[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6619714,"mediaKeyId","2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f","parentId",2829032,"title","Committee backs state bills to expand van capacity, shorten bus‑driver training amid regional transport reforms","audioSeconds",883,"startMs",4878000,"endMs",5761000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f&start=4878&end=5761","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f/thumbnail_4878000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6619714/Rhode-Island/Committee-backs-state-bills-to-expand-van-capacity-shorten-busdriver-training-amid-regional-transport-reforms","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619714-1915729686eef60268f485ef8c9101d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178565&Signature=TsLzPsBtST6H5zD7fEmJRa~~5hAwKA7-SGzc2xYnHgQwGWNn7g7g7DjLFeNWaKPS8umo~AvzN1u~pK1JOYfUTRHe4amQBB0lbQof5~6rvfy~CnbSLgAzdp6MFkIbzr-S5XlnDIF-fNx8hDijYQrar6Hf75jRXimS5jV5i~ilqPOvmL6fgJX~-JajR1LMUFl5C2tVMNh15P3AEAXOuIb5r--~NAF~hDw-jN0lJUp8v-L-JtbN2xtBKpGqXLq21sr8yNjPGmSpDAjk6eBmDLoW~y~6AuAfHgW~GE4EJhCVnBcSAzemw6eeRO8ihPuHNWlpgv1002bqV2R25eroHNNxXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bristol Warren Regional School District","date","2025-04-01T01:20:07.677Z","article","Superintendent Riley told the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee on March 31 that the state Student Transportation Commission — formed after multiple districts raised concerns about rising transportation costs — is proposing policy changes intended to improve efficiency and cut costs.

Riley described several commission recommendations: allow larger small-vehicle capacity (from 8 to 10 passengers), maximize use of RIPTA where feasible, permit more licensed-driver reciprocity from neighboring states, and reorganize regional boundaries. \"This was the recommendation that was really universally approved by the commission,\" Riley said of creating a sixth region that would move Bristol Warren, East Providence and Barrington out of the large Region 3, which the district estimates would reduce ridership and provide an estimated $1,100,000 in savings.

The commission discussed a staged timeline: implement region changes in two years and, two years after that, move from six regions to nine to shrink service areas and improve efficiency. Riley also described other possible savings: raising allowable passenger limits on vans from 8 to 10 could save an estimated $650,000 to $1,000,000 statewide (based on statewide rider modeling), while an earlier proposal to eliminate state-funded private-school riders was not advanced.

Following the briefing, the committee voted to send a resolution of support that endorses two pending bills: H5420/S3636 (to increase allowable small-vehicle passenger limits to 10) and S397 (to allow the division to abbreviate or reduce the school bus driver certification training for applicants who already hold a commercial driver's license). The motion was moved and seconded; the chair called the vote and members answered \"Aye.\" The resolution will be customized with district letterhead and sent in support of the bills; committee members noted that the commission’s final recommendations would be presented April 7 and that additional resolutions could follow once bill numbers for regional redistricting are available.

No changes to district policy or immediate operational changes were enacted at the meeting; the committee’s action was limited to endorsing the two bills and asking staff to file the district resolution in support.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BWRSD School Committee 3/31/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee voted to send a resolution supporting two state bills that would let small vehicles carry up to 10 students and shorten bus-driver certification for applicants with a commercial CDL.","taxTitle","Bristol Warren, School Districts, Rhode Island","taxId",72702,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619719,"Committee approves extension of 2024 note and authorizes borrowing up to $90 million for school projects",619,4125000,4744000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f&start=4125&end=4744","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f/thumbnail_4125000.jpg","/articles/6619719/Rhode-Island/Committee-approves-extension-of-2024-note-and-authorizes-borrowing-up-to-90-million-for-school-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619719-72dc97e780dcfa7e5b7d5038c0e7e0c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178565&Signature=QSMl2Avx27iHyAJNoRLCipRh6EGj~i9TNY7bDH9hFqDlb7SSyn6UZV7UkzhtdBwbVtJ2NVT6kdUIf80P8F17r~ROLycQ5s8bFebN4P-ztgxT7JDkAYSyoB8eB18gGwN7GXou3ulainthQCCCiQc5~mGd5yM7utwj5ravidP5VyL8HJkLpdXrV63H7iXFxU-IyWFXrrlOxhJYw7wLiLQZMhFA6O~LQGCOqsZj-DD0LHn2kE3p4SU9nmIZ5g6kbFbE-tOk8yn88q8aUyQhh386N8s8kJJrE8BV5dQQLevMpvjMXmSre3~aJ4sZxUt80LKI41mu7tj~pHw1vuqkvi-5kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee approved two finance resolutions on March 31: an extension of the district’s 2024 promissory note maturity date and authorization to issue notes up to $90,000,000 under the enabling voter-approved bond.

Attorney Miss Mac briefed the committee on the financing steps, saying the district negotiated with the note holder to extend the 2024 promissory note and arrange payment of accrued interest in the near term. \"We were able to negotiate with the holder of the note bond, to carry it until we go to the market,\" she said, adding that the district will pay accrued interest on April 8 and the extended principal maturity will be June 5.

