Report: Warwick School Committee OKs 24 Layoffs

WARWICK, RI — The Warwick School Committee on Tuesday voted 4-1 to approve 24 staff layoffs due in large part to declining enrollments.

According to The Warwick Post, the vote eliminated 34 full-time equivalent positions, or FTEs. However, retirements, efficiencies and and reassignments reduced the need to layoffs to 24 people.

Robert Baxter, the Director of Finance and Operations, recommended the move, saying sharp enrollment declines were presenting challenges. He said the declines stem from the district's inability to compete with other schools.

In a presentation, Baxter said the district is carrying anywhere from $6 million to $12 million in extra expenses because the district has not trimmed staff to match enrollment, the Post reports.

During public comment session, Warwick Teachers Union president Darlene Netcoh read a letter opposing the layoffs. She questioned whether 1,200 students had been lost, and suggested that many laid-off teachers will just need to be recalled in the fall. She said Warwick Public Schools have been underfunded for years.

Live in Warwick? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. You can also download our free Patch mobile app on Android or iPhone.

Committee members spoke about the need to retain students and attract them back to the district.

The vote was 4-1. Committee chair Judy Cobden, Vice-Chair Nathan Cornell, Kyle Adams and David Testa voted for the layoffs. Karen Bachus was the lone ‘no’ vote.

Warwick is not the only Rhode Island community struggling with education cuts this year. The School Committee in Westerly is now trying to fill a $1 million budget gap.

Read more at The Warwick Post.