Vacant School Committee Seat Filled by Town Council

EAST GREENWICH, RI—The Town Council on Wednesday appointed a financial adviser and parent of three children to fill a vacant School Committee seat.

Stuart Peterson, a partner of the Carney Peterson Wealth Management Group of Janney Montgomery Scott in South Kingstown, was selected in a 3-2 vote after the council had a lengthy discussion about his qualifications.

The dissenting votes were for another finance executive and parent of children attending East Greenwich schools, Jeff Dronzek.

Voting in favor of Peterson were Town Council President Michael Isaacs and Council Members Sean Todd and Suzanne Cienki.

In a letter of interest Peterson submitted to the Town Council in January, Peterson, who grew up in Iowa, said that he looks at the world from 40,000 feet "which allows me to make sound pragmatic decisions, taking into consideration all parties that will be affected."

He highlighted his background in finance, which he said would help the committee in budgeting issues and makes him "aware of the correlation between increased property taxes and home values."

Peterson said he has two children currently attending schools in East Greenwich and his third will be attending full-day kindergarten this fall.

Voting for Dronzek were Mark Schwager and Bill Stone.

Dronzek, his his letter of interest, noted his financial background as well. And he is a product of East Greenwich schools, too. He also indicated that he regularly attends school committee meetings and currently serves on the Finance Committee and has been "regularly involved in discussions with School Committee members regarding the challenge of school budgets and several additional needs like All Day K and later start times."

The seat was vacated in January after former School Committee member Deidre Gifford resigned after accepting job offer in Washington, D.C.