[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6526411,"mediaKeyId","3797541-620481449bd4759974a50c814ed00e10","parentId",3797541,"title","Coventry School Committee approves CHS European trip, superintendent contract, FY2026 budget and SRP layoffs; several procedural votes pass unanimously","audioSeconds",522,"startMs",7138000,"endMs",7660000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3797541-620481449bd4759974a50c814ed00e10&start=7138&end=7660","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3797541-620481449bd4759974a50c814ed00e10/thumbnail_7138000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6526411/Coventry/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/Coventry-School-Committee-approves-CHS-European-trip-superintendent-contract-FY2026-budget-and-SRP-layoffs-several-procedural-votes-pass-unanimously","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526411-f3939bcd04d33b96d327bf55654f7d49/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172789&Signature=mMGkoekEd5yMel4B1XXIGVHeT9nNUggLVo4vLO2rzd7zASqHW7W8kYxqXy5MnA3aERJQ9OjQTjOGIAS0~M97rAayAVkoJPO4UQpZxTwTv~nbejEjiZ~Y2j2E9gERoPjyTV~i9QfJwYzhRgUkzdI~TbKJZv8mRF8S4MR7g25Cn6nJzuZklDH6cqgitE75-R7gN71Sg3EZ3xUwDukhMhrrpynW8F51xft-0OJr19liRgH5gUxUtQ6L3iHp2mRl09Bn03KyRKwfeTGxJk6jiOM5Zrkye82LJ5kkUF3doU6Oq5sG78e5lgAOSPK6y9NLby~ncYjLjP4fY8rdy2kT0lMRRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Coventry RI Public Schools","date","2025-06-12T21:29:34Z","article","The Coventry School Committee approved several agenda items during its recent meeting, voting unanimously on a student‑funded Coventry High School (CHS) European field trip for 2027, renewal of the superintendent's contract, an updated fiscal year 2026 budget and personnel actions including SRP layoffs. Committee members also voted to seal executive session records and approved several sets of minutes.

CHS European field trip: Committee members approved a proposed CHS European field trip planned for April vacation 2027. School staff said the trip is a student‑choice opportunity primarily aimed at students who will be juniors and seniors in 2027, and that it would be aligned to a World War II course and marketed toward AP/honors students. District staff said the trip is intended to be paid by participating students (the trip is not a district expense) and that the only possible cost to the district would be substitute coverage if teachers who chaperone must leave early for travel preparations. The committee voted 5–0 to approve the trip.

Superintendent contract renewal: The committee voted to renew Superintendent Don Cowart's contract for a three‑year term, a standard renewal after the annual evaluation process. The motion passed 5–0.

Fiscal year 2026 budget update and deficit plan items: The committee approved updates to the FY2026 budget that refine allocations and reflect information obtained since the budget was first presented in February. Financial staff reported updated tuition projections, revised Medicaid revenue estimates, insurance premiums and facility‑use revenue adjustments. The town has designated a contribution identified in meeting materials as $472,000 toward deficit reduction for the coming year; the district also budgeted an appropriation to accumulated deficit of just over $1 million. Staff noted that the House Finance Committee had recommended additional state aid for Coventry of roughly $295,000 pending final legislative approval; the district recorded that amount as contingent additional state aid and earmarked it for either budget shortfalls or additional deficit reduction. The motion to approve the updated FY2026 budget passed 5–0.

SRP layoffs: Committee members approved layoffs for two SRP (school‑related personnel) positions listed as program‑specific nurses: the meeting record names the two affected employees as Sandra Weeks (Washington Oak nurse) and Carrie Sylvia (Hopkins Hill nurse). District leadership explained that these SRP‑category positions were tied to individual student or program needs that have changed (for example, students graduating or no longer requiring individual nurses), and that building‑level school nurse teachers would continue to serve each school. The motion passed 6–0.

Procedural votes and executive session: The committee carried multiple procedural matters by unanimous vote: a motion to recess into executive session to discuss student matters and superintendent evaluation (citing RIGL 42‑46‑5), approval of executive session minutes from prior dates, approval of homeschool requests reported out of executive session, and a motion to seal the executive session records (cited sections RIGL 42‑46‑4 and RIGL 42‑46‑5). Those votes were recorded as unanimous (vote counts reported as 5–0 or 6–0 where noted in the minutes).

