Is School Regionalization the answer?
Just to be clear, I support a school regionalization plan that improves student success, provides teachers with the resources they need to help students achieve their goals, and uses the taxpayers’ dollars responsibly.
Unfortunately, the resolution presented and passed at the August 13th Newport City Council meeting did not meet those standards. That’s why I voted against it.
First, there is no plan. The Rhode Island Department of Education has not presented an offer to Newport. There is no legislation guaranteeing reimbursement, no clarity on funding, and no plan for how resources would be used to benefit teachers and students. There are too many unknowns.
Second, there is not transparency. John C. Maxwell said, “Teamwork makes the dream work”. This process has lacked teamwork from the start. Requests for public meetings between Newport’s School Committee and City Council – and between Newport and Middletown – have been ignored or delayed. Meaningful discussions with the community have not happened. Behind closed doors decision making only leads to mistrust, misinformation, and missed opportunities.
We must stop being so afraid of having opposing discussions, we must stop being so closed minded, and we must stop the behind closed doors discussions on topics that will greatly impact the community.
Full transparency engages the primary stakeholders in the conversation and enables a 360-degree view of the potential issues, along with areas of improvement and opportunities. It creates an efficient and effective process that is sustainable long-term.
Finally, and most importantly, there is no student-centered vision. The resolution did not explain how regionalization would improve student achievement, increase college readiness, or provide other opportunities for success. Parents and students have not been given the opportunity to ask questions or share their concerns. Without their voices, we cannot build a plan that reflects the community we serve.
How can we claim to serve our community if we don’t involve the very people that are impacted by our decisions?
We faced this problem before in 2022. I sat through multiple council meetings and workshops then asking the same questions we are still asking today: How will this plan help our students succeed? There are still no answers. Clearly, we have not learned from past mistakes.
We are missing opportunities for long-term, sustainable success because we refuse to have the hard conversations, we refuse to engage stakeholders, and we refuse to share information openly. It is time to change course.
We need transparency. We need collaboration. And above all, we need a plan that puts students first!
Until then, regionalization is just an empty promise. We need to stop repeating the same mistakes and start working together – for our teachers, for our families, and most importantly, for our students’ future.
Stephanie Smyth
Newport City Council