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

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.