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Middletown council splits over regionalization process, tables parts of advisory‑committee plan
Summary
Councilors debated creating an Academic Integration Advisory Committee to study school integration with Newport; members split over process and scope, moved to table appointments until the council meets with the Middletown School Committee, but later appointed six advisory members to the slate to be notified.
Middletown — Councilors spent a prolonged portion of the meeting debating how best to study potential regionalization of Middletown and Newport public schools and what kind of committee should lead that effort.
Several councilors urged following the state process in Title 16, Chapter 3 — which outlines the duties of a regional school‑district planning board — rather than forming the narrower Academic Integration Advisory Committee (AIAC) proposed in the Newport resolution.
“We’re putting the cart before the horse,” one councilor said, arguing that the town should decide whether regionalization is the right move before appointing advisory members. Another councilor echoed that Title 16 sets a specific, broader charge that includes finances, operations and construction, and suggested forming a state‑guided regional planning committee instead of the smaller advisory body.
Supporters said the AIAC is intended to gather educational data for voters and to answer concerns raised during prior regionalization attempts. “It’s going to help educate our voters so that they can make the decision on whether or not we regionalize our schools,” one backer said during the discussion.
Councilors also raised practical questions about timing, scope and cost. One member read the Newport RFP for a consultant seeking an "accelerated feasibility study" and said Newport set aside roughly $250,000 for the study; the town’s share was described as likely in the $100,000–$125,000 range. Several councilors said an eight‑week accelerated timeline felt too short for the depth of analysis needed.
Faced with divided views on process, a motion was made and amended to table the matter until the council meets with the Middletown School Committee to discuss the committee’s scope and involvement; the amended motion to table was carried by voice vote. The council then proceeded with nominations and identified a slate of six appointees the body said it would notify: Justin Buffman, Amy Comenity, Virginia Curtis, Gregory Hewitt, Casey Kilbride and, as transcribed, Barbara ("Barbara Bond biller").
Public commenters and a resident with past regional‑school experience urged the council to expand the resolution to explicitly address the 16 considerations listed in Title 16, Chapter 3 and to remove the expedited May 31 deadline from the resolution if more time is needed for thorough study.
The council directed staff to meet with the school committee and return with recommendations and dates to continue the regionalization discussions.
The council’s actions: an amended motion to table pending school‑committee discussions carried, and the council identified a six‑member advisory slate to be notified of their selection.
