Burrillville council backs request for state help transporting homeless students after governor meeting

The Burrillville Town Council on Feb. 26 voted to adopt a joint resolution from the Burrillville School Committee seeking state support and subsidy for transportation of homeless students. Council members and staff reported that town representatives had met with the governor and state education officials to discuss the problem.

Town representatives told the council that transporting some students placed in out‑of‑town shelters creates high costs and long routes; the meeting record includes an example that one student must travel about 50 miles to attend the school of origin. The council said it asked for a short‑term “bridge” — temporary state assistance — while longer‑term changes are pursued, including asking state agencies to place families closer to students’ schools of origin when feasible.

Councilors said the issue is partly a function of shelter placement and federal rules governing students’ rights to stay in their school of origin. The transcript indicates the governor’s office was receptive and that town officials planned further follow‑up; the governor’s proposed in‑state logistics and possible site visits were discussed but a scheduled visit was later rescheduled.

Councilors also noted additional cost pressures: the town is educating several special‑needs students placed from shelters, which adds transportation and program costs. The council’s action was to adopt the joint resolution supporting the school committee’s request and to ask town staff to continue working with the state to identify interim and longer‑term solutions.

The meeting record shows the motion and a second and a recorded “Aye” vote adopting the resolution; no roll‑call tally is provided in the excerpt.