By JOHN HOWELL Will next fall's sixth graders return to their elementary schools, or will they become the first class to be folded into new middle schools at Vets and Winman? The plan is for the two junior high schools, now comprised of 7th and 8th
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Will next fall’s sixth graders return to their elementary schools, or will they become the first class to be folded into new middle schools at Vets and Winman?
The plan is for the two junior high schools, now comprised of 7th and 8th grade, to transition to middle schools. But the cost of that plan could change things. Talk of a delay is circulating. The School Committee could make a decision at tonight’s meeting at Toll Gate High School starting at 7.
The department’s chief budget officer Anthony Ferrucci put the cost of implementing the plan at $2.5 million to $2.8 million. That’s money the School Committee may be hard-pressed to find in view of other increased expenses projected for the 2017-18 budget. The current school budget is $163.8 million. The school administration is to have a proposed budget to the committee by first meeting in April.
Delaying the conversion to middle schools would allow the committee to follow through with elementary school consolidation by closing Wickes and Randall Holden Schools and re-purposing John Brown Francis as an early childhood center for an estimated savings of $2.24 million. Initially, the committee planned for the elementary school consolidation to take effect as of this September, but after being criticized for hastily pushing through the plan delayed it for a year.
“What do we do about 6th grade,” Ferrucci asked of the upcoming academic year. He said transportation is a big “cost driver,” as are additional staffing positions that would be required at Vets. With no offset in saving from closing schools, the cost would need to be built into the budget.
“They,” Ferrucci said of the committee, “may consider delaying [middle school] one year.”
The concern is that the administration is geared up to make the transition. Warwick is one of the few districts in the state to still have junior high schools.
“The desire is to get to the middle school model,” said Ferrucci. “We don’t want the can kicked down the road for another year.”
If middle school was the only added cost the district is facing next year, it may be manageable.
Although the district still hasn’t reached a contract with the Warwick Teachers Union, it has been adhering to teacher step increases. Ferrucci put the cost of “normal” step increases at an added $500,000. On top of that, the district that has faced virtually no increases in health insurance cost for the past three years could be faced with increases of 7 to 8 percent. Ferrucci said the district that self-insures through WB Health had a “really bad year” that depleted reserves. Ferrucci put the added cost of health care coverage at $1 million.
There’s more to consider.
To complete the issuance of Chromebooks at high school, plus other technological upgrades, Ferrucci said the department is looking at an added $1 million. Then there’s the impact of a contract should the parties reach an agreement.
“Do we carry something hoping that we’re settling?” he asks. That begs the question, what should that number be? Ferrucci doesn’t provide a number but points out every one percent increase in teacher pay equates to $1 million in additional expenses.
Ferrucci acknowledges there could be an offset in retirements and breakage, or the amount saved by the lower pay of a replacement teacher. Breakage is expected to amount to about $850,000 this year.
There’s no saying what it could be next year. Ironically, a contract agreement could have yet another consequence. Ferrucci said some teachers planning on retiring might delay that action to take advantage of the increased retirement pay they would receive under the higher rates of a new contract, with the result being reduced savings to the department and even greater stress on the budget.
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richardcorrente
Warwick Taxpayers (intentionally capitalized) are funding the School Committee to the tune of $160,000,000 a year already and they can't be trusted to spend it wisely. Here's proof. Our student population has crashed from 17,000 to under 9,000 today.
They receive more than half of every tax dollar and they aren't accountable to anyone! Not the City Council. Not the parents. Not the students and not the taxpayers that are paying the tab. How is that working out? We have teachers with no contracts, students with no Chromebooks, buildings that are literally falling down, black mold, brown water, falling ceilings and NO HEAT! The School Committee has received over a BILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS since 2010 and they haven't been accountable for a dime.
Anyone that thinks we should give them more should have their head examined. We had a bond issue for $25,000,000 in 2006 for this very issue and the Mayor STILL hasn't spent all of that taxpayer-funded loan. The $160 million they receive EACH YEAR is with NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE TAXPAYERS! And they want more? Are you kidding me??? Don't be fooled by the need. I agree. It is there, but why haven't they spent any of the BILLION on it, and what makes us believe they will start now? I'm not buying it. You shouldn't either. Their greed made this mess. Giving them millions more will only compound it. The School Committee is hell-bent on increasing their numbers (30+% in the last year alone) while simultaneously reducing the number of teachers (also approximately 30%).
Don't let them get away with it.
I won't either.
Happy Spring everyone. Go Patriots!
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Report this
Justanidiot
musta bin all the illeagle immigrunts non tax payers that voted for the other guy. mayer corrente is our guy he is doing a grate job
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Justanidiot,
Musta bin.
Rick
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Report this
Thecaptain
The Non-Taxpayer Mayor continues to talk about people paying taxes. He obviously is speaking about everyone other than himself. Here are some facts: This has to do with the Non-Taxpayer Mayor and his delinquent car taxes.
Fact - Your 2009-10 car tax payments - ALL PAID LATE
Fact - Your 2010-11 car tax payments due July 15 2010 not paid until January 25 2012. 18 months late.