What the votes mean: The field trip approval allows staff to begin enrollment and planning; district officials said they will hold parent meetings and manage logistics once students enroll. The budget approval finalizes refined spending allocations for FY2026 and records a town contribution to the district’s deficit reduction plan; further steps on deficit reduction and audit follow‑up were described as forthcoming. The SRP layoffs were framed by district staff as program‑specific reductions that could be revisited if roles are needed again.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6/12/2025 School Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted on a package of items including approval of a student‑organized CHS European field trip for 2027, a three‑year superintendent contract renewal, an updated FY2026 budget with a town contribution toward deficit reduction, and two SRP layoffs; all recorded motions passed unanimously.","taxTitle","Coventry, School Districts, Rhode Island","taxId",57886,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6526415,"YMCA’s Camp Westwood outlines expanded after‑school care, field trips and day‑camp investments to Coventry School Committee",932,3188000,4120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3797541-620481449bd4759974a50c814ed00e10&start=3188&end=4120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3797541-620481449bd4759974a50c814ed00e10/thumbnail_3188000.jpg","/articles/6526415/Coventry/School-Districts/Rhode-Island/YMCAs-Camp-Westwood-outlines-expanded-afterschool-care-field-trips-and-daycamp-investments-to-Coventry-School-Committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526415-230df15cf2a796fab7e491dfc313996e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172789&Signature=Yx~sv3bG2LcWZzMtagC0iloIW2PNO8qv617NlAfEmV2mvpu0eyMqhRzuOgUFIyyj2s86ZlPNkfg3mfvxOR1R1~v2gRrtHrDBzycy~25I4hU23rxk-yy~gJBl4-4JTjz5wESAfWtfrYRjuH2faXoi-7oE14vFEAOXCgVc6M4iyPXqmOx-jEkTVcaOKup12Fw3nPl7-nequYPcgLDlWs9eabqz6dIC-tlIXGvCO6riMeVJGkJ5s4Tg-73rcMOkyy9eiKUlWi9OmJtDzDNlBunpUyVXhq8SKwJ-KInW9jSTuiY-NG7aBfFTBPnmzCFUESCeP~baz0Jd2f-bDKBlWl4toA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from the YMCA’s Camp Westwood told the Coventry School Committee that the camp has expanded its before‑ and after‑school care, field‑trip programming and day‑camp offerings and is seeking broader partnerships with Coventry Public Schools.

Camp Westwood director Oliver Regan and school‑age director Stephanie Gerard said the YMCA of Pawtucket’s Westwood site now provides licensed before‑ and after‑school care at multiple Coventry schools, runs field‑trip programs and operates an expanded day camp with new high‑ropes, water‑side features and kayaks. \"My name is Oliver Regan. I'm the my fancy title, I think, is director of camping services,\" Regan said during the presentation. Gerard added, \"I have a daughter in the school system, and I'm the school age director for Camp Westwood.\"

Why it matters: the Y is offering services that substitute for district‑run childcare and enrich school programming while promising sliding‑scale financial aid for families. School committee members asked about capacity, accessibility and cost, and Westwood provided specific enrollment and program details.

Westwood staff said the program is licensed and provides homework support, enrichment (STEM, arts and cooking), vacation‑week care, and evening family events run at or near district schools. Regan said the camp has invested about $2,000,000 in facility upgrades and equipment, expanded its activity catalog from about 25 to about 70 portable activities, and increased staff training: summer staff now do a minimum of roughly 40 hours of training. Gerard said the YMCA maintains a behavior‑management policy aligned with school expectations and provides financial assistance so programs remain accessible to families.

Committee members asked for enrollment details for district sites. Regan said 14 children attended at Washington Oak and about 26 at Western (before and/or after care) during the past year; an evening program at Western drew about 120 participants, and a recent vacation camp week enrolled about 30 children. Field trips to Camp Westwood are currently billed at $12 per child, Regan said, and the Y will work with schools and PTOs on fundraising options to reduce student costs.

The presenters described several partnership offerings: PTO babysitting (no direct cost to the PTA when YMCA staff are available), school evening events (music bingo, STEM nights), expanded field‑trip programming aligned to curricula, teacher retreats and team‑building, internships and hiring pathways for older students, and possible CPR and lifeguard training available through YMCA‑certified instructors (training fees set by the Red Cross apply when public classes are run).

On accessibility, Regan said some activities already include adaptive options: a newly installed lift on the giant swing can accommodate a wheelchair, zip‑line systems can be adapted, and boating can be made accessible. For campers with significant cognitive needs, he said the YMCA typically asks schools to provide one‑to‑one aides when appropriate and said staff will work with schools to tailor supports.

Committee members also asked about Westwood’s history working with Coventry schools. Regan said Westwood has provided some form of childcare in the district since the 1990s and has worked more consistently with Coventry schools since the early 2000s; he said the current program model and staffing changes began in 2023 and expanded in 2024.

What’s next: Regan and Gerard invited school staff and committee members to follow up with program details and expressed interest in expanding services to additional Coventry schools. They said they are open to on‑site meetings to coordinate field trips, evening events and teacher training.

","Camp Westwood representatives described expanded before‑ and after‑school childcare, increased staff training, new day‑camp facilities and accessibility upgrades and invited deeper partnerships with Coventry Public Schools.","actionData","errors"]

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Coventry School Committee approves CHS European trip, superintendent contract, FY2026 budget and SRP layoffs; several procedural votes pass unanimously

YMCA’s Camp Westwood outlines expanded after‑school care, field trips and day‑camp investments to Coventry School Committee