Ricci, Turchetta seek Ward 4 seat on School Committee

The Cranston Herald ·

Most Cranston voters heading to the polls on Nov. 8 will find their local School Committee representative running unopposed for re-election.

That is not the case in Ward 4, where incumbent Trent Colford is seeking a seat on the City Council. Two hopefuls, Amy Ricci and Vincent Turchetta Jr., are vying to succeed him in the sole contest for a committee seat.

Below are brief profiles on the two candidates, based on recent interviews with the Herald.

Amy Ricci

A lifelong Cranston resident, Amy Ricci said “passion for education” has led her to seek a seat on the School Committee.

Ricci graduated from Cranston High School West in 1999. She currently works as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional and clerk in the North Kingstown School District. She additionally served as a board member for the Cranston West Alumni Association, a steering committee member for the Rhode Island State Geography Bee, and a member of the Cranston Historic District Commission.

“There have been many changes to our school system since I graduated,” Ricci said. “I want students to have the best education and to provide students and teachers with a safe and secure learning environment by utilizing resources and creating effective ways to reduce student stress and achieve academic success.”

Ricci said she wants students to “become lifelong learners,” and she feels the “educational process has become too dependent on standardized testing and Common Core standards.”

“Cranston Public Schools is already great, and by preserving excellence in the system it can only get better from here,” she added.

Ricci said the school supply list for students and teachers has been the top issue she has heard from members of the community.

Also frequently cited, she said, are the Common Core standards – which she is “highly against” – and the district’s issues with transportation early in the year.

Residents have additionally expressed their wish to see music, arts and sports programming fully funded moving forward, she said, and she pledged to work toward ensuring that is the case.

“The more you let students be creative, in my opinion, can reduce their stress,” she said.

Ricci said if elected, her top priorities would be examining the district’s budget and mapping out other objectives based on that review.

Vincent Turchetta Jr.

Vincent Turchetta Jr. said he is running for the Ward 4 seat on the School Committee because of his investment in the community.

“I’ve got kids in the system. I coach in the system,” he said. “This literally affects me and my family.”

Born and raised in Cranston, Turchetta is a graduate of Cranston High School West. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent four years as a correctional officer.

He worked as a special education teacher in Coventry’s schools for two decades and is currently employed as dean of students at Mt. Hope High School in Bristol and as an adjunct professor for education-related courses at the Community College of Rhode Island.

Turchetta additionally serves on the Cranston Juvenile Hearing Board and the Cranston West Parent Board and is a volunteer football, soccer and basketball coach. He and his wife have a son and a daughter.

Top priorities for Turchetta include addressing the physical condition of many school buildings and looking at busing to “see if there’s a safer way to do things.” He also pledged to ensure funding remains in place for middle school sports programming.

As a first-time candidate, Turchetta said, “I don’t really like the political side of it, but I know what needs to be done.”

He spoke highly of the current school committee and administration – “I think they’re doing a good job” – and said he hopes to help build even stronger relationships among the various constituencies involved.

“I think the most important thing in the best interest of kids is if the administration, School Committee and the community are all on the same page,” he said.