Anonymous letters, allegations and resignations: What you need to know about PPSD turmoil

If you're following news on the Providence Public School District, you may know it has been plagued by controversy as of late, from contentious School Board talks, scrutiny over a credit recovery program, to calls for an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace. But if you don't know the details of how it started and where it's headed, here's an explainer to get you up to speed.

Trouble began with investigation of Over-Aged, Under-Credited program this summer

Trouble began over the summer when School Board member Ty'Relle Stephens called for an investigation of A-Venture Academy's Over-Aged, Under-Credited program. The program is housed in Central High School and is used as an alternative for PPSD students who are struggling to get on track to graduation. At OAUC, as it's known, students were given a chance to earn the credits they needed quickly, partially though a process the district described as one by which old transcripts could be mined for any partial credit, also known as "credit mining." Then, students were placed in classes they would need to take to ultimately receive diplomas.

Documents show students earned as much as two years' worth of credits in mere months. Stephens said he and two other School Board members — Jesus Nunez and Night Jean Muhingabo — began receiving anonymous calls from district employees and parents about the program, prompting Stephens to call for an investigation of the program and accusations of grade inflation and offering unearned credits.

A subsequent probe authored by Charlie Ruggerio, the school department's attorney, concluded that there was no evidence of grade inflation, but there also wasn't much student work to be found. In short, the investigation came up with little proof that the grades were rightfully earned. Since then, skepticism of the program has persisted.

Classes done in days:What we found in A-Venture student transcripts and other documents

What does that have to do with what's happening now?

As The Providence Journal investigated OAUC, collecting transcripts and other data, two individuals with experience working on Superintendent Javier Montañez's executive leadership team contacted The Journal with a statement outlining their complaints about their work environment and about A-Venture. Both individuals wished to remain anonymous.

The statement took aim at multiple people within the school district and the Rhode Island Department of Education, including Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, claiming there was "some systemic [dysfunction] that the Commissioner is not correcting." The statement also criticized Montañez's senior advisor, Joan Jackson. At that point, issues within the workplace began spilling out into the open.

Anonymous letter released

About one week later, Mayor Jorge Elorza joined Mayor-elect Brett Smiley and former Mayors Angel Taveras and Joe Paolino to discuss recommendations for improving the city's education system and changing the teacher's union contract. The suggestions were presented to reporters at a press conference in a moment of unity among the mayors past, present and future.

But on the morning of the event, another anonymous message went out, appearing to be an edited version of the statement The Journal already received. This time, the message said it was "from eight district-level leaders" within PPSD. It again criticized Jackson, alleging she "has created a work environment that eight district-level leaders consider intimidating, hostile and abusive," and it took aim at Montañez's leadership.

More:As district issues go public, Providence mayors make education suggestions to Mayor-elect Smiley

Contentious School Board meeting

Days later, during a School Board meeting, tensions ran high. Montañez, offended about his leadership being called into question, told board members that "when you choose to take conversations" and make them public, "it does nothing for our children." All the while Providence's public schools remain under a widely-criticized state takeover — the focus on which certain board members seemed to feel was lost in the slew of anonymous commentary, leaks to the press, and complaints about workplace problems.

That night, board President Kinzel Thomas said he was worried about the district's culture, and it is "clear that we have a morale problem."

During the meeting, board member Diagneris Garcia resigned, calling the climate the "worst I have ever seen," citing the board's "internal fractures."

More:A resignation, angry letter, 'morale problem:' Inside the PPSD drama spilling into public view

Door opens to potential investigation

By late November, School Board leadership called on the superintendent and the commissioner to "remove those high-level administrators who are not performing to the board's standards," supportive of the concerns raised by colleagues. In response, PPSD and RIDE vowed that "any allegations of inappropriate behavior will be fully investigated," apparently leaving the door open to yet another probe.

Just before Thanksgiving, the School Board met in a mostly closed meeting for which an agenda said "personnel action" and an investigation were set to be discussed. Thomas said board members had a "very productive conversation" with Montañez about "concerns as to how he should proceed going forward."

PPSD said it was "looking into" the possibility of an investigation, but shortly after, School Board leadership demanded one — this time led by a third-party. That request was on a list of demands that called for the firing of administrators found culpable, and the development of a whistleblower policy.

What's next?

The board is set to meet again on Dec. 9 for another session in which private discussions are expected to again be held. Montañez, writing back to the board on Sunday, Nov. 27, said he wouldn't reply immediately to "time-intensive, adult-driven demands," and would be out for a week because of a medical procedure.

Meanwhile, on the following Tuesday, Stephens joined a small group of community advocates and local leaders, including Rep. David Morales, who backed an even tougher list of demands than the one previously released by board leadership. That included Jackson's resignation, an end to the state takeover, and a Senate Oversight hearing. Sen. Louis DiPalma, the head of the Oversight Committee, has already said it's unlikely there would be such a hearing before the end of the year. He's unsure there would be one at all.