Discussions about a potential merger between Newport and Middletown school districts are moving forward with both superintendents now actively involved in planning what such a consolidation might look like.
During her monthly one-on-one conversation with What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, March 26, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain confirmed the two districts are seriously exploring merger possibilities, with a potential referendum vote that could come as early as this fall.
“Absolutely. We had a meeting about a week ago,” Jermain said, noting that she and Middletown Superintendent Billy Niemeyer are now tasked with examining potential educational benefits of combining the districts.
The merger discussions have gained momentum in recent months, with both superintendents now playing central roles in developing plans that would need voter approval from both communities.
“This most likely will be the last time in a long time that this opportunity will come before us,” Jermain said. “This is it.”
A key financial incentive driving the merger consideration is the potential increase in state reimbursement rates for school construction projects. Both communities are currently undertaking major school building initiatives.
“The financial boon, and I will call it a boon, for both districts in their construction projects to go up to 80% reimbursement, if not a little bit more, will help both communities as far as financial obligations,” Jermain explained.
Newport currently receives approximately 52% reimbursement on its new Rogers High School project. If voters approve a merger, that rate would jump to 80%, potentially saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
For residents without children in the school system, Jermain emphasized the financial implications: “Because as a taxpayer, your community is not going to be in the same financial situation, paying, getting a 52% reimbursement versus an 80% reimbursement. It’s all the dollars and cents.”
The timeline for a potential merger vote is accelerating. Jermain indicates that legislation would need to be approved by the General Assembly in spring 2025, followed by a special election in September or October of that year.
“For the citizens of Newport and the people of Newport, this is our last opportunity because we need to tie everything up in a bow by December of 2025,” she said.
If approved, the first changes would likely come in the 2026-27 school year, beginning with administrative consolidation.
“The first thing that we’ve been told if it passes and that would happen in the 26-27 school year, is that the administration, the district administration would collapse and become one administration, which I believe is perfectly fine, perfectly doable,” Jermain said.
Beyond financial considerations, Jermain highlighted potential educational benefits, including enhanced transportation funding, shared resources, and expanded career and technical education opportunities.
“If we can get together and do something for our PK through 2 and make sure they have those foundational skills, really build them up, that’s something possible,” she said, noting the growing multilingual learner populations in both districts.
The superintendents are developing a three-to-five-year implementation plan to provide clarity to both communities about what would happen if voters approve the merger.
“The most important thing I think is for this to be successful, we need to be very clear with the public on what we’re thinking, what the plan is,” Jermain said.
Meanwhile, construction on the new Rogers High School continues on schedule, with keys expected to be handed over on June 6. Students who recently toured the building were impressed with the progress.
“It’s just so exciting to hear them when they walk into the gym or something, they go, ‘oh wow,'” Jermain said. “Their expressions are priceless with them looking up and looking at all the glass.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new high school is scheduled for Aug. 22 at 10 a.m., with the school set to open in September 2025.
In other district news, Jermain reported that the district continues to face budget challenges with a $1.9 million gap for the upcoming fiscal year. The school committee will review a draft budget in April, but final state funding numbers likely won’t be known until May or June.
This timing creates challenges with the June 1 deadline for teacher layoff notices. Jermain indicates that at least one to three teachers will receive notices, with the possibility of more depending on final budget numbers.
“If we get a little boon and more than we think, as many know, then we will call back some teachers,” she explained.
The district is also working to improve student attendance, which Jermain identifies as a key factor in academic performance. While attendance at Rogers High School has improved over the past year, it remains in the “bottom percentile statewide.”
“If you look at the data from the students that aren’t in school on a regular basis versus those that are, there’s a huge discrepancy as far as students score,” Jermain said. “If children are not in school, then they’re not going to be able to do the grade level work that we put in front of them.”
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