Newport City Council & Middletown Town Council Joint Meeting: December 9, 2025

A joint forum between the City Council of Newport and the Town Council of Middletown convened on December 9, 2025, to discuss the feasibility, timeline, and structure of potential school regionalization. The meeting centered on three agenda items: a reconsideration of administrative regionalization, the creation and role of an Academic Integration Advisory Committee, and the financial implications regarding state reimbursement and bond endowments. While City Council members expressed varied levels of urgency regarding the timeline, there was a consensus on the necessity of addressing declining student enrollment and the need for clearer communication regarding educational benefits to the public.

Consent Calendar

• Newport City Council Resolution No. 2025-146 (Administrative Regionalization) was received and placed on the record, with a motion to skip formal reading and accept it unanimously.
• Newport City Council Resolution No. 2025-43 (Academic Integration Advisory Committee) was received and placed on the record, with a motion to skip formal reading and accept it unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anton Bolvaris (Middletown Resident): Expressed strong opposition to regionalization. He argued that Middletown has an excellent educational system (ranked 20th in the state) compared to Newport (ranked 49th). He highlighted Newport's perceived fiscal mismanagement, citing cost overruns on Rogers High School and a resulting deficit.
• Joe Hearn (Newport Resident/Middletown Business Owner): Expressed full support for regionalization. As a parent and former advocate, he emphasized the need to plan for a future-focused education program rather than rushing. He stated his ambition to join the advisory committee to voice parental concerns and ensure the educational future suits all children on the island.
• Alana Hearn (Newport Resident/Middletown Resident): Expressed concern that the proposal was too vague regarding whether administrative regionalization was merely a first step toward full student integration or a permanent solution. She warned that combining administrations without full integration could lead to resource fights and noted the contentious history of the Bristol-Warren district as a cautionary example.
• Don Moran (Middletown Resident): Expressed support for regionalization, citing successful experiences in Massachusetts. He urged the bodies to focus heavily on governance structures (e.g., ensuring equal representation regardless of population) and suggested the committee should look to other Rhode Island districts rather than those in Massachusetts.
• Teressa Spengler (Middletown Educator/Parent): Expressed confusion and concern. She noted a lack of clarification regarding the role of the new committee, the exact reimbursement percentages, and whether the proposal was strictly administrative or the start of full integration. She advocated for a comprehensive plan rather than a piecemeal approach.

Discussion Items

• Timeline and Legislative Process: City Manager Sean Brown outlined a tight timeline targeting an election on November 3, 2026. He identified March 1, 2026, as the critical deadline to submit enabling legislation to the General Assembly and August 5, 2026, as the deadline to submit the ballot question to the Secretary of State.
• Definition of Regionalization: Council members debated the scope of "administrative regionalization." Councilor Roberts and others clarified that this typically involves a shared superintendent and finance director while students may remain in their respective buildings. Councilor Napolitano argued that focusing solely on administration does not address student outcomes or achievement gaps, and she called for a definition that prioritizes learner success.
• Governance Structure: Members discussed potential structures for the regional school committee and finance board, referencing the 2022 proposal where voting power would alternate between communities on the two boards to ensure equity. Councilor Napolitano and others emphasized that the final structure must ensure fairness and not allow one community to dominate the other based on population.
• Endowment and State Reimbursement: A significant portion of the discussion focused on how increased state reimbursement (projected at 80% vs. the current ~53%) should be used. Councilor Carlin argued that increased reimbursement should first be used to reduce the existing Newport bond obligation owed to taxpayers, rather than creating a new endowment. Conversely, Councilor Napolitano suggested using the savings (the "delta") to create an endowment to benefit students. Councilor Carlin noted that under current state law, municipalities generally cannot invest state aid funds into the stock market, but other investment vehicles like U.S. Treasuries are permitted.
• Academic Integration Advisory Committee: The committee was introduced as a non-binding, advisory body intended to study integration options and socialize the process. Councilor Pinnick noted the 90-day window for the committee to produce a report by mid-2026. Members discussed the need for the committee to include diverse stakeholders (educational, financial, community) and a consultant to guide the work.
• School Committee Opinions: Chair of the Newport School Committee noted that the Newport School Committee voted 5-2 to approve their resolution, while the Middletown School Committee remains unanimously opposed, though they expressed a willingness to address their concerns if they were answered.

Key Outcomes

• Both councils agreed to continue the dialogue and schedule a follow-up joint meeting for January 12, 2026.
• The next meeting will include the respective School Committees and representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to address outstanding questions regarding reimbursement laws, governance, and educational feasibility.
• It was agreed that Newport will pass a resolution to officially establish the framework for the joint committee, allowing the appointment process to begin, though actual appointments are expected not to occur until February 2026 due to advertising and application timelines.
• Council members agreed that the committee's findings will not be binding but will inform the drafting of the enabling legislation to be submitted in 2026.