TAN/NEWPACE Questions

Below are my submitted responses to questions from TAN NEWPACE (The Teacher's Association of Newport's Political Acton Committee) Responses submitted 8-17-24

To TAN/NEWPACE C/O Tina Brownell:

As you know, prior to my candidacy for Newport City Council Ward One, I served 13 years as an elected member of the Newport School Committee. As a member of the Newport School Committee my first priority has always been parents and students of the Newport School System. If elected to the Newport City Council I can say these priorities will remain unchanged. I attended Newport Public School K-12. My three sons all attended Newport Public School K-12. In fact both my parents fully attended Newport Public Schools and are RHS Graduates (old RHS on Broadway) class of 1945. My spouse Sheila DeAscentis taught as a para-educator in many of Newport’s elementary public schools including the new Pell Elementary School. I am truly a local candidate, not by statement but by my Newport life experiences. Below are my responses to your 2024 TAN/NEWPACE survey questions. I have also included my candidate profile to provide a more comprehensive response. My dedicated campaign website can be found at hugodeascentisnewportcitycouncil.com and I can be reached at my dedicated campaign e-mail at hdeasc@gmail.com

Teachers Association of Newport PACE

2024 Candidate for Office Survey Questions

Educational funding is a major challenge for both state and municipal government. TAN supports a significant increase in funding for K-12. Would you support increases to local funding for Newport Public Schools?

Response: question #1 (2024 Newpace): Yes, in addition to federal, state, and grant funding, I would support local funding within the limit of the state mandated 4% year to year increase which is allowed for the mandatory balancing of the annual City of Newport budget.

If elected, you would play an important role in funding education. What would you perceive to be your responsibilities in this area?

Response: question #2 (2024 Newpace): By state requirements, the care of the public school system rests with the school committee. The school budget is produced and submitted by the school department. I was previously a member of the school/city council liaison subcommittee. I believe it is important for both bodies to be aware (in advance) of what is happening throughout city government regarding present and proposed expenditures. One other local effort that has promise toward increasing school funding is to have both school committee members and city council members work together as a strong local effort to approach both state and federal leaders to advocate for their support.

Charter schools are funded with public tax dollars, but are not subject to oversight from the locally elected school committees or City/Town councils. Some receive significant revenue and services from outside interests. Mayoral Academy Charter Schools do not contribute to the payment of the unfunded pension liability and do not adhere to prevailing wage and tenure laws. Would you support a moratorium on any new charter schools until a reasonable funding resolution can be found?

Response: question #3 (2024 Newpace): Charter schools may provide a benefit desired by parents and students. However, if charter benefits result in a negative impact on public education then yes those negatives need to be addressed. I would expect solutions would need to address both current and future charter schools. If the schools are created through RI’s state regs then the state of RI must be ready to provide solutions.

Do you believe the local elected School Committee or City/Town Council should have the right to approve whether or not to allow their district to participate and fund charter schools and/or Mayoral Academy charter schools?

Response: question #4 (2024 Newpace): Ultimately the state is responsible for public education. If a local government decides they do want to run their local education system then I believe the state would then be responsible. However, local authorities would lose control of their system which is highly undesirable. My point is that local authorities should be responsible for running their local system. There should be no unfunded state mandates. The state should be pressed for funding.

City and school employees need to be treated in a fair and equitable manner regarding contracts and working conditions. Do you agree or disagree and explain your response?

Response: question #5 (2024 Newpace): Yes, certainly. The way we treat each other contributes to the social climate within a community. Over the years (serving on the Newport School Committee) I have seen issues reasonable worked out. This, I believe is the preferable effort. However, when immoveable differences arise, they must be legally worked out through prescribed contract procedures including mediation and arbitration if needed. The final result is not necessarily the best solution for either aide.

What is/are the most pressing issue(s) facing our school system today?

Response: question #6 (2024 Newpace): Funding is always an issue. Currently there is the additional (major) issue of RHS.

