STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, COUNTY OF NEWPORT

The Town Council of the Town of Tiverton, County, and State aforesaid held a Special Joint Meeting with the Tiverton School Committee, Rhode Island Department of Education and Tiverton State Legislators on Monday, April 1, 2024, at 7:00 PM at the Tiverton High School Auditorium, 100 N. Brayton Road

1. CALL TO ORDER                                          

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Council President deMedeiros called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

3. ROLL CALL

Present

President Denise M. deMedeiros	Vice President Michael S. Burk	John G. Edwards V
Dennis J. Milbourne	David J. Paull	Deborah G. Janick

 

Absent
Jay P. Edwards

School Committee members Dr. Jerome Larkin, Elaine Pavao, Michael DeCotis, and Diane Farnworth were present along with Superintendent Peter Sanchioni, Finance Director Amy Roderick, and School Department Attorney Benjamin Scungio.

 

Town Administrator Cotta, Solicitor Marcello, Clerk Chabot, and Deputy Clerk Veegh were present.

 

Senator Walter Felag, Jr., Senator Louis DiPalma, Rep. John G. Edwards IV, and Rep. Michelle McGaw were present in the audience.

 

School Committee Chair Larkin welcomed all attendees, the legislative delegation, the colleagues of RIDE, and the Department of Revenue. Noting emotions were understandably high, he asked all to remain respectful and professional. He stated that residents expect the School Committee, Budget Committee, and the Town Council to work together to arrive at some solutions. He opined that there are currently two difficult options, which include closing a school and cutting staff or cutting even more staff. He suggested working together to find a better and viable third option. He noted over the last four years the school district lost $1.7 million in state aid with $1.2 million projected for just this year. He acknowledged receipt of Administrator Cotta’s memo to RIDE, which outlined specific issues and questions needing clarification.   

 

BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL

 

4. GENERAL BUSINESS

A. Council President deMedeiros – Discussion and clarification of Tiverton School Department financial

     issues related to RI Department of Education (RIDE) regarding Tiverton school funding, state aid for

     education, and local funding for Fiscal Year 2025 and previous fiscal years, and review of pertinent
     RIDE regulations affecting budget processes

 

Chief Financial Officer, Mark Dunham, Chief of Operations, Mario Carreno, Kristen Cole, Senior Finance Officer from Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), and Steve Coleman with the Department of Revenue joined the meeting with a live Zoom presentation, designed to give a general understanding of the funding formula and how it would impact Tiverton as a $1.2 million drop in state education aid to the district in the coming year.

 

Steve Coleman explained that education aid is based on a rigid formula based in part on income and that Tiverton’s declining school enrollment, increased median household income, and rising property values were major factors in arriving at state aid amounts. He added that based on 2022 data, Tiverton’s median family income was $108,000 v. $95,000 statewide.

 

Also discussed was the impact on state aid is fluctuations in special education enrollment and anticipated third-party reimbursements to the district.

 

After the presentation, several questions from the Council and School Committee were directed to the RIDE members. Those included reduced Medicaid and third-party reimbursements and fund balances, continued student enrollment loss, dramatic property value increases, assessments and revaluation cycles, and median income trends.

 

Council President deMedeiros mentioned the school department had repeatedly spent more than the percentage allotted, and questioned where they thought the money was going to come from. She added that the Town does not have an extra $4 million and needs to run fire, police, and DPW departments.

 

School Department attorney Benjamin Scungio stated that the district had cut 37.7 staff positions in the past four years. Administrator Cotta found this incredulous, stating the School Committee had received $4 million over the past five years, plus $7.4 million additionally, from other sources.

 

School Committee Chair Larkin responded that the School Committee had been trying to address expenses for years, believing the watershed moment that created the structural deficit was in FY21 when after asking for 4%, they received zero instead. He acknowledged the School Committee, very intentionally voting to use carry-over funds, Medicaid, and ESSER funds to try to maintain appropriate student services and contractual obligations.    

 

Council President deMedeiros responded noting the Town had carefully planned its budget, implementing cuts, delaying employee raises, and using one-time funds for capital purposes only.

 

Administrator Cotta, referencing his memo to RIDE, asked if the department could work on getting the answers returned quickly, if possible, so he could disseminate the information to the community.    

 

Councilor Janick, addressing the legislative delegates in the audience, requested possible financial assistance with the unfunded state mandates. She also mentioned mandated bus transportation, noting only one company across the state, asking if any sort of assistance might be available.  

 

Council President deMedeiros, noting that though she had not intended to allow public comments, offered the opportunity for a few members of the audience to speak.

 

Resident Nadine DeMello questioned about the 27.9% attrition rate in students and resulting student enrollment decrease. She also asked why consideration was not being given to cutting pre-k and the bus routes. Dr. Larkin responded that educationally speaking, monies spent on early childhood education have the greatest impact.

 

Resident Denise Miller insisted that neither of the proposed two options would be acceptable and that another option must be discovered.  

 

Coalition reporter Pat Ford noted that he covers school board meetings around the state, and asked why the first option thrown to the public is always the “nuclear option” that he described as a play to people's emotions and fear as opposed to having a cogent analysis of other ideas or sources of income potential outside of taxpayers.

 

Council Vice President Burk replied that both the town and the school committee consistently look for other revenues, but many other revenue sources do not cover operational expenses.

 

The School Committee adjourned their meeting.

 

5. EXECUTIVE SESSION

A. Town Administrator –RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2) Collective Bargaining – Update on IAFF Local 1703

     negotiations

 

Councilor Edwards V motioned to enter Executive Session for agenda item 5A. Councilor Milbourne seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Council entered closed executive session at approximately 9:02 p.m.

Council returned to open session at approximately 9:51 p.m.

 

Councilor Burk motioned to seal the minutes of the Executive Session. Councilor Edwards V seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Solicitor Marcello reported no votes were taken.

 

6. ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Burk motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Janick seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 9:52 p.m.

 

 

A True Copy.

 

ATTEST________________________________

                       Joan B. Chabot, Town Clerk