Projo Politics Blog

Rhode Island Family Court chief of staff Ronald J. Pagliarini has been elected president of the National Truancy Prevention Association.

“It’s a lot of responsibility and it’s an honor,” Pagliarini said. “I would hope that we can make a national mark on truancy and attendance issues.”

Founded in 2003, the association is a not-for-profit corporation “dedicated to assisting communities in developing, supporting and sustaining effective truancy prevention practices,” according to the association Web site.

In 2004, the association received $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs to put in place truancy prevention programs on a national level, and the association is developing a “bench book” on truancy-related issues to help jurisdictions in handling truancy problems.

Pagliarini, 51, of Cranston, has worked for the Family Court since 1999 and has been chief of staff since 2006. He was Republican state representative from Cranston from 1982 to 1990. He previously served as second vice president for the National Truancy Prevention Association.

“I am very pleased at the show of support that the NTPA has given Ron Pagliarini by electing him president,” Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. said. “Truancy is a critical issue here in Rhode Island and nationally.”

Pagliarini said one of his goals is to further develop the organization’s Web site — www.truancycourt.org — and to make the site interactive for parents, teachers and students.

---