Newport school committee approves layoffs amid public outcry over program cuts and underfunding

The Newport School Committee voted 5–2 to approve a slate of staff layoffs, making notices effective May 29, after a contentious meeting in which dozens of teachers, students and parents urged the panel to reverse course.

Superintendent Dr. Germaine presented the recommendation and said the district is facing a current-year projected deficit of roughly $2 million and a forecasted deficit for the next year exceeding $3 million. "We will not know until the end of June how much money we're going to be allocated by the federal and by the state," she said, explaining that a legal deadline for notifying staff requires a timely committee vote and that some laid-off teachers could be recalled if funding improves.

The motion to approve the layoffs was made by Mrs. Bolan and seconded by Dr. Flowers; the chair recorded the motion as passing five to two. Committee members stressed the decision was difficult and framed it as a response to funding constraints. "If we don't lay off the teachers by a certain date, then we can't lay them off," Dr. Power said, calling the choice an unpleasant legal and fiscal necessity.

Public comment before the vote was dominated by teachers and community members who described the human and educational consequences of the proposed cuts. Kate Ducel, a Thompson Middle School teacher, said more than 20 teachers received notices and that the district was losing more than 160 years of cumulative experience: "Our schools are going to be operating on a skeleton crew," she said, warning interventions for struggling readers, multilingual-learner programs and electives would be lost.

Patrick Wyant, an educator, told the committee the reductions were not simply budget choices but a policy failure: "This is not bad luck. This is a choice, and our children are paying for it."

Speakers repeatedly urged the committee to press the city council for more local funding and to consider alternate cuts rather than staff reductions. Carrie Cassidy asked that teachers, parents and students be included in selecting the next superintendent and in broader decisions that shape district priorities.

Committee members responded by urging public advocacy at city hall and promising continued pursuit of additional revenue. Mrs. Bolan asked those present to attend the next city council meeting and said the committee would continue to press for more local support.

The committee recessed for five minutes after the vote. The superintendent and staff signaled they will seek to recall teachers if final state and federal allocations improve; details on recall and exact list adjustments were described as contingent on final funding and administrative process.

The committee scheduled follow-up conversations with the city council and the finance advisory committee to pursue additional revenue and to re-examine line items and contracts that members said could reduce the need for personnel reductions.