South Kingstown Election Profile: Cadence Hansen

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — Cadence Hansen is running for the school committee in South Kingstown. The 41-year-old Democrat is a newcomer to elected office.

Hansen and her husband, Jesse, have two children, Isaac, 6, and Clara, 8. She has two bachelor's of science, in physics and math, from Southeastern Louisiana University, and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Boston Univeristy. Previously, she worked as an enginerr at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, where her husband currently works.

Campaign website: cadencehansen.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have been involved at the district level for many years, and I feel that diversity of thought and experience are necessary for any group to be successful. The COVID pandemic has amplified many inequities in our schools, and the response by the School Committee has been inadequate. I am concerned that there is a lack of differing viewpoints and perspectives at the current school committee table. I believe that I would offer a fresh perspective and, more importantly, bring my willingness to listen to the many different voices in our community and to do the hard work to find equitable solutions. Over the past several years, I have been an active advocate for the special needs students and their families, and I bring this same dedication and persistence to listening and speaking up for under-represented groups. I do not shy away from difficult conversations, and I am willing to step up and be a part of the tough decisions that need to be made for our district.

What do you believe should be done to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and what would you do to lessen its economic impacts?

This year elected officials both on the town council and the school committee have been faced with many difficult decisions that directly impact the health and economic prosperity of South Kingstown. In addition to the primary role of providing education, schools also serve as a safe place for children to be while their parents are at work. The district also has a responsibility to keep students and educators healthy and safe. Although plans have been put in place, I would have brought parents and educators to the table much sooner to flesh out those plans. I also think more time should have been spent on professional development for teachers for distance learning. There was a rapid pivot in the wake of the pandemic back in March, and if there is an outbreak in the schools that forces the district back to distance learning, our educators should have all the tools they need for their students to be successful.

As a scientist, I encourage everyone to follow the best available medical guidance as it emerges and evolves. I also encourage people to be patient; science can sometimes seem contradictory, but it is self-correcting. There is still so much unknown about this virus, we should continue to be safe and cautious.

Additionally, because the school budget is 75 percent of the town’s budget, it is important to use those funds carefully to address the schools’ role in supporting families and the local community. To lessen the economic impact of the of the coronavirus on our town, I commit to be a good steward of that money. If the school budget remains in check, the burden on the taxpayer will be minimized.

Do you believe systemic racism is a problem in America generally and Rhode Island specifically, and if so, what would you do to combat it?

Yes and Yes. I’ve lived in many places across this country. Racism definitely exists, both throughout the U.S. and certainly in Rhode Island and South Kingstown.

The most impactful thing I could do to combat racism in our community is to listen. I cannot know the best way to support my neighbors without listening to their point of view and learning what their needs are. I have not lived their experiences, and therefore, I must commit to actively listening and working with people to develop policies that fully support an anti-racist school district. Our community and school committee need to thoughtfully examine the issue of racism. I won’t shy away from the difficult conversations that need to happen to ensure we are providing the best possible school experience for these underserved students and families. This process, although urgent, needs to be thorough and strategic in order to be done right.

I am a strong advocate and I will take action. When I learned that special needs students were not able to take part in the after-school enrichment activities in our elementary schools, I began to reach out to families and to administrators and coordinators to create a program that would give this group of students the chance to participate. Students and families can come to me with their concerns and know that I will work on their behalf.

Should the words "Providence Plantations" be removed from the state's name?

Yes

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a mathematician and a scientist, with a strong background in research and data analysis, I would make decisions based on data and best practices. This expertise makes me uniquely qualified to do a complete analysis of our budget and find efficiencies while still striving to provide the best educational experience for the students of SK.

Something else that sets me apart from other candidates is that I am the parent of a highly impacted special needs student. As such, I have spent the last few years advocating for my child to get the necessary services. Navigating through this process has given me a deep understanding of what we as a School Committee could do from a policy perspective to help families.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

In 2018, the proposed school renovation project involved updates to West Kingston, Matunuck, and Peace Dale elementary schools, an expansion on Broad Rock, and a gutting and renovation of the high school. The funding for the projects was coming from the State’s “newer and fewer” initiative, and operational savings would be recouped by closing Curtis Corner Middle School and Wakefield Elementary. The outcry over the potential closing of Wakefield Elementary had a hand in the turnover on the school committee that essentially placed the Wakefield PTO in charge of the entire school department.

The new SC took the reins with the buildings project’s Stage 2 application in hand. They had two options that would have kept Wakefield open. They could have submitted the prepared plan, but they hastily voted to start over. As a result, the Stage 2 application failed, and we have lost years of valuable time and resources. This includes over a million dollars paid to architects and consultants, and we still have not successfully submitted a Stage 2 application.

Moreover, little has been accomplished over the past two years, and few significant improvements have been made. Plans are less detailed; the community has been left out of the conversation; the cost is up; deliverables are down. This is an unacceptable waste of time and money. Our community has lost trust that this School Committee has the best interests of the whole school district in mind. We deserve better.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I am an engaged member of the South Kingstown community. I am aware that the school budget is 75% of the town’s total budget, and as such, it is the largest driving factor in our yearly tax burden. South Kingstown has always prided itself on scholastic excellence. My goal is to improve on that while minimizing costs to the taxpayer. As a School Committee candidate, I take your money seriously.

As I said, I am the mother of a special needs child. I have spent years advocating to get my child the necessary supports. I know firsthand the resources needed to secure these supports, I also realize that all families don’t have these resources. Our school district owes it to all students to support them and their needs. I will advocate for special needs programs on their behalf, because identifying and supporting all special needs children will enhance the education for all students. I fully believe that this can be done while keeping the budget in check.

The other issue that defines my candidacy is a commitment to returning to authentic community engagement where every voice is valued. I would wholly support bringing back community conversations that inform what policies are necessary to add, to change or to get rid of. I would advocate for a full analysis of the district’s comprehensive communication plan. I would call for the district to use multiple modalities in order to reach the greatest number of not only parents and families, but also community members who are paying the bill. I value people with differing points of view because I believe that leads to the best possible outcome for our schools and for our town.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

While working as an Engineer at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, I found my niche in testing and evaluation. I was able to see the big picture while understanding the smallest details. The unwritten rule in testing is that something will always go wrong, and I excelled in preparing for that eventuality. Preparing contingency plans is one of my strongest skill sets. Additionally, with a multidisciplinary background, I excel at bridging communication gaps between colleagues with varying expertise. I am able to glean common ground in circumstances where there is a difference of opinion. As a school committee member these skills will serve me very well with budgeting, negotiation, collaborating, and facilities planning.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My father taught me that you should never stop learning and that you don’t really understand something until you can explain it in terms that anyone can understand. I have taken both these truths to heart.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am passionate about providing extracurricular opportunities to all students, as is evident by my volunteer efforts in coordinating CLASS (Creative Learning After School Specials) at Peace Dale Elementary. Pre-COVID, I was working to create an all-inclusive CLASS option that would make this opportunity available to our special needs population as well.

I believe in community, which is why I advocated to bring the Community Book Club to Peace Dale. Last year, South Kingstown Education Foundation (SKEF) provided a grant to all four elementary schools and Broad Rock so that we could all participate in a school-wide reading experience. Coordinators from each school collaborated and supported each other in our individual efforts. The excitement that the students showed was a truly gratifying experience. This is the kind of impact I want to continue to have in our school district.

I am so passionate about this community, and I know I can make a difference given the opportunity.

This article originally appeared on the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch