The North Kingstown School Committee received a preliminary budget presentation from Superintendent Dr. Duvan and Finance Director Leslie Ampella and asked questions about enrollment, staffing, and assumptions driving a cited 2% baseline increase.

Dr. Duvan said slides were distributed in advance and offered a high-level overview ahead of a joint meeting with the town council. Committee members questioned enrollment projections on a slide (cited to a Nov. 25 enrollment report in the packet) that showed a projected net decline; administration explained the cited estimate did not account for students who leave charter or private programs and later enter the district's high school and that current actuals are likely closer to this year’s numbers.

Leslie Ampella said she used fiscal 2025 actuals now available from the audit to establish a baseline estimate and explicitly noted the number is provisional. "What made sense was to put a number in there that I know... regardless if everything else stays flat, we're gonna have a minimum of a 2% increase," Ampella said, adding that staffing requests were not yet included and that the district will complete budget meetings with principals and directors before finalizing figures. The administration also noted potential increases in health care and that some positions previously funded by grants may need to be absorbed into the operating budget.

The committee did not take a vote on the budget at the special meeting and will discuss the presentation further during a joint meeting with the town council later that day.