Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain announced Wednesday that the district is fully staffed with teachers but still seeking bus drivers as it prepares for the start of classes next week.
Speaking during her monthly conversation, Ask The Superintendent, with What’sUpNewp, Jermain said the district is “six short” on bus drivers and continues to recruit through Ocean State Transit. She assured parents that buses will run despite the shortage.
“Tony Murgo is doing all he can to make sure the buses will be on the road,” Jermain said. “The buses will be coming, but he’s going to be covering that gap right now.”
The district is also seeking paraeducators, offering $125 per day for a 6.5-hour position. Jermain said the district is setting up training programs to help paraeducators obtain required certifications.
“We need paraeducators,” she said. “We’re setting up a mini programme for them. So while they’re on the job, they’ll also be learning to get ready for their certification.”
Classes begin Wednesday, September 4, for grades 1-12. Kindergarten students will have a “soft start,” with smaller groups visiting over three days to ease the transition.
Jermain addressed ongoing labor negotiations with teachers, who are currently working under “work to contract” conditions. She assured parents that this would not impact classroom instruction.
“I want to reassure parents that the teachers will be in the classrooms implementing the curriculum, doing their jobs,” Jermain said. “Please know that. And they know that as well.”
The superintendent also discussed the district’s new strategic plan and “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative, which outlines desired skills and attributes for Newport graduates. She said the plan was developed over 18 months with input from various stakeholders, including members of the community, teachers, and parents.
Jermain noted that student enrollment is declining, particularly at the elementary level. Kindergarten classes are down to about 17-19 students each, she said, the lowest in her tenure.
As construction continues on the new high school, Jermain said students can expect some changes when they return, including no gymnasium and limited parking. Senior parking spots have already been assigned, with a lottery planned for juniors.
The district will host a back-to-school event Tuesday, September 3 from 3-5 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, featuring games, backpacks and school supplies for students and families.
High School Students Face Campus Changes
Students returning to Rogers High School next week will encounter significant changes to their campus, including a demolished gymnasium and new parking arrangements, as construction of the new high school building continues.
The most noticeable change is the absence of the school’s gymnasium, which has been torn down to make way for the new facility.
“It’s been a little heartbreaking when you see the kids come up the hill and they’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s gone,'” said Jermain. “It is heartbreaking. But the building is gone.”
School officials have developed alternative plans for physical education classes. Students will utilize a newly created workout space, tennis courts, and Murphy Field for outdoor activities when weather permits.
Parking has become a challenge due to the construction. Senior students have already been on campus to select and decorate their assigned parking spaces, a tradition that continues despite the limited availability.
“We have limited parking because of the area up by the gym that had parking,” Jermain explained. “So it’s going to be very tight.”
To address the parking shortage, the school is implementing a new system. Seniors will receive priority for parking assignments, while juniors will participate in a lottery for remaining spaces. All student parking will be relocated to the old Fort side of campus.
Staff parking has also been adjusted, with most faculty and staff now parking near the temporary bus loop on the Wickham Avenue side. The district has added 25 additional parking spaces on Wickham Avenue to help alleviate congestion.
Bus drop-off and pick-up locations will remain the same as last year, with students entering and exiting through the same doors they used previously.
“Everything else when they left in the spring will be the same, except there is no gym,” Jermain said.
The superintendent stated that these adjustments are temporary, with a new parking lot planned for completion in the coming months.
Newport Schools Face Declining Enrollment and Budget Challenges
Newport Public Schools are facing significant challenges as student enrollment continues to decline, particularly in kindergarten classes, Jermain shared.
The district’s kindergarten enrollment has dropped to just six classes this year, with only 17 to 19 students per class – the lowest numbers since Jermain took office.
“Our enrollment is very, very low,” Jermain said. “Thompson [Middle School] just yesterday cleared 500. We have always had about 550 to 650 at Thompson.”
Newport schools have invested $1.9 million of their own funds into this year’s budget.
“We put in $1.9 million of our own into this year’s budget. And for those of you that are into finance, you know, that’s a big no-no that causes a structural deficit,” Jermain explained.
The superintendent emphasized that the district will work with the city to manage the budget gap. The city has provided just over $800,000 in additional funding.
Jermain assured parents that the district will continue to prioritize having qualified teachers in classrooms.
