KALUS REACTS TO EDUCATION SECRETARY CARDONA’S VISIT TO NEWPORT

WARWICK, RI – Today, Ashley Kalus, the Republican nominee for Governor, released the below statement following U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel Cardona’s meeting with education “leaders” in Rhode Island.

The meeting took place at the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport.

Kalus said, “For far too long local and state ‘leaders’ have ignored education in our urban communities. Now, national ‘leaders’ are neglecting Rhode Island’s inner cities as well.

“Rather than meet in Providence, Pawtucket, or Central Falls to discuss the future of education in our region, U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel Cardona and Rhode Island Commissioner of Education Angélica Infante-Green chose instead to brunch in Newport at the Tennis Hall of Fame. How out-of-ouch are they?

“Families deserve a leader who will fight for their kids’ education, regardless of where they live. I will be the education governor and ensure every child has access to a world-class education that focuses on reading, writing, and math. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the issues that have plagued urban schools for decades.”

This meeting comes on the heels of a recent report stating that the Providence school system has spent only 5 percent of the $128 million allocated to the district from the American Rescue Plan Act. The same report noted that the entirety of the 5 percent that has been spent was shamefully used to fund union bonuses.

In regard to this story, Kalus noted, “There’s no denying the Providence school system is broken. And the fact that District administrators have only spent 5 percent of the $128 million allocated to the district to address learning loss is nothing short of a dereliction of duty. Worse yet – the entirety of the 5 percent was spent on union bonuses.

“For decades, politicians used to stand in the schoolhouse door and refuse to let minorities in; today, union leadership stands in the door of failing schools and won’t let minorities out.

“Union leadership has failed the students. It’s time to provide a world-class education to every child regardless of their zip code.”

Ashley Kalus is a mom, successful small business owner, Golden Gloves boxing champion, and political outsider. A resident of Newport, she is ready to fight for the people of Rhode Island.