Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council restores school funding to 4% after emotional public hearing; debate continues over $250,000 regionalization study
Summary
Following extensive public testimony, including pleas from parents, school committee members and the superintendent, the council voted 6–1 to restore the Newport School Department allocation from 2% back to 4% of the budget; councillors also debated whether to redirect a separate $250,000 regionalization study to immediate school needs.
The Newport City Council on Monday restored the city's school allocation to 4% after a lengthy public hearing and council debate. The motion to increase the school allocation from 2% back to the original 4% passed by a recorded voice/show-of-hands margin reported in the transcript as 6–1.
Parents and school officials urged the council to restore the funding to avoid further staff cuts. "I am up here tonight asking you to fund our schools so the threats given by the superintendent that you will have to eliminate more positions from our schools and our children if they do not get the money to be prevented," said parent Ally Oakley during the public hearing. Beth Cullen, a member of the Newport School Committee, said losing state aid and declining enrollment makes the additional municipal allocation urgent. Superintendent Colleen Burns Germaine told the council the district faced a roughly $900,000 budget gap and asked for the full 4% to avoid program and staff reductions.
Councilors also debated a $250,000 line in the city budget for a regionalization study. Several speakers and council members argued those funds would be better applied to retain school counselors and teachers this fiscal year; others said the study was a first step toward longer-term solutions and regionalization might secure larger savings. A motion to move the $250,000 into school operations was considered and defeated; the $250,000 remained in the budget as debated. Council asked the school administration to return with detailed plans explaining administrative and instructional staffing decisions.
