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Council calls for Academic Integration Advisory Committee to explore collaboration with Middletown; vote to form resolution passes after debate
Summary
The council approved a resolution urging formation of a regional Academic Integration Advisory Committee to study ways Newport and Middletown public schools could collaborate on equity and student outcomes, after a lengthy public and council debate and a failed motion to continue.
The Newport City Council voted to approve a resolution calling for the immediate formation of an Academic Integration Advisory Committee to explore collaboration between Newport and Middletown public schools.
Councillor Penick introduced the resolution, which asks the Newport School Committee, Middletown Town Council and Middletown School Committee to join an advisory group of educators, curriculum advisors, parent-teacher representatives, bargaining-unit designees and community-education partners. The resolution requests the committee present a resource request and proposed action plan within 90 days of formation and to prepare a comprehensive report by June 30, 2026.
The proposal prompted extended debate among council members and extensive public comment. Supporters — including parents, school committee members and longtime education advocates — told the council the committee would create a focused, public process for detailed analysis of administrative and operational regionalization, and would help ensure any future steps are driven by student outcomes and equity. Opponents and skeptical councilors warned against rushing and said more public outreach and inclusion of educators in early conversations are needed; at least one councillor said voters previously rejected administrative regionalization and warned against reintroducing the same idea without broader public engagement.
Councilors also debated whether to continue the resolution to provide time for outreach; a motion to continue passed in an initial procedural vote but the council later returned to consider the resolution and ultimately voted to adopt it after additional amendments and discussion. Speakers from Newport School leadership — including a school superintendent and school committee members who spoke as citizens — urged clarity about whether the committee’s charge would be administrative-only and emphasized that student outcomes and classroom-level impacts should drive any regionalization discussion.
The resolution as adopted directs the city to ask partner bodies to convene the Academic Integration Advisory Committee and to prepare the requested resources and timeline. Councilors asked staff to coordinate outreach with Middletown officials, the Newport School Committee and education stakeholders and to return to the council with any formal requests for municipal or state action resulting from the committee’s work.
The council approved the resolution by voice vote after debate and public testimony.
