Man Allegedly Approaches Portsmouth Students at Bus Stop

Parents are being warned after a suspicious man allegedly approached Portsmouth Middle School students at a bus stop this morning.

  The Portsmouth School District is warning parents of a suspicious man after he allegedly approached Portsmouth Middle School students at a bus stop this morning.  The Portsmouth School District released the following special bulletin to parents on Thursday. Portsmouth police were called to assist.  This morning at the Park & Mason bus stop in Island Park several middle school students were approached by male who sought to engage them in conversation. This male was also seen at several bus stops on Park Avenue, including the one at Park and Morgan in Island Park. The students became uncomfortable with the individual’s presence. The incident was immediately reported to the bus monitor who then reported this information to the …

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RWU Grads Urged to Make History

More than 800 graduates received their degrees Saturday, a day after 164 graduated from the law school.

With an array of speakers urging them to live their lives according to the values treasured by the university’s namesake himself, 1,080 graduates in the Roger Williams University Class of 2013 culminated their college careers on Saturday at the university’s annual Commencement exercises. More than 6,000 people turned out under the big tent in Bristol to watch the graduates cross the stage along the bayside campus. In addition to awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to the candidates, RWU President Donald J. Farish conferred honorary doctorates to author and historian John M. Barry, who detailed the influence of the university’s namesake in last year’s award-winning Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul, and LarryRachleff…

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Board Of Ed's Mancuso On Tests, Teachers And Gist

Eva-Marie Mancuso, the state’s new Board of Education chair, uses courtroom demeanor to try to convince angry teachers and nervous parents that change is necessary.

Eva-Marie Mancuso enjoys a lively debate but is clear about one thing: When it comes to educating Rhode Island’s children, the status quo is not an option. At a recent Q&A session in East Greenwich, the state’s new Board of Education chair, sparred with state Sen. James Sheehan (D-NK, Narr.) over teacher evaluations, cajoled teachers to work with the state, and tried to reassure at least one parent that using passage of a test as a graduation requirement is the right move. The forum, organized by the EG Democratic Town Committee, was held at EG’s Town Hall, the former Kent County Courthouse. The setting suited Mancuso, a personal injury lawyer. Although the new Board of Education for the first time combines all levels of public education …

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Temporary Portsmouth School Employees Hired Without Background Checks

Some, long-time employees of the Portsmouth School District are hired without a background check, the Portsmouth School Committee learned Tuesday night.

  Background checks are mandatory for most employees everywhere, but, as the Portsmouth School Committee learned Tuesday, a flaw in the hiring process has not checked all employees of the Portsmouth School District.  An audit recently revealed some temporary and seasonal employees and coaches, who have worked in the Portsmouth School District for years, were hired without background checks, according to Portsmouth School Superintendent Lynn Krizic.  "These are longtime, repeat coaches who have been with the district for years," said Krizic. "It was the system, not the workers. I think we were proactive in doing the audit and now we're saying it's important to put the pieces in place. The process (background checks) has already started."  …

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Bill Carson

7:39 am on Monday, May 20, 2013

The Wind Turbine Project started off with a lawsuit the day they dug the hole. http://www.windaction.org/news/22587   more ›

UPDATE: Portsmouth High School Evacuated After Bomb Threat

A note warning of an explosive device was found in the school. No one is being allowed in the building.

Portsmouth High School was evacuated at 1:15 p.m. today after a note warning of an explosive device was found in the school, Superintendent Lynn Krizic confirmed.  The school department sent a robo call to parents to inform them of an early dismissal due to the threat, the second bomb threat in as many days at the school. Students were not allowed back into the building, even to recover their belongings. No one is being allowed in the building at this time, Krizic said. All afternoon activities, including sports, have been cancelled. No decision has been made on evening activities. Update at 2:35 p.m.  Portsmouth High School students and faculty are now being allowed back into the school to retrieve bags and other personal items. …

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Kevin Camp

9:05 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013

They call the incident at URI a "Gunscare" , when there wasnt even a gun........So, there isnt a bomb so this must be a "Bombscare"   more ›

Bomb Threat Prompts Police Search at Portsmouth High School

Police searched Portsmouth High School on Monday night after a note was found in the school.

  Portsmouth High School students arrived to school this morning to police officers patrolling campus after a suspicious note was found in the school Monday night.  The note, according to an e-mail sent out to parents by Portsmouth High School Principal Robert Littlefield, referenced "an explosive device in the building."  Rhode Island State Police and their K-9 team searched Portsmouth High School last night, but discovered no device.  School resumed on Tuesday morning; however, police are on campus this morning as a safety precaution.  Featured here is the e-mail, posted verbatim, which was sent out to Portsmouth High School parents this morning.  I want to alert all members of the Portsmouth High School community of some events that …

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Portsmouth Education Foundation Turns Wine and Cheese Into Dollars for Schools

The seventh annual Portsmouth Education Foundation Hidden Kitchens Tour raised money for public schools and gave donors a satisfying day out.

The Portsmouth Public Education Foundation cooked up big money for local public schools at its seventh annual Hidden Kitchens Tour on Friday. Gleaming granite counter tops and gourmet appliances in a waterfront model home off of Bristol Ferry Road were brought to life by the artisan cheeses and savory wines of two local vendors in one of the seven kitchens on the tour on Friday afternoon.  "The kitchen tours have been very successful and this year even more so," said education foundation President Marilyn Brockway. "I think it's a different kind of think to do and it's something you can do with friends," added Brockway. "We like to do it around Mother's Day so men and women can come with their mothers but this year we've also had a lot of …

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Newport Children's Theatre Presents Thoroughly Modern Millie

Newport Children's Theatre presents the musical, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," today through Sunday at Portsmouth High School.