Newport City Council & School Committee Joint Workshop: School Regionalization Discussion (Nov 12, 2025)

On November 12, 2025, the Newport City Council and School Committee held a joint workshop to discuss the potential for regionalization with the Middletown School District. Superintendent Colleen Germain, Mayor Bob Power, and members of both bodies engaged in a dialogue centered on the financial unsustainability of the current district structure due to declining enrollment, while addressing significant community concerns regarding operational plans, equity, and the lack of a formal proposal. The meeting highlighted a disparity between the administration's desire to pursue discussions quickly and the council/public's demand for a concrete plan before any votes.

Consent Calendar

• No routine consent calendar items were presented or discussed during this joint workshop; the proceeding was entirely dedicated to deliberative discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alana Hearn: Expressed full support for regionalization but strongly opposed rushing to an April special election, advocating for a November ballot to allow time for community conversation and the formation of the Academic Advisory Committee.
• Mike (19 Bay Side): Stated he was operating in a "gigantic knowledge vacuum" and expressed strong concern that the administration was improvising without expert guidance; strongly advocated for hiring an external project manager or consultant to guide the process, noting that corporations do not merge without such expertise.
• Brian Rochelle (Resident & Parent): Expressed worry for the future of Rogers High School programs; emphasized that the shrinking class size is unsustainable and that regionalization is necessary to maintain AP classes and college opportunities for high-achieving students.
• Penelope Hunt: Expressed disappointment in the lack of a proposal and described the delay in populating the Academic Advisory Committee as a "political ping pong" that stifled community engagement; clarified that the school system is not the only one struggling financially and that Newport could afford to sustain its district if it chose to do so.
• Liz Barron: Expressed skepticism that combining only administration without combining student populations and buildings would achieve the stated academic benefits; questioned the legal definition of regionalization under Title 16 which implies combination.
• Mary Ellen Atkins: Expressed frustration that the Academic Advisory Committee has not been populated despite applications being submitted months ago; urged the City Council to take action to appoint members.
• Josh Ammon: Described the situation as a "catch-20" where voters are not asked to vote on a plan until after the plan is created; stated he is generally in favor of free money but is not ready to support a vote without more information and a clearer path forward.

Discussion Items

• Financial Sustainability: Superintendent Colleen Germain and Councilmember James Dring argued that the current funding model is unsustainable, citing a potential annual loss of up to $5 million due to declining enrollment. They stated that regionalization is the only viable method to double the student base, qualify for over 80% state reimbursement on building costs (approx. $100 million), and save nearly $3 million in busing costs.
• Academic Opportunities and Equity: Mayor Bob Power and Councilmember Lynn Segley expressed full support for regionalization, stating it is necessary to provide critical mass for advanced coursework, including AP, honors, and CTE classes (e.g., robotics, AI, marine tech). They argued that equity is impossible without the financial resources to hire specialized staff and intervene for struggling students.
• Lack of Plan and Urgency: Councilmember Stephanie Smythe and Councilmember Mario Carlin expressed strong opposition to moving forward without a detailed plan of action. They noted that since the 2022 referendum failed due to vague promises, a similar outcome is likely without a concrete roadmap detailing facility consolidation, staff reductions, and program expansion. They criticized the administration for not having a plan despite weeks of discussion.
• Middletown's Consent: Councilmember Mario Carlin raised concerns that the Middletown School Committee unanimously rejected previous resolutions, and questioned the ethics of pursuing regionalization against their will. He noted that without Middletown's active participation, Newport cannot proceed unilaterally.
• Academic Advisory Committee Failure: Councilmember Lynn Segley and Councilmember Stephanie Smythe highlighted that the Academic Advisory Committee remains unpopulated due to administrative delays and a lack of clarity on whether appointment required Middletown's simultaneous cooperation. Councilmember Cullen and others noted that the City Council had voted unanimously in August to appoint members by September 30 but had failed to meet that deadline.
• Role of Consultants: Multiple speakers, including private citizen Mike and Councilmember Alana Hearn, argued that the city should utilize the $250,000 budgeted in the previous year for a consultant to create a viable merger plan, rather than relying solely on superintendents who lack the time to manage a complex project like this.

Key Outcomes

• No Formal Vote Taken: The body did not take a binding vote on regionalization during this workshop.
• Agreement to Meet: The City Council and School Committee agreed to initiate meetings with the Middletown School District and Town Council within the next couple of weeks to discuss regionalization possibilities.
• Continued Focus on Administrative Regionalization: Mayor Power clarified that the immediate discussion is focused on administrative regionalization as a "baby step" or first phase toward potential full academic regionalization, rather than an immediate combined student body.
• Discrepancy in Authority: A debate arose regarding the authority to populate the Academic Advisory Committee; the Council clarified via resolution that they do not require Middletown's approval to appoint their own members, though the committee remains inactive.
• Next Steps Defined: The immediate directive is for the Newport bodies to coordinate a joint meeting with Middletown to determine the scope of collaboration, with the understanding that a definitive plan requires input from both communities before any future referendum can be proposed.