Our public schools play a central role in our community’s identity and in making our town such a desirable place to work, live, and raise a family.  East Greenwich is one of the few towns in Rhode Island that is growing, primarily because families want to come here for our strong school system.  

In my role as an elected official in EG, I am committed to excellence in public education.  Last year, the Council supported programs that had been previously eliminated, including the library media specialist, director of teaching and learning, and chorus.  In addition, we approved supplemental funding for security improvements to enhance the protection of our students and teachers.

In constructing this year’s budget, one of the Council’s major priorities was preventing faculty layoffs of educators in the classroom.  Although we could not meet the school department’s entire funding request, the Council allocated an additional $431,000 from the initial budget proposal to help support staff for library media studies, music, language, PE, and behavioral health faculty.  

Obstacles remain ahead for our schools and town.  State aid for education is up in the air.  The state’s budget, which determines crucial funds for East Greenwich educational and town services, will not be completed until August, and will likely contain significant cuts to our state aid. Schools face the difficult task of reopening in the fall, and the public health response to coronavirus remains demanding.  We are fortunate, however, that the adopted 2021 budget which begins July 1, puts our community in a good position to respond to these challenges and preserves important services for East Greenwich schools.

To maximize the educational experience for our students, and protect the financial investment that our community has entrusted in our schools, I will:

  • Support the important relationship between the School Committee and the Town Council with open, effective, and professional dialogue. The School Committee and Town Council are independent governing entities, yet they require a strong partnership to achieve excellence in education for our community. We must foster and support this vital partnership, for both our children and the future of East Greenwich.

  • Hold regular meetings between the School Committee and Town Council to discuss the status of both town and school operations and budgets. This is an essential step in establishing a more open budgeting process related to school funding.