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Narragansett schools warn of staffing cuts as enrollment dips and state aid tightens
Summary
School leaders told the town council enrollment has fallen more than 10% since 2019, prompting expected position eliminations and an anticipated roughly $200,000 drop in state aid; collective‑bargaining outcomes will heavily shape the FY26 budget.
Dr. Cummings told the town council that enrollment is the primary pressure on next year’s school budget and that the district has seen enrollment fall "over 10%" since 2019, contributing to an expected reduction in positions.
The superintendent said the district anticipates roughly a $200,000 reduction in state aid tied to statewide revenue shortfalls and lower local enrollment; she added that the district has also seen an increase in students qualifying as low‑income, now "rough over 20%," which brings some additional aid but will not fully offset the loss in base funding. "We are going to see some staffing reductions as we go forward," she said, and noted the district has been making reductions for several years.
Labor negotiations will be a major budget factor. Dr. Cummings reminded the council that the district negotiates two primary contracts—support staff (teacher assistants, secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, maintenance) and teachers—on three‑year cycles and said the outcome of upcoming bargaining will materially affect personnel costs, which she described as "well over 80%" of total operating expenses.
Officials also flagged recurring high-cost obligations for specialized placements: some students who cannot be served in‑district are outplaced at an average cost of about $100,000 per student, creating budget pressure independent of enrollment trends.
Why this matters: staffing decisions and contract settlements will determine how the district balances instructional offerings with long‑term fiscal stability. The district plans multiple budget workshops and a formal hearing in April; school‑committee and council members are invited to follow up and schedule school tours before then.
Dr. Cummings and a school‑committee member also outlined the calendar: an initial budget iteration will be presented to the school committee in February, followed by 2–3 workshops and a formal hearing in April, where the public can review proposed reductions and line‑item changes.
