The Newport School Committee voted 6-1 Wednesday night to refer Policy 1050, the Student Excellence and Success policy, back to the policy subcommittee for further legal review.
The motion, which passed 6-1 with only Councilor Leary dissenting, came after nearly an hour of committee debate and public comment about the future of the equity-focused policy.
Policy 1050, approved last fall, aims to promote educational equity and inclusivity for all Newport students. However, concerns were raised about potential legal issues with the policy’s language.
Previous reporting on this topic
Newport School Committee to vote on rescinding equity policy
School Committee Chair James Dring explained the rationale for review: “If I get a 15-page memo saying, look, there’s issues with this, we need to fix this. If I just say, well, no, we’re not even going to talk about it. I’m not doing my job.”
The original agenda item proposed rescinding the policy entirely, sparking community outcry. Dozens of residents attended the meeting to support keeping Policy 1050 intact, and thirteen residents spoke in support of the policy.
Daniel Cano, executive director of Newport Pride, warned: “Rescinding, even with the intention to revise it can create fear, uncertainty, in a sense that our district is stepping backward on its commitment to inclusivity.”
Committee member Rebecca Bolan emphasized the policy’s importance: “Policy 1050 provides a unique and comprehensive outlook that integrates academic achievement, resource allocation, social emotional support and restorative disciplinary measures.”
However, some committee members expressed concerns about the policy’s length and potential redundancies with existing policies. Councilor Beth Cullen suggested creating a separate diversity, equity and inclusion subcommittee to implement the policy’s goals.
The compromise motion to refer the policy for legal review rather than rescind it outright passed 5-2 after extensive debate. Committee member Stephanie Winslow, who helped craft the original policy, expressed frustration with the process.
“Despite what some people want to say now that you just meant to rewrite instead of rescind, it’s obvious to me anyway that the intention was not because we saw an effort to block passage on this technicality,” Winslow said.
The 11-member policy subcommittee, which includes community members, will now work with the district’s attorney to address legal concerns while maintaining the policy’s core equity principles.
Several residents urged the committee to act swiftly in reviewing and re-approving the policy. Angela Lima asked, “How long will that be stuck in the subcommittee for? Because I also recognize it’s another way to kill certain movements and initiatives.”
Dr. Kimberly Behan, president of the Newport Public Education Foundation, emphasized the policy’s alignment with state education goals: “We are committed to identifying and developing solutions for equity gaps in first, envision that Rhode Island educators and students, and particularly those of color and their families, have equal access to a safe, a supportive and inclusive and a culturally sensitive learning environment.”
The timeline for the subcommittee’s review remains unclear. Chair Dring declined to join the subcommittee himself, citing time constraints, despite calls from some residents for his direct involvement.
As the meeting concluded, both supporters and critics of Policy 1050 expressed cautious optimism that the review process would lead to a stronger, legally sound equity policy for Newport schools.