East Providence school leaders seek $2.2 million local increase in $99.4 million FY25 proposal

Superintendent of Schools (presenting) and the school department finance officer presented the East Providence School Department’s proposed FY25 operating budget of $99,396,962 and asked the City Council to approve a $2,200,000 increase in local appropriations, bringing the local request to $57,203,620. The presentation emphasized student enrollment of about 5,285, rising special-education counts (reported at roughly 1,117) and a recent increase of about 90 multilingual learners.

The superintendent outlined reductions already made to cope with a roughly $150,000 cut in state aid: elimination of three elementary resource-teacher positions, closure of three kindergarten classes, cuts to an elementary MLL teacher and an instructional coach, and reassignments of paraprofessionals. The presenters also said some previously grant-funded positions and services (ESY summer programs, web-based educational software) have returned to the general fund and must be funded in FY25.

Finance staff detailed major budget drivers: contractually required salary increases (approximately $1,375,000), a roughly $450,000 rise in health-insurance costs, a transportation increase of about $400,000, and large out-of-district placement costs (reported at about $6,500,000). Capital and maintenance needs named in the presentation include a building-management system estimated near $500,000, replacement of uni-vent heating units at multiple schools (about $478,000), a new roof at Oldham estimated at $1,000,000, and paving/playground projects approximated at $674,000. The presenters said an allowable one-time withdrawal from the OPEB account (about $315,000) will be used to cover retiree health insurance costs next year to balance the budget.

Council members pressed for details about reimbursement timing and sources, including TIAA reimbursements (called out as about $130,000), and whether leftover East Providence High School bond funds (an anticipated overage discussed at roughly $3,000,000) could be directed to school capital needs. Administration representatives said the bond overage is expected to be available when the high-school project closes out and that the mayor would request a specific capital allocation from those funds; the council asked for a clear line item once that process is finalized. Council members also emphasized security and communications system upgrades and requested a five-year capital-improvement plan for schools and clearer cost estimates for priority projects.

The council thanked school leaders for the presentation and scheduled follow-up budget hearings as part of the mayor’s FY25 budget process. Next steps: the council will receive the mayor’s proposed municipal budget in the advertised packet and hold public hearings starting Oct. 1, with workshops and additional hearings to follow.