“We will continue to work with everyone to make sure we have teachers that have the appropriate certification,” she said. “We will never say, you don’t have a job.”
Newport Schools and City Departments to Collaborate on Strategic Plans
Newport Public Schools and city departments are set to collaborate on their respective strategic plans, with education as a key focus in the city’s plan.
Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain announced the initiative during our conversation highlighting the importance of aligning educational goals with the city’s broader objectives.
“City Manager Colin Kennedy actually invited me to attend his meetings, department meetings, so that we’re like, we are one Newport,” Jermain said. “So we’re all there. They know what the schools are doing. I know what’s going on on their part. And we’re working together as a team.”
On Sept. 5, an internal meeting is scheduled with all city departments on the school campus to explore ways to work together more effectively.
This partnership comes as Newport Public Schools launches its own five-year strategic plan, which includes the “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative. The plan outlines core competencies students should develop by graduation, including college and career readiness, ownership of learning, real-world responsibilities, and emerging leadership skills.
Jermain emphasized the importance of community involvement in developing these plans. “We have lists of everyone that participated. We have minutes from the meetings. We have it all,” she said, referring to the consultation process that included focus groups, interviews, and classroom observations.
“We’re one Newport,” she reiterated, emphasizing the shared goal of creating a better community and improving understanding of local issues among residents.
Cell Phone Police Under Review
Newport Public Schools are reviewing their cell phone policy, particularly at the high school level, as officials seek to reduce classroom distractions and improve student focus.
Superintendent Jermain announced the review during our conversation, highlighting concerns about the impact of cell phones on students’ ability to concentrate.
“The amount of distractions and what it’s doing for our young people to be able to focus and concentrate in the classroom is not working,” Jermain said.
The district is considering several options to limit cell phone use during school hours. One possibility is the use of “Yondr” pouches, which would seal students’ phones for the duration of the school day.
Another option under consideration is providing individual lockers for students to store their phones during class time.
Currently, the high school policy allows students to use their phones between classes and during lunch periods. However, officials are reconsidering this approach.
“We don’t even think that’s a good idea,” Jermain said, referring to the current policy.
The district plans to hold additional workshops and meetings to gather input from parents, students, and community members before implementing any changes.
“We need to educate everyone and the students why we’re doing this,” she said. “We want to take our time. We want to hear what everyone’s doing, and then we’re going to give appropriate notice of when it’s going into effect.”
The superintendent indicated that any new policy would likely be in place by the time students move into the new high school building, which is currently under construction.
While the high school policy is under review, elementary and middle school policies remain unchanged. Elementary students are not allowed to have electronic devices, including smartwatches, while middle school students must keep their phones turned off and stored in lockers or backpacks.
Newport Schools Launch New ‘Portrait of a Graduate’ Initiative”
Newport Public Schools is launching a new “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative as part of its five-year strategic plan, focusing on college and career readiness, ownership of learning, real-world responsibilities, and emerging leadership for students at all grade levels.
Superintendent Jermain said the plan, developed over 18 months with input from teachers, parents, students, and community members, aims to create a unified vision for student success.
“We want leaders to understand you have a responsibility. You have a responsibility to be ethical, be truthful and do your best at all times,” Jermain said.
The initiative, known by the acronym CORE, emphasizes four key areas: College and career readiness, Ownership and persistence of learning, Real-world responsibilities, and Emerging leadership.
Jermain explained that the plan is designed to guide students from elementary through high school, with teachers keeping these goals in mind at every grade level.
“Whether they’re in first grade, fifth grade, 9th grade, as a teacher in the classroom, these are the things in the back of our mind,” she said.
The development process included focus groups, one-on-one interviews, classroom observations, and data analysis of student performance indicators. The district also brought in outside consultants to gather information and provide feedback.
In addition to the Portrait of a Graduate, the district has created a “Vision of Excellence” for teaching. This framework outlines expectations for classroom environments, including engaged students and facilitative teaching methods.
“When you walk into a classroom, you expect the teacher’s here, the teacher’s facilitating, the teachers, you know, providing structure,” Jermain said. “Over here, you see the students, the students are engaged, they’re participating, they’re doing most of the talking, not the teacher.”
The strategic plan also focuses on implementing rigorous curriculum, high-quality teaching, and strengthening connections between the community and families.
The superintendent noted that the plan is available on the district’s website and includes detailed roles and responsibilities for each year of implementation.
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