THAT PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE THINKING REALLY HARD ABOUT HOW TO SPEND MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY ARE GOING TO FOCUS ANY TIME AT ALL I'M TRYING TO REMOVE A PUBLIC SERVANT FROM THEIR JOB.

BOB: I GUESS THE THEME IS WHAT IS THE RUSH?

WE MENTIONED SOME OF THE TOPICS ALREADY.

WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THE EMERGENCY ORDER.

WHAT IS THE RUSH?

WE HAVE TO SPEND ALL OF THE FEDERAL MONEY, WHAT IS THE RUSH?

I'M GLAD WE WAITED BECAUSE THE PASSAGE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL GIVES US MONEY TO SPEND ON INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THREE WEEKS AGO, THERE WERE DEAS ABOUT SPENDING MONEY AND THINGS THAT WE CAN NOW USE IT FREE UP THE OTHER MONEY TO DO OTHER THINGS.

AND WHATEVER PASS IS RELATED TO BUILD BACK BETTER, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY $1.5 TRILLION AND NOT $3 TRILLION, WE ARE AT LEAST GOING TO GET A LOT OF MONEY.

IT IS OK TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR TO FIGURE OUT A FOUR-YEAR SPENDING LAND WITH THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS EVER COME IN.

THE COMMISSIONERS CONTRACT RENEWAL WAS RUSHED.

EVERY TIME WE RUSH, WE GET INTO TROUBLE WITH THIS STATE.

TAKE YOUR TIME, DO IT RIGHT.

AS A CARPENTER'S ESSAY AND MY FRIENDS IN THE BUILDING TRADES OFTEN SAY, MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE.

JIM: I THOUGHT YOU MEANT KAREN CARPENTER.

BOB: PLAN TWICE, SPEND ONCE.

DAN: EVERYBODY, BOB WALSH IS LIKE, TAKE IT EASY.

LEE ANN: MY OUTRAGE IS NORTH KINGSTOWN, THE WHOLE SITUATION WITH THE NAKED FAT TESTS.

IT IS TERRIBLE THIS HAPPEN AND THE FACT THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE IN CHARGE AND HE WAS ABLE TO GET A POSITION ELSEWHERE.

KIND OF REMINISCENT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SCANDAL.

WITH THE #METOO MOVEMENT, WE SAW WOMEN COMING OUT AND BEING HEARD AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE THE SAME CONSIDERATION TO OUR CHILDREN AND WHEN PARENTS HAVE THESE CONCERNS AND THEY ARE BROUGHT TO THE PRINCIPAL, THEY ARE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG AND THAT ALLOWS MORE TO HAPPEN.

JIM: AT THE VERY LEAST, IF THEY TOLD HIM YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND ALL OF THIS, WOULDN'T THERE BE SOME TYPE OF FOLLOW-UP?

DAN: ALL OF THESE PRINCIPLES KNOW EACH OTHER AND KNOW THE KIDS.

PULL UP THE CAPTAIN OF THE BASKETBALL TEAM AND SAY, IS THIS STILL GOING ON?

LEE ANN: THERE ARE PLENTY OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.

THE FACT THAT IT HAPPEN IS DISGRACEFUL.

JIM: THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

COME BACK HERE NEXT WEEK.

I ALWAYS SAY YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER SHOW.

COME BACK HERE NEXT WEEK AS THE LIVELY EXPERIMENT CONTINUES EVERY WEEKEND.

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