BetterProvidence

 In 2011, BetterProvidence promoted and encouraged the City of Providence to take steps for increased government transparency, and to make it easier for citizens to access municipal information.

To this end, we worked collaboratively with staff in the Mayor's office and the City Council, and with Common Cause of Rhode Island, to develop a set of initiatives and action steps to make government more open and accessible to Providence residents.

As a result of this collaboration, the Mayor and the City Council recently passed a resolution to create a 15 member "Open Providence Commission for Transparency and Accountability."

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 BetterProvidence executive director Karina Holyoak Wood was quoted in Providence Journal columnist Ed Fitzpatrick's September 27 column regarding the Providence School Department's decision to delay the start of school by 2 hours on September 26.

WPRO radio's Buddy Cianci Show picked up the story from the newspaper and interviewed Karina on their afternoon show  that same day.

You can read the full text of the Criterion-Based Hiring (CBH) Agreement, which is a partner document to the 2011-2014 proposed Teachers Contract, here .

The CBH agreement sets the teacher hiring policy for the Providence School District.

Teachers will be hired via an interview process, which replaces the former hiring by seniority policy.  However, the CBH Agreement provides loopholes to the interview hiring process, whereby, at certain specified times of the year, the interview hiring process is suspended and Providence teachers who are displaced / currently without a position can be "matched" into an open position by the Human Resources department of the Providence School District.

Read the full text of the new proposed Contract between the Providence Teachers Union and the City of Providence.

The new Providence Teachers Contract was approved by the membership of the Providence Teachers Union on August 9, and was approved by the Providence City Council Finance Committee on September 21, 2011.

The Providence City Council Finance Committee held a public hearing on the contract on September 21, and subsequently voted to approve the contract by a unanimous vote.

The City Council will meet on Tuesday, September 27 to take a vote of ratification on the contract.

 Karina Wood, executive director of BetterProvidence, quoted in the Providence Journal's coverage of the Providence City Council's public hearing on the proposed new teachers contract.

You can read the City's Fiscal Note on the new proposed teachers contract here

You can read the City Council's Internal Auditor's Financial Analysis here

BetterPVD proudly co-presents: INDIA POINT PARK SERIES 2011

a FREE, City grant-funded Waterfront DJ & Electronic Music Series!
Last 2 Saturdays in August, 20 & 27, from 5 - 10pm.
Bring a blanket or a boat and enjoy the hottest DJs, DubStep and Street Marching Bands in the newly designed India Point Park. Family friendly activities, bike powered gadgets, food trucks, and a beer tent for the adults!

www.facebook.com/event.php

Providence City Council approves Councilman Sam Zurier's ordinance to close tax loophole by requiring Providence homeowners who receive homestead exemption to register their cars in, and pay the required car tax to, Providence. Click here to read the story.

BetterProvidence is featured in July's Providence Monthly — check it out!

The June 13 BetterProvidence and Common Cause community forum on the proposed I-195 Redevelopment District Commission attracted 150 people who engaged in lively discussion and debate with our panelists. The questions and opinions raised have stimulated increased interest in this issue across the city and at the State House.

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