Woonsocket residents and educators urge council to raise local school contribution as layoffs loom

Woonsocket City Council held a public hearing May 29 on the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget during which multiple residents, educators and the superintendent urged the council to increase the city's local contribution to the Woonsocket Education Department to avoid planned layoffs.

Speakers at the hearing described proposed cuts that school leaders say would affect classroom supports and services for the district’s most vulnerable students. "Please provide an inflation related increase to the local contribution," said Robert Stewart, president of the Woonsocket Teachers Guild, who cited Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) data showing the city's local contribution rose from about $16.1 million a decade ago to about $16.7 million this year.

The city opened the hearing to public comment; no deliberations or votes occurred at the hearing itself. Speakers emphasized the potential effects of cuts announced by the Woonsocket Education Department, including reductions in paraprofessionals and classroom teachers.

Patrick McGee, superintendent of schools, said the district is seeking an increase for 2025–26 and noted state aid has grown in recent years. McGee delivered a list of positions the district is proposing to cut if additional local funding is not provided. That list includes classroom teachers, interventionists, early childhood paraprofessionals and specialists across several schools, and other district staff. He said the district already cut 42 positions last year and faces cuts "north of 25 positions" for the coming year.

Several current and former educators described classroom conditions and the role of paraprofessionals. Kimberly Codier, a kindergarten teacher, recounted frequent instances in which she needed to respond to individual student needs during the school day and said removing teacher assistant positions would reduce instructional time and increase safety risks for five- and six-year-old students. "Cutting these assistant positions will lead to greater challenges, increased behavior issues, lower academic achievement, and potentially higher costs for specialized services later on," Codier said.

Students and parents also spoke. Destiny Lavely, a student at Woonsocket High School, said layoffs would reduce learning time and increase behavioral issues. Parent Kiana Bergeron urged the council to prioritize education funding and warned that cuts to paraprofessionals could violate students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that require one-on-one support.

Speakers repeatedly noted the district’s fiscal prudence and argued that even a modest, inflation-related increase in the city's local contribution would signal support and help retain staff. Several commenters referenced the George Nassau elementary project and the district's financial handling related to that capital work.

Council President Gendron closed the public hearing after the council heard comments and noted that the hearing's purpose was to gather public input for later deliberation. No council action on the budget was taken at the hearing.

The hearing record shows sustained concern from educators, district leadership and families about the potential effects of the proposed cuts on classroom safety, special education services, and early childhood instruction. The council will consider this input during subsequent budget deliberations.