Fact - your 2011-12 car tax payments due July 15 2011 not paid until January 25 2012. 6 months late. (as you were not able to re-register the vehicle)
Fact - your 2012-13 car tax payments due July 15 2012 not paid until March 3 2013. 8 months late.
Fact - your 2016-17 car tax payments due July 15 2016 - No payments made as of this date. Late again. Habitually late.
Then there is the issue of the same time that you weren't paying your property taxes, mysteriously, your car, although still parked at 177 Grand View Ave, in Warwick, mysteriously came off the tax roles and no taxes at all were paid on it. Most likely because it was unregistered, yet still on the road . So between 2013 - 2016 to what city were you paying a car tax to for the same car that has been in use all this time? Another example of the Non-Taxpayer Mayor
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Report this
Jonduenuts
Dear Just an Idiot,
Can you do everyone a favor and respond with a comment that is actually relevant than living up to your name. You just make comments that only lessen the quality of dialogue that should be taking place. Making a dumba** comment all the time is the reason why we're in the mess we are in ,and why people don't take the issues serious. I am tired of seeing you spread your ignorance like a disease in all the comment sections.If your going to make a comment make a comment not a non-sequitur. I only assume you will reply with another asinine statement with regards to my criticism.I will be more impressed if you talk about the issues.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 Report this
Justanidiot
Satire is lost on the uneducated.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear readers,
Rob Cote, AKA "TheCaptain", states that I paid my car taxes late on 5 separate occasions. He is absolutely right. As a result, the city of Warwick received an additional dollar or two from me. Maybe even three.
Happy Spring everyone.
Rick Corrente
P.S.Dear Jonduenuts,
Justanidiot has just as much right to comment as you or me and his comments mean no harm to anyone. If his method bothers you, don't read it. I enjoy reading his wit. There is wisdom behind it, much like Yogi Berra or Will Rogers. His satire may be lost on those who demand that there is enormous bad in everything and everyone; those that destructively criticize rather than constructively criticize, but, for the rest of us, Justanidiot brings out the funny side of life. That's a good thing Jonduenuts. I, for one, wish Justanidiot all the best. His comments aren't "dumba" at all if you read past the intentional spelling errors. I think you should give him "annutta chanse". (See. You laughed! What;s wrong with that?)
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 Report this
Thecaptain
Dear Jonduenuts,
I agree with you 100%. Its good to be in the company of academia.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 Report this
Jonduenuts
Dear Mr.Corrente,
Nowhere in my comment did I say just an idiot couldn't make a comment or did I wish him ill will. I stated that his remedial phonetically spelled gibberish isn't adding anything to the conversation and that if he actually made a worthwhile comment it would help the conversation. You like a typical politician change the topic to suite your own agenda, which in this case is trying to suck up to voters for 2018. You should have done a better job in preparing for the debate against Avedisian, maybe you could have received more than 35% of the vote.
Continuing on, you call " Just an Idiot "moronic comments satirical and that it is witty banter.Then you continue by insulting people like Yogi Berra by putting "Just an idiot "in the same category of someone who was an icon . Yogi Berra actually had humorous quotes that were memorable ,what about "Just an idiots" quote or quotes , please point out what is so memorable and funny. You also say that I can't find the humor in his quotes because I am all doom in gloom and that I should look on the brighter side of political bodies wasting taxpayers money and the inability of elected political officials to do the job they were elected to do.Well then your a hypocrite ,because isn't that what your original comment was about or why you ran for office. If it is so great and things aren't so bad then why are you trying to politically smear our elected officials. Why are you continuing to campaign by making destructive criticism. You 're just the same as the people you criticize and I for one do not find the humor in getting screwed by political figures, agendas or policies that don't have the citizens best interest at heart. Having a laissez faire attitude is what got us in the mess we are in now, and its going to be hard to dig ourselves out of this hole we are in. One thing I do find funny and humorous is how you make light of not paying your taxes, there are a lot of other individuals that do the same, which is why people who do pay their taxes on time ,all the time, like me and the Captain are pissed.
P.S
Whats upsetting is that I actually defended you on a few occasions but that is before you made it clear that your not worth defending. Your a typical sycophant politician and I for one will not vote for you and will make sure to tell everyone that the "Taxpayer's Mayor " isn't any different than the people he is destructively criticizing.
Butt youse wonts cares cuz youse finds its funnies and imma sure the ireagal immagrants and just a moron duz too.
Thursday, February 9, 2017 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Jonduenuts,
Wow, did I touch a nerve!
Hey Jon, if I offended you by defending Justanidiot, I'm sincerely sorry.
It sounded to me like you were wishing "ill will" upon this colorful-commenter. I feel that Justanidiots' comments are well worth reading even if you "stated that his remedial phonetically spelled gibberish isn't adding anything to the conversation."
I'm sure you meant to be respectful and sincere. It just didn't sound that way to me.
Again, I'm sorry.
Happy Spring Jon.
Happy Spring Jus.
Rick
Saturday, February 11, 2017 Report this