SMITHFIELD, R.I. - A forum on the future of public education in Rhode Island turned out to be more of a referendum on state Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist's policies.
Sponsored by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, the event drew at least 80 participants.
The conference took place four days before the state Board of Education votes on Gist's contract, which has become the subject of intense debate.
Gist used her time to list her many accomplishments, including the first state education funding formula in years, $50 million in federal money for early-childhood education, a rigorous teacher evaluation and implementation of new standards.
In a rebuke to her critics, Gist said that these programs were the result of listening to feedback from teachers and administrators.