PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Senate on Tuesday approved four of Governor Chafee's appointees to the state's new 11-member Board of Education, which will oversee K-12 schools and the public college system.
There was opposition by two Republican senators and independent Sen. Edward J. O'Neill from Lincoln to two of the nominees who are teacher union officials.
Colleen Callahan, director of professional issues for the Rhode Island Federation and Lawrence E. Purtill, president of the National Education Association of Rhode Island, were approved, with three dissenting votes.
Mathies J. Santos, a former Regent and retired lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, and Michael A. Grande, a certified public accountant and adjunct faculty at Providence College, were approved without debate.
Hearings before the Senate Education Committee for the other seven appointees, including Chairwoman Eva Marie Mancuso have been scheduled for Wednesday, shortly after 4 p.m.