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I have always tried to be polite when talking with or about the council but enough is enough. I will no longer sit back and let certain members of the city council sling lies upon the citizens and taxpayers of Warwick. In particular, Donna Travis and Camille Vella Wilkinson and the lies about a "top-heavy"school administration vs city administration. They say the schools are top heavy and to get rid of administration to cater to the unions. It is politics as usual. They forget that these same constitutes have kids in school and they are tired of having their programs in jeopardy because of a lack of funding. They want more than the Basic Education Plan.

Here is some information about the school verses city administration. I believe the city has 30-32 administrators for approximately 900 employees. I will get the exact number. The schools have about 15-17 administrators for almost twice as many employees.

The raise for the administration was the first in 4-5 years and it was a total of only about $130K for everyone. Administration had been paying a 20% copay for at least 2-3 years by the time the received any additional compensation.

The raise for the teachers was balanced by the number of teachers retired and cuts in the Jr High school special education weighting (from 2 students to 1.5 Students at the Jr High Level) and locking in the 20% co-pay for teachers. The move for all employees to pay 20% copay saved the schools nearly $4 million annually. Remember there were several Million dollars in savings by closing and repurposing the elementary schools and through consolidation of administrator positions and lay offs in admin, teachers, and support staff.

With these changes, the increase to teacher salary was a wash. So, the school committee made the appropriate cuts to find the money for a raise. I can not speak to the raise for the wise union as I was not on the committee at the time.

I have always tried to be polite when talking with or about the council but enough is enough. I will no longer sit back and let certain members of the city council sling lies upon the citizens and taxpayers of Warwick.

Donna Travis says she is livid about the schools asking for additional funding. The schools ask for additional funding every year. 3-4 years ago she was livid that the custodians at night were cut from the staff, she was livid that the trash barrels in from of Winman were not being emptied properly. Was there additional funding to re-hire staff, no. She was livid when family and consumer science was cut from the curriculum. Did she vote for additional funding so the schools could keep it? No. She was livid when the Marine Sciences program was cut. Did she vote for additional funding so the program could stay? No. The Mayor states that after sitting with Beth Furtado and Dr D'Agostino there will be enough money for the Basic Education plan in the same sentence he says his budget will provide a Quality education. I am confused because I have never thought that basic could also be used to describe quality. Basic IS Basic and quality costs money. This school system will have a basic education plan not a quality education plan, any and all additional programs will be cut. Donna Travis WILL BE LIVID! It isn't a game Ms Travis, but apparently you think it is. When Warwick residents are lined up to sell their houses and get the hell out of Warwick, who will you blame? The schools? The remaining residents will be LIVID because they will be left holding the bag and that bag will be held open by you looking for more tax money. Wake up people, wake up the sleeping giant of warwick taxpayers and let Donna Travis and the council know how you feel. Schools should be the gem of the city and used to attract residents.

Donna Travis wouldn't know a good budget if she saw it and she hasn't seen a budget without tax increases for the city in every year she has been in office. No additional funding has gone to the schools in years. She has no problem voting for tax increases and she has voted for a tax increase every time Mayor Avedisian sends one her way. She says she only ratifies the mayors budget, the council has the ability to amend the budget, but do they have the guts to amend the budget? Usually not, will this be the year?

From: Schools, council head for budget showdown

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