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School Committee finalizes legislative priorities; asks state to assume homeless student transportation costs
Summary
The School Committee on Jan. 14 finalized legislative priorities for a Jan. 27 joint session with Town Council, including asking the state to assume the cost of transporting homeless students to their district of origin and supporting a transportation study commission.
The School Committee on Jan. 14 reviewed and voted on its draft legislative priorities ahead of a joint meeting with the Town Council on Jan. 27.
Committee members reaffirmed support for a legislative study into statewide student transportation and a set of measures aimed at easing school transportation costs, including increasing the number of passengers allowed in pupil transportation vehicles and supporting temporary waivers for out‑of‑state school drivers to ease shortages. During discussion members agreed to add language asking the state to assume the cost of transporting homeless students to their district of origin; that amendment passed unanimously.
The committee also approved language calling for more equitable state funding and the creation of a cap to limit sudden, large swings in state aid that complicate budgeting. Members requested the draft be edited to open with a sentence noting that Portsmouth receives among the lowest per‑pupil state aid totals in Rhode Island before the rest of the funding fairness request.
On high‑cost special education, the committee asked state lawmakers to increase the high‑cost special education categorical fund that helps districts cover unusually expensive out‑of‑district tuition and services; members noted the district’s out‑of‑district tuition costs are rising and asked staff to provide an FY2024 figure to include in the packet.
Committee members also debated a proposed statewide policy restricting student personal device use in schools. The committee split 3‑3 on adding a statewide restriction to the list; that motion failed and members directed staff to keep the committee informed of pending state legislation and to pursue local policy development and a district survey before seeking state action.
Other items the committee asked to be kept under observation included high‑speed internet access for Aquidneck Island homes, composting and waste‑removal policies, state clean energy funding access for school projects, and pesticide use guidance and enforcement for school grounds.
The superintendent said she would finalize the draft, remove draft annotations, and circulate the priorities to town council and state representatives prior to the Jan. 27 joint meeting.
