North Kingstown schools report budget request, preschool relocation plans and special-education program changes

Dr. Rachel Santa, director of student services for the North Kingstown School District, updated the Special Education Local Advisory Committee on several district initiatives, including a budget request that includes staff for a proposed "Positive Pathways K" program, a preschool relocation plan to Davisville Academy and program changes intended to increase early and intensive supports for students.

The school committee has supported budget requests that include a kindergarten-level Positive Pathways program (likely at Fishing Cove) and additional teacher support intended to expand social-emotional and intensive resources, Santa said: "So those were supported by our budget that was approved this week." Erin Earl, school committee chair, later described the district's proposed overall budget request as about a 3.6% increase and warned committee members that town-level negotiations could reduce funding.

Santa said moving the preschool into Davisville Academy is part of a broader redistricting plan that is not yet fully approved. If the move proceeds, the district would renovate the Davisville Academy courtyard and build a new playground and reconfigure internal space to add classroom and office space. The proposal also includes space for a Momentum ABA clinic on site to reduce barriers families face in accessing intensive early services; Santa described the Momentum clinic as an outside provider that would operate in district space with little to no direct district cost beyond utilities.

Davisville Academy and program staffing updates: Santa said Davisville Academy currently enrolls 27 students and that "They're all North Kingstown. I have not allowed any out of district placement." She described program-level changes since a prior review: a focus on training staff in de-escalation and safety-care approaches, cohort models for special-education instruction, new job-coach and GED supports for older students and a marked reduction in physical-management incidents. "Last year there was a total of 8 physical management in that building, the entire building for the entire year... This year... we've had 0," Santa said.

Special-education preschool and early-intervention numbers were presented by preschool staff member Jackie, who reported program capacity and referral data: "I have a total of 57 special needs students right now currently in the program. I only have 4 spots available... Our program total right now is a hundred and 5. Our capacity is 1 15." Jackie also listed lottery and transition dates: the preschool lottery will be pulled on March 7 and the district's "K Countdown" transition events are scheduled for late July and early August at multiple elementary schools.

Extended School Year (ESY) planning and staffing: Julie Alfano, the ESY coordinator, dispatched required paperwork and staff recruitment is underway; Alfano and district staff said ESY this year will operate at Hamilton Elementary and at the high school.

Program additions at Woodford Middle School and elsewhere: Santa described an "intensive resource" program placed at Woodford Middle School that assigns a case manager and cohort to improve continuity of support. District leaders said the high school "Success Academy" model was restructured into a cohort-based co-teaching approach so one special-education teacher follows a cohort across core classes, and administrators reported that model is yielding better outcomes when IEP time and electives are adjusted to give flexibility where needed.

Policy, redistricting and advocacy: Erin Earl and other committee members underscored that the district's proposed budget must still be approved by the town and encouraged parents to follow town council hearings and the town manager's departmental review (scheduled March 18). Earl said the district used some one-time funds (fund balance) to cover needed services during a period of declining federal ESSER dollars and that if the town does not fully fund the request, the district may face cuts.

No formal motions or votes on these items were taken during the SELAC meeting. Committee members asked district staff to share details about redistricting proposals, special-education impacts and transition procedures with families. The district agreed to bring clarifying information to future advisory meetings.