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Council narrowly backs talks with Middletown on regionalization after months of debate
Summary
By a 5–2 vote, the Newport City Council passed an amended resolution directing city staff to engage Middletown on administrative regionalization options, create an academic integration advisory commission and set outreach to the Rhode Island Department of Education. Councilors and public speakers debated potential savings, the reported 80% reimbursement offer, and safeguards for special education and community input.
The Newport City Council voted 5–2 to advance a resolution directing the city manager to engage Middletown officials and state education staff on an administrative regionalization option that could allow shared administration while keeping students and teachers in their home communities. Proponents argued the state reimbursement and incentive package could free substantial funds for programming and busing, noting a potential reimbursement figure of roughly 80% that appeared in prior legislative proposals.
Opponents and several members of the public cautioned that community engagement, transparency and protections for special education services must be clarified before moving forward. A School Committee representative said, "We are losing students," and warned of fiscal consequences tied to enrollment trends; other speakers urged that a defined plan show exactly how reimbursement dollars would be allocated to educational improvements. The council adopted amendments to ensure Middletown and Newport make equal appointments to the academic integration advisory commission and directed the manager to convene cross‑jurisdictional meetings with school committees and superintendents.
