Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain expressed gratitude to Newport City Council for recent funding approvals and provided updates on the new high school construction during her monthly live interview with What’sUpNewp.
The City Council recently approved an additional $2.9 million for the school committee, completing the funding needed for the new high school project. Jermain said this will allow them to obtain the Certificate of Occupancy and move forward with the planned September 2025 opening.
“We’re very appreciative of the City Council and their awarding the funding from the ask that the school building co-chairs put forward,” Jermain said. “We’re looking forward to September 2025 and opening the new building. It’s a very exciting time.”
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Construction is progressing, with crews finishing the exterior and fine-tuning the interior. Jermain noted there is still significant work to be done but expressed optimism about the timeline.
Regarding the Newport School Committee-elect, Jermain confirmed that James Dring was chosen as School Committee Chair and Rebecca Bolan as Vice Chair at a caucus meeting of the Newport School Committee-elect members on Tuesday night.
The superintendent also addressed ongoing efforts to restore cosmetology and automotive programs to the new high school. While not currently included in the plans, Jermain said there is community support for fundraising campaigns to bring these programs back.
“Dr. Robert Power did run on the campaign platform of restoring both those programmes [cosmetology and automotive] into the new building. So we’re trying to think of ways we can do that. And I know he’s been very active throughout the entire community, as well as talking to city council members about how we can work together to keep those programs,” Jermain said.
“We want to try as best as possible to get the cosmetology and the auto program into the new building,” she said. “That work is underway.”
Attendance remains a focus for Newport schools. Jermain reported improvements across all schools compared to previous years but acknowledged more progress is needed.
“We’re doing well each day at every school. We’re seeing improved attendance from the previous year, which is great because last year we were seeing improvements from the previous year,” Jermain said.
The district employs various strategies to boost attendance, including outreach to parents, home visits, and sharing data on how absences impact student achievement.
Jermain highlighted the district’s efforts to support multi-language learners, particularly at the elementary level. She noted that when students become more proficient in English, they often outscore native English speakers on standardized tests.
“We have learned with our MLL population that when they start to attain the language and they become more English proficient, they have actually outscored our English-speaking children on standardized testing,” Jermain said.
The district is looking to expand its multi-language learner support, with plans to certify more teachers in this area. Jermain said they expect to need additional ML-certified teachers in the coming year.
Budget discussions for the next school year are underway. Jermain said staffing, which accounts for about 82% of the operating budget, will be a key focus. The district has secured a new bus contract and is reviewing other contracts.
Jermain encouraged high school seniors to start planning for their post-graduation futures. She emphasized the importance of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for those considering college.
“Financial aid is so important and the FAFSA … they need to fill out that FAFSA,” Jermain said. “That application process opens up the world to a variety of different grants and money opportunities.”
Jermain suggested exploring career opportunities and internships for students not pursuing higher education, particularly those enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs.
The superintendent concluded by reminding the community of upcoming events, including a school building committee meeting on December 9 and a regular school committee meeting on December 10.
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