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Coventry school committee backs state bills allowing districts to opt out of unfunded mandates
Summary
The Coventry School Committee unanimously approved a resolution supporting House Bill H5399 and Senate Bill S0334, legislation that would let school districts opt out of state mandates that are not fully funded.
The Coventry Public School Committee voted unanimously to approve a resolution supporting Rhode Island House Bill H5399 and Senate Bill S0334, which would amend the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to allow school districts to opt out of state-imposed mandates that are not accompanied by full state funding.
Member James Pearson and Superintendent Don Cowher (presenting the item on behalf of the committee leadership) described the resolution as a response to concerns about unfunded mandates and the district's current fiscal pressures. The resolution as read into the record cites examples of costly items such as high-quality curriculum requirements, out-of-district transportation, and career and technical education choice tuition as illustrative cost drivers; the resolution urges the General Assembly to pass the bills to give districts fiscal flexibility and protect essential educational programs.
Committee members asked procedural and policy questions about how an opt-out mechanism would operate if the bills become law. The committee clarified that any decision to decline a mandate under this legislation would still be made by the Coventry School Committee and would be subject to committee votes; members also discussed whether the town council might adopt a companion resolution. The committee voted 7-0 to adopt the resolution and arranged to distribute copies to the governor, the General Assembly, the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and other stakeholders.
The resolution text (as read at the meeting) frames the proposal as a tool for fiscal flexibility and local decision-making and lists estimated costs for several statewide items as examples in the preamble. The committee did not identify specific programs it would cut; members said the examples in the resolution are illustrative of unfunded obligations that stress local budgets.
Action: Motion to approve the resolution supporting H5399 and S0334 was made, seconded and carried 7-0.
