Council confirms slate of school-board appointees after detailed candidate Q&A

The Central Falls City Council used a large portion of its Nov. 10 agenda to hear introductions and question candidates for multiple newly created school-board seats and then voted to fill several positions.

Candidates for student, parent/caregiver, alumni and educator seats introduced themselves, described ties to the city and answered questions about priorities. Parents and alumni emphasized outreach and a commitment to representing families; educators emphasized data-driven accountability, teacher supports and student-centered policies.

Ivana Hazards Perez (introduced as formerly known as Ivana Perez) told the council she has deep roots in Central Falls and said she wanted “to be a voice for those that don't have one,” describing school leadership and community engagement as priorities. Jeff Wright, an elementary-school principal, summarized his leadership experience and said collaborative communication and visibility were central to his approach.

Council members pressed candidates on specific duties, including how they would incorporate student voice, how they would hold staff and administrators accountable, and lessons learned from state takeovers such as Providence. Several candidates proposed concrete tactics such as home visits, community listening sessions, better family-engagement strategies and data-driven needs assessments for attendance and literacy.

Votes recorded on Nov. 10 show multiple unanimous approvals. The council approved the mayor's recommended student appointment (motion passed 6-0), parent/caregiver and alumni slots, and educator nominees during the meeting's recorded roll calls.

Why it matters: Central Falls is in transition from state control toward a locally governed district. The people chosen for these inaugural local seats will shape policy, community trust and the district's approach to issues such as special education services, attendance, and family engagement.

What to watch next: Candidates and councilmembers discussed next steps including outreach to families, establishing regular communication channels, and early priorities such as assessing resources for mental-health supports and literacy programs. The council recorded the appointments and directed staff to finalize terms and onboarding details.

Quotes in context: Ivana Hazards Perez said, “I wanted to be a part of the school board because I wanna be a voice for those that don't have 1.” Jeff Wright described his focus as "collaborative leadership, clear communication, and clear spaces where all voices are valued and matter."