Narragansett superintendent presents level-service budget as towns weigh overrides

Dr. Christopher Casavant, superintendent of the Narragansett Regional School District, presented a level-service budget to the Town of Templeton select board and advisory committee during a joint informational meeting in March 2025, and said he will also present a separate budget that assumes a 2.5% increase over last year to the school committee the following day.

Casavant said the current packet is a "level-service" picture of costs and cautioned listeners that "this is really a tale of two budget presentations" — one shown that night and one that will reflect a 2.5% limit. He said the budget he showed represents the services the district currently provides.

The presentation matters because the district projects continued enrollment increases, rising transportation and employee-benefit costs, and steady special-education demand — all of which push up the district’s required spending even if state aid grows only modestly. Casavant told the boards that, on the expense…