Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joined What’sUpNewp on Wednesday for her monthly one-on-one conversation, the first in several months after weather and scheduling conflicts forced postponements. Owner and publisher Ryan Belmore and editor Frank Prosnitz led the discussion, which covered the blizzard’s impact on the school calendar, a projected budget shortfall, the ongoing superintendent search, merger talks with Middletown and Jermain’s upcoming retirement.
Snow days and the school calendar
Getting schools back open after the February blizzard required a team effort, Jermain said, crediting both the city and a private vendor for clearing bus stops, sidewalks and school facilities. She said Newport’s school committee was among a small number in Rhode Island that opted against using virtual learning days in place of snow days, prioritizing in-person instruction.
That decision has consequences for the calendar. The last day of school is currently projected to be June 30 — the same date Jermain retires. She said the state commissioner of education is seeking a waiver to excuse the Monday and Tuesday of blizzard week, given Rhode Island’s state of emergency declaration. If approved, and if the district can package excess daily instructional minutes into one or two additional days, students could potentially finish the week before June 30. State law requires the school year to end no later than June 30.
Budget outlook
Jermain was candid about the district’s finances. The district is not currently running a deficit, she said, but forecasts a gap of just over $2 million by the end of the fiscal year. The fund balance stands at roughly $900,000, which she said would not be sufficient to cover the projected shortfall. A finance working group is putting together budget scenarios, she said.
Jermain said the district’s education fund was used to help complete the Rogers High School project, leaving no contingency reserve. “When I arrived, the district was $900,000 in the hole,” she said. “I was hoping when I left that we would be in a more positive position.”
She also used the conversation to argue for a rethinking of Rhode Island’s school funding formula, which she described as based on enrollment rather than need. She said the costs of special education in particular are not well understood by the public, noting that districts are legally required to fund services for any student who moves in, regardless of the cost or timing. She said neighboring states fund special education at higher levels than Rhode Island, though she acknowledged she was uncertain of the exact figures.
Superintendent search
The school committee has issued a request for proposals for the superintendent search, Jermain said, and is expected to discuss it at an upcoming meeting. The position has not yet been publicly advertised. Jermain said she has stayed out of the process but speculated that the issuance of an RFP suggests a consultant will likely be brought in.
Jermain has served as superintendent for nearly 12 and a half years, well beyond the national average tenure of roughly three and a half years. She said she believes she is the longest-serving superintendent in Newport’s history.
Rogers High School
On the incident at Rogers High School — reported previously by What’sUpNewp — Jermain said the school committee chair released a public executive summary with recommendations, which are already being implemented. A faculty meeting is scheduled for Thursday to go over many of those items, she said. The district is undertaking a reorganization of how Rogers addresses student behavior and discipline, she said.
Jermain said the new Rogers building has been well-received by students, who have taken care of the facility. Wider hallways, interior glass windows and gathering spaces have led to more collaborative activity, she said. She acknowledged that parking remains a challenge, and that the logistics of moving students to the NACTECH building for programs such as cosmetology and automotive are still being worked out. Attendance has improved but remains a challenge for certain student populations, she said.
ICE and student safety
Jermain said no ICE agents have been seen near any district building, and no families have been directly disrupted. She said she receives questions about the issue regularly from community members and acknowledged the fear is real for some families. Front-desk staff have been trained on how to handle any situation that might arise, she said.
She said the district’s standing policy is to not release any child to anyone not on the emergency contact list, to require identification, and to not confirm whether a specific student is in the building — a requirement under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Newport-Middletown merger
Discussions about regionalizing the Newport and Middletown school systems are continuing, Jermain said, and she expressed hope that a vote could go before both communities in the fall. Both towns have formed academic integrity committees, which have completed their interviews. For a ballot question to appear in November, the relevant language would need to pass through the state legislature, Jermain said. Belmore noted the legislative session moves quickly and said he planned to follow up with state Rep. Lauren Carson.
No discussions about the use of school buildings in a merged system have taken place, Jermain said.
Cell phones and student well-being
Newport’s school committee implemented a no-cell-phone policy at the high school before state legislation required it, Jermain said. The policy has produced a noticeable difference in student behavior and social interaction, she said, calling the results “very, very positive.”
She said she supports the change and expressed concern about the effects of unregulated social media use on young people. While she said standardized testing has always been part of high school life, she noted many colleges and universities no longer require standardized test scores for admission.
Internships and career pathways
Jermain said Newport has active career pathway programs in culinary, automotive, carpentry, cosmetology and cybersecurity. She said the district is exploring a program with Electric Boat for juniors and rising seniors and has a partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island through which students can enter a cybersecurity program and earn $70,000 to $80,000 upon graduation.
Upcoming retirement
With 118 days remaining in her tenure, Jermain said she has not yet made firm post-retirement plans and still needs to meet with the state retirement board. She said she is “seeking new adventures” but kept her options open when asked whether she planned to remain in education.
Jermain is expected to join What’sUpNewp for three more monthly conversations — in April, May and June — before her retirement at the end of the school year.