Over the past four years there has been an effort by some extreme groups to target schools and teachers with hyperbole surrounding issues like critical race theory, parents monitoring classes through video surveillance, misinformation about pandemic related masking and vaccines, and banning certain publications from our schools. First, identify your positions on these specific issues and indicate whether or not you would support candidates on the city, state and federal level who have taken the most extreme positions on these issues?

Response: question #7 (2024 Newpace): As previously stated, my highest priority group has always been the interests of parents and students. I would defer to them to extract a majority opinion. However, to be clear, the overall governing factors are always health and safety. Regarding extreme positions, positions become extreme when they are held by a small number of individuals and not adopted (and typically opposed) by a great number of individuals. So, no I do not support extremes.

How have you supported public education, educational professionals and students in Newport?

Response: question #8 (2024 Newpace): Well, 13 years on the Newport School Committee. In addition, while elected I also frequently served on many of the Newport School subcommittes. Very active on school PTOs. Was president of Coggeshall PTO. Member of Newport Public Ed foundation. etc. etc. etc.

TAN is part of a broad based coalition of non-profit and community based organizations opposing a Rhode Island Constitutional Convention. The labor movement is particularly concerned that a constitutional convention could lead to a voter initiative process, curtailment of public sector bargaining rights, and elimination of prevailing wages, just to name a few. Do you support the Constitutional Convention?

Response: question #9 (2024 Newpace): A constitutional convention would allow voters the opportunity to possibly change the way government operates. RI has not had a constitutional convention for many years (1986). Sorry, not fully aware of all sides of all the potential concerns, so at this time, I am not opposed to putting a question on the ballot to ask voters if they would even like to have a RI constitutional convention. If voters approve, then a long process would follow to determine what particular constitutional questions would go to voters. At this time we can only speculate which specific concerns would be going for voter’s yea or nay.

10.What are some ways you would continue to collaborate with TAN after you are elected?

Response: question #10 (2024 Newpace): It is really all about communication. I believe City Council members are prohibited from talking directly to municipal employees. However, as an elected member of the Newport City Council I believe I would be free to talk to members of the school community. I simply believe in listening to all sides of an issue.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Hugo J DeAscentis Candidate – Newport City Council – Ward One

Lifelong Newport Resident

Attended Newport Public Schools K-12

Graduate University of Rhode Island 1976 – BA Biology

Career in the Sciences:

Laboratory Supervisor - Newport Water Department

Supervisor Water Plant Operations – Providence Water

Current – RI Level 2 Drinking Water System Assessor

Current – Water System Operations Instructor CCRI/Workforce partnerships

Previous elected office - Newport School Committee, serving 13 years ending 2010.

Personal – married to Sheila DeAscentis former Newport Public Schools

Elementary Special Education aid.

Raised 3 sons all attending Newport Public School k-12.

Community - Former President Coggeshall Elementary School PTO

Former Newport Little league team manager (People’s Credit Union)

Former parent volunteer Newport recreation Department Youth Soccer Coach.

Parishioner St Joseph Church

The Newport Community - of the 39 cities and towns in the State of Rhode Island, Newport, I believe, is the most desirable. It is a city. diverse, sophisticated, and complex, yet small and manageable.

However, Newport has many challenges.

Newport needs a stronger program to help maintain rather than replace its building and infrastructure. (such as we are now seeing with the high school and Easton beach).

Housing, particularly work force housing, is needed to provide a local work force to allow workers to earn a living wage and remain in the community in which they work. Business will be attracted to a community with an available work force.

Elderly housing to provide affordable housing for our long term residents.

Traffic – always a problem but traffic issues must be minimized.

Continue to promote Newport’s pedestrian advantages with clean sidewalks as well as clean streets.

It is imperative that city operations respond to all residents.

Lean budgets ensure efficiency.

Health and safety are always a top priority

I hope to bring some level of experience, talent, and certainly my persistence to elected office to address and resolve Newport’s many issues.

Please consider my candidacy.

All concerns are Important

All votes are important

Campaign website: hugodeascentisnewportcitycouncil.com

Campaign e-mail: hdeasc@gmail.com

Hugo J DeAscentis Jr.

Newport City Council Candidate - Ward One

hdeasc@gmail.com

https://www.hugodeascentisnewportcitycouncil.com/home