Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Newport school committee members set priorities: finish high school project, protect vocational programs, consider regionalization
Summary
Newly sworn-in school committee members outlined priorities including finishing the Rogers High School project without further cost overages, preserving the Career Tech Center vocational programs and exploring regionalization with neighboring Middletown.
Newport’s incoming school committee members used their inauguration remarks to outline operational priorities for the coming term.
An official identified in the transcript as the school committee chair said the committee’s immediate priority is to "finish the high school with no more overages and we need to have the kids move it in in September," and to keep cosmetology as a viable vocational program. The chair also said the committee hopes to pursue regionalization with neighboring Middletown to avoid duplicative $200 million-plus high school projects within close proximity.
Other new committee members emphasized community engagement and readiness for the work ahead. Elizabeth Collin said she knocked on "over 2,000 doors" during the campaign and pledged to approach decisions with "careful research and practical solutions." Robert Power said he will focus on retaining the Career Tech Center building to preserve programs such as cosmetology and auto tech. Stephanie Winslow highlighted equity concerns in the district, noting that "72 percent of our students are eligible for free and reduced meals" and that "67 percent of our students identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander, and Native American."
