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Newport schools ask city for $1.1 million to help close $3.3M budget gap
Summary
Superintendent Germaine asked the city for a 4% ($1.1 million) increase toward a $3.3 million shortfall in the Newport Public Schools 2025–26 budget, saying the funds would help retain staff and sustain academic and student services amid falling enrollment and rising special‑education costs.
Superintendent Germaine asked the Newport City Council and school committee to consider a 4% local appropriation increase — $1,100,000 — as part of a draft $3.3 million gap the district must close for the 2025–26 school year. "The hope that the city will fulfill a 4 percent re request of 1,100,000," Germaine said as he presented the draft budget and key assumptions.
School leaders said the appropriation would be a bridge to avoid deeper cuts in frontline educators and student services while they await final state aid numbers. Director of finance Ronald Gonsalves warned there remains an unidentified holding balance of about $647,000 and that state allocations — which the district hopes to learn soon — could reduce but not eliminate the shortfall.
Why it matters: district officials said a combination of falling enrollment (about a 13% decline over roughly a decade) and a rapid rise in students with individualized education plans and English‑language needs have increased per‑student costs. Without additional local funds or changes in state aid, the administration said staffing reductions, freezes or program cuts would be required before July 1.
The budget presentation did not include a formal vote; council members signaled they will review the request as part of the city budget process and asked for follow‑up detail on how the funds would be allocated.