The second resolution would authorize borrowing in the public market: the committee voted to authorize issuance of up to $90,000,000 in one‑year notes under the authority of a voter‑approved $200,000,000 school bond for refunding, financing additional projects, capitalized interest and costs of issuance. Miss Mac walked members through required disclosures for public-market issuance, including the material events disclosure (15c2‑12) and the need to secure a credit rating and official statement.

Both measures were moved, seconded and approved by the committee. The transcript records the chair asking \"All in favor?\" and members responding \"Aye.\" The joint finance committee (JFC) had previously reviewed and approved aspects of the structure; the March 31 votes provided the school committee’s final authorization.

Next steps described in the meeting: staff will deliver documents to the bank to implement the extension and proceed with the public-market issuance process, which will include rating-agency engagement, finalizing the official statement and execution of signatures by the district treasurer and chair as required by enabling legislation. No vote counts by name were recorded in the transcript.","The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee approved an extension of the district’s 2024 promissory note to June 5, 2025, with an accrued interest payment due April 8, and authorized issuance of notes not to exceed $90,000,000 under the voter‑approved $200 million school bond to refund prior debt and finance projects.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619724,"Bristol Warren officials report modest midyear gains, project similar state assessments to last year",2844,756000,3600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f&start=756&end=3600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f/thumbnail_756000.jpg","/articles/6619724/Rhode-Island/Bristol-Warren-officials-report-modest-midyear-gains-project-similar-state-assessments-to-last-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619724-d767313cf7aaf12e74ed68799cb757ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178565&Signature=nN-pSo99dp5ZXNKiXkRY2lmLahfI8Arw8yugXXf459XN09woHC1obntsapAJ0xY8buToLOy0ijrjJAimLJCirdJd9HepPy694rSouJs0qyAILSHPTOXcp2kV5n~3ImUASjMT-~3VDSG~3x1VzO35-yK6b~QJQlV83saHU7~H2Qx5MRlWu1kRrg7rLUKINEYcOM4KVJmr67ZCXZAzU09F8Gy7Ok4I5Ir8roLwm2QDHrJRQh35w4Tsr5OdptmPWEQUSlKKUv0Q2MltqUAZ7s3g9i3O5Yf~b1XlaFJ-CMIGs7M05QOesRiDdb1QphWQIww7fmc~ISf~3YFBUUUs-H8dHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District instructional leaders presented midyear assessment results for i-Ready and high-school PSAT-aligned interim measures at the March 31 Bristol Warren Regional School Committee meeting, telling the committee the data showed modest, uneven gains but overall district-level performance that likely mirrors last year’s state scores.

\"They're not what we had hoped,\" Dr. Sanna, the district presenter, told the committee, adding that \"across all districts in Rhode Island and nationally, the achievement is just not growing at the rate that we would hope.\" Dr. Sanna said the district’s i-Ready midyear data look \"very, very similar\" to last year and that current projections put state assessment results in the same general range as spring 2024.

Presenters pointed to several positive signals beneath the headline numbers. Walkthrough data showed improvements in curriculum fidelity and higher-order thinking: one speaker reported English language arts fidelity rose from 25% in Cycle 1 to 58% in Cycle 2, and analysis-level indicators grew from 28% to 40% between cycles. High-school principals reported midyear interim work that mirrors PSAT development: Principal King said grade 9 math improved from about 34% meeting or exceeding to roughly 44% at midyear, and Mount Hope reported similar midyear gains in ELA and math for some cohorts.

District strategies described included:

- Expanded instructional walkthroughs with more teacher participation to build a culture of practice and provide in‑service coaching;
- Targeted \"bridge\" or \"right-pass\" academies to help students who missed proficiency by small margins on prior state or college-prep items;
- Use of graduate-student tutors and volunteer tutors in classrooms, and priority coaching for classrooms showing limited progress;
- Continued implementation of a high-quality curriculum across grades and subjects.

Committee members asked about differentiation between schools, causes of uneven results and how the district is addressing staff turnover. Dr. Sanna and principals noted turnover and the multi-year learning curve for new curricula as contributors and described coaching and targeted professional development as the primary responses. No policy change or budget vote on assessment programs was taken at the meeting.

