Pawtuxet River Valley

They work together

They have a growing population that they design the best for all and their scores show it. McKee involved in the dispatch regionalization that Pawtucket can't even get together with CF?

By Pre-Cumberlandite

Pawt.,C.F. inequal to Cumberland

Dear Pre-Cumberlandite,

I have several serious questions about your insinuations that Cumberland has the totally superior school department in the Blackstone Valley.

First of all, if the town of Cumberland, ''have a growing population that they design the best for all and their (test) scores show it'', define what is ''all''? How many ESL, minority students, and special needs students attend all elementary and secondary Cumberland and North Cumberland schools?

Secondly, cite the average income of a family of four in Cumberland and North Cumberland. Does it match or exceed Pawtucket and Central Falls families? According to the 2005 U.S. Census, the average Pawtucket family of four with one parent working makes $27,000 per year. The national poverty level is $22,000 for these families. Are Cumberland families lower middle class or upper middle or upper class? What is the education level of a Cumberland mother? The answers to these questions are connected to a child's academic success or failure.

Third of all, if Cumberland has a superior education system, it may be due to the economic, political and social position of the parents, not necessarily that of the total excellence of the school system. Upper class student motivation is kick-started when the child is born.

In addition, how much Cumberland money has been spent on faulty, badly measured gyms and swampy athletic fields, while newly-constructed science labs at Cumberland High School are empty as several science teachers were laid off in 2007 due to high building costs?

In closing, if Cumberland becomes diversified and tolerant as Pawtucket and Central Falls and increases its ESL, minority and special needs students, remedies the inequality of the average family incomes and educational levels, and addresses the large gap of the economic, political, and social positions of the lower Blackstone Valley, then I will somewhat agree to Mayor McKee's position.