The Newport City Council and Middletown Town Council will convene Monday evening for their second joint meeting on school regionalization, continuing discussions that could reshape public education on Aquidneck Island more than three years after Newport voters narrowly rejected a similar proposal.
The special meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Wyndham Hotel’s Easton’s Pavilion Ballroom, 240 Aquidneck Ave.
In November 2022, Newport voters rejected administrative regionalization by a margin of 52.8% to 47.2%. Middletown voters had approved both regionalization and a $235 million school construction bond, but those measures were contingent on Newport’s approval.
The renewed effort follows Newport City Council’s passage of Resolution No. 2025-146 in August, requesting that voters reconsider a ballot question on administrative regionalization in April 2026.
Under the proposal, Newport and Middletown would share one superintendent and one finance office, while teachers and students would remain in their respective communities. All other personnel would fall under the direction of the superintendent and a newly elected school committee with members from both municipalities.
“At our first meeting, both communities acknowledged the basic fact that our kids aren’t getting the education they deserve,” Newport Councilman Xay Khamsyvoravong wrote in his weekly newsletter.
The arrangement would increase state reimbursement for new school construction from 52.5% to 80.5%, benefiting projects including the new Rogers High School and Pell Elementary School. Additional incentives include two-year bonuses and 50% reimbursement for in-district busing.
Monday’s agenda includes a discussion with Rhode Island Department of Education officials, an update on the regionalization timeline, and consideration of engaging a consultant to work with both municipalities and the Academic Integration Advisory Committee.
The councils will also discuss legislative matters related to H 8267 Substitute A, the 2022 state legislation that authorized Newport and Middletown to establish a regional school district.
Khamsyvoravong noted that Middletown has passed a resolution formalizing the appointment of an advisory committee focused on educational outcomes, and Newport is considering a revised resolution Wednesday to align with that action.
“The overarching question was put well by a constituent at the first meeting: Would administrative regionalization be the first step towards a fully integrated education system, or the last step?” Khamsyvoravong wrote.
A joint meeting with the Academic Integration Advisory Committee is proposed for Feb. 9, 2026.
The meeting is open to the public. The location is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Those requiring interpreter services should contact the Middletown Town Clerk’s Office at 847-0009 at least 48 hours before the meeting.
