East Greenwich schools warn of $750,000 state-aid loss, highlight CTE growth

Superintendent Thomas Kenworthy used the required joint meeting to outline the school district’s fiscal drivers for FY2027, telling councilors and the public that East Greenwich lost roughly $750,000 in state aid during the FY26 process and is “awaiting Governor McKee’s initial recommendations in January” to inform FY27 planning.

Kenworthy said the district’s major expenditure drivers remain personnel costs (salaries and benefits), special-education services, and transportation (including out-of-district tuition obligations). He also flagged federal grant funding as “a major unknown” and said the district will rely on state guidance and grant awards as the budget develops.

On programming, Kenworthy highlighted the district’s career and technical education (CTE) offerings, saying for the first time the East Greenwich district “is currently taking in more CTE students from other districts than we are sending out.” He and staff said the program both expands student options and provides a modest revenue stream for the district via out-of-district tuition.

Kenworthy closed by previewing $2.8 million of identified FY27 capital needs (outside the large bond-funded construction), naming specific items such as ceiling painting and resurfacing the Cole Middle School tennis courts, which staff listed at an estimated $400,000 and noted lacks an identified funding source.

The superintendent and the district finance director emphasized that the FY26–27 numbers are preliminary and that formal proposals and budget requests will be refined in district workshops and the town’s statutory February sessions.