The presenters cautioned that the district's midyear assessments are interim and the most-recent state assessments are still the strongest indicator for year-end outcomes; district staff said they will continue to refine local interim instruments to better mirror PSAT/SAT item types and administration conditions.","District leaders presented midyear i-Ready and PSAT interim results showing incremental growth in some classrooms and grades but overall district-level measures similar to last year; administrators outlined tutoring, walkthroughs and targeted 'bridge' academies as interventions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619728,"Student urges Bristol Warren School Committee to retain Mount Hope safety officer",272,533000,805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f&start=533&end=805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f/thumbnail_533000.jpg","/articles/6619728/Rhode-Island/Student-urges-Bristol-Warren-School-Committee-to-retain-Mount-Hope-safety-officer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619728-71d92b9d2a9708e3d5e2a4e7d99a92a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178565&Signature=gvE5OZepFQa57ouJSLJ71K6EWT38rufoxD~YXmN2hrnLB14ofHyP4kdlkuFKt0aeCHb3PmI08a9i2dkJaCO4YepF1wVloLj1BmgmmJmcRl7r8fDuKAV20GosQHNoZEw~laq9ZImV6nqY-cjoZtmKkeLMI~cq1L~9asZDbztii7MmyenG72egI2LVVBOyfheR9pqH4XPRhSkdmQcc2HELq5Vq6eTzsebaKDtwky3FUd7RepT8L07oC8ZVf~UkaGRHPhyblz~iOaMurKluUorPMxG9wn80XnpzE~7opgmu43~0psijMHY8WH9uTEn73M4w8fYoIl6pi5a6C1BYC8~L3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Mount Hope High School student, identified in the meeting as Mr. Du Bois, urged the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee on March 31 to reconsider terminating the school’s safety officer, Mr. Diaz.

\"I am asking for you to reconsider terminating our safety officer, mister Diaz,\" Du Bois told Superintendent Riley and the committee during the public-comment portion of the meeting. \"He is such an important person in our school…He helps kids stay out of trouble.\"

The student described daily interactions with Mr. Diaz — a morning fist bump, one-on-one conversations when students are called to the dean’s office, and coaching to avoid repeat incidents — and said losing him would be \"a huge disservice to the students.\" The commenter said the change would personally alter how they feel about school and called on committee members to \"keep Mount Hope High School a positive and supported place for students to learn.\"

Remarks occurred during the committee’s public comment period and did not produce any immediate motion or vote. Committee members responded by thanking the student for speaking; no staff presentation or committee action on the position of the safety officer was recorded in the transcript.

The meeting agenda later included a midyear assessment presentation, budget and policy votes, and other items, but the transcript does not show any formal committee decision on the employment status of Mr. Diaz during this session.","A Mount Hope High School student spoke during public comment asking the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee to reverse a decision to lay off a school safety officer identified as Mr. Diaz, saying he provides daily supports that keep students engaged and out of trouble.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619711,"Votes at a glance: routine approvals, budget transfers and final policy reads",5678,514000,6192000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f&start=514&end=6192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2829032-045b6005f758bfe17900c6ebec78c98f/thumbnail_514000.jpg","/articles/6619711/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-routine-approvals-budget-transfers-and-final-policy-reads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619711-b9e24f1c1d9cd2d936aab92ead55194f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178566&Signature=DpXkpNu7AGEnH1xQY4k91OTYgBW8YKVOGxp6wg87Ehl-3E-wEDd-IaxNekH-s9R2BGzDTCYEHtSJpd2IfN4FhW1GYHTDuG0uWBo1~AngR~oCPQhO4MUZi2SOtXgiW~yAF9WRaWXpc5jSp5kIi-unXK~gs8RREsPB7xuGidPmO1ZNba9M4b5uI1k9RpygQDEbTWBVxk55hIOOF9F8KaJ9pTPs0Wv~TqNs6cTERhfK-c5r24VYdBCoAVZIT0wIAYvRuglDWcRjaD4HTZbn2g4iguX3l2nIHfo7REGZWg7p03bsYgL3Ar9lSKP5iOdotkGFpWgZHtw2LSWh5nzrA1liiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several procedural and routine items were approved by the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee on March 31, including sealing executive session minutes, the consent agenda, requested budget transfers and final adoption of policies labeled F through K.

Key procedural votes recorded in the transcript:

- Motion to seal the executive minutes (moved and seconded). The chair asked \"All in favor?\" and committee members responded \"Aye.\" The transcript records the motion as approved; no roll-call recorded in the record.

- Approval of the consent agenda (moved and seconded). The chair called the vote: \"All in favor?\" Members responded \"Aye.\" The consent agenda was approved with no items pulled for separate discussion.

- Approval of multiple budget transfers presented by Miss Carrie (described as reclassifications across UCOA lines, equipment purchases, athletics fees and testing supplies). Committee moved, seconded and approved the transfers; the chair recorded \"All in favor? Aye.\" No itemized roll-call was recorded.

- Final reads and approval of policies F through K (moved as a single motion and approved). The chair recorded vocal assent, \"Aye,\" and no committee member registered opposition.

All items above were approved by voice vote; the transcript does not show named vote tallies. Where specifics (such as exact budget line-item codes) were discussed, staff said certain purchases were moved to proper UCOA codes to reflect equipment and supplies classifications. The committee adjourned at the close of the meeting.","The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee approved routine agenda items including sealing executive session minutes, the consent agenda, multiple budget transfers and final reads of policies F–K at its March 31 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs state bills to expand van capacity, shorten bus‑driver training amid regional transport reforms

Committee approves extension of 2024 note and authorizes borrowing up to $90 million for school projects

Bristol Warren officials report modest midyear gains, project similar state assessments to last year

Student urges Bristol Warren School Committee to retain Mount Hope safety officer

Votes at a glance: routine approvals, budget transfers and final policy reads