The Newport School Committee met Tuesday night, addressing topics including book banning concerns, transgender student rights, and school policies.
During the public comment period, 15 speakers voiced opinions on issues such as transgender student policies and book banning. Some expressed support for the district’s current policies protecting LGBTQIA students, while others argued for changes to policies regarding transgender students’ use of bathrooms and participation in sports.
Quintin Foster, representing East Bay Community Action Program, said, “EPCAP urges you not to make any changes to your policies at this time and to continue to protect the rights of LGBTQIA youth in Newport.”
Robert Chiaradio from Westerly argued against the district’s transgender policies, claiming they discriminate against “99% of this district’s students, especially our girls.”
Several speakers opposed book-banning efforts.
Transgender rights and book banning dominate the public forum portion of Newport School Committee meeting
Residents express strong opinions on LGBTQ+ student policies, with some threatening legal action against the district
by Ryan Belmore
Superintendent Jermain presented the district’s new “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative, focusing on career and college readiness, ownership of learning, real-world responsibility, and emerging leadership.
“These are the things, every single meeting you’re going to hear either me during the superintendent’s update or during another part of our agenda, speaking to what are we doing in our classrooms and what are we doing with our instruction?” Jermain said.
The committee approved several action items, including teacher recalls, updates to the staff handbook, and various contracts for educational services and professional development.
Director Jacques reported on the district’s financial status, noting a deficit of about $425,000 for the previous school year, largely due to unexpected out-of-district tuition costs.
“We landed at around $425,000 deficit, which is less than 1% of our operating swing,” Jacques said.
Updates were provided on the Rogers High School construction project, which is over 55% complete. Concerns about declining enrollment, particularly at the kindergarten level, were discussed.
The meeting concluded with updates on upcoming events and subcommittee meetings, including a workshop on cell phone usage scheduled for Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
The next regular school committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Portrait of Graduate Initiative
The Newport School Committee heard from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain about the “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative, outlining key competencies for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
The initiative focuses on four core areas: career and college readiness, ownership and persistence of learning, real-world responsibility, and emerging leadership.
Superintendent Jermain presented the initiative, describing it as the culmination of extensive planning and feedback from various stakeholders.
“This is what the final Newport portrait of a graduate became after many meetings, focus groups, getting feedback, surveys,” Jermain said. “We want all of us to reflect upon career and college readiness. How are we supporting our students?”
Jermain emphasized the importance of real-world responsibility and emerging leadership, stating, “How are we as adults, as leaders, as teachers, as staff, having our own students start to take on that responsibility?”
Rebecca Bolan, committee chair, suggested, “I recommend that we hang this in every single classroom, starting in pre-k. Even if the kids can’t read it, the teachers can and the parents can.”
Jermain assured the committee that teachers are already incorporating many of these elements into their instruction.
“I think the best and the most creative ideas we’re going to get for all four of those that come from the teachers,” Jermain said. “We’re going to see things. I have no idea. I don’t know what, I don’t know.”
The district plans to provide regular updates on the initiative’s progress, with quarterly reports to the school committee.
Newport Schools Face Enrollment Decline, Especially in Kindergarten
Newport Public Schools are facing a decline in enrollment, particularly at the kindergarten level, mirroring a statewide trend in Rhode Island.
Superintendent Jermain reported the enrollment drop during the school committee meeting, noting that the district is closely monitoring the situation.
“Enrollment is down. Meaning we’re not following the same trends as we’ve seen in the past,” Jermain said. “It is especially down in the kindergarten level.”
The superintendent said she has been working with Principal Westman to track the numbers. They plan to reassess the situation in the coming weeks to determine if the lower enrollment is a lasting trend or if families are simply registering late due to vacations.
“We agreed to come back to the table next Monday,” Jermain explained. “See what happens two weeks out from when we met last week and see where we are there.”
Jermain noted that many districts across Rhode Island are experiencing similar drops in student numbers.
School Committee Chair Rebecca Bolan expressed surprise at the final enrollment report for the previous school year, which showed a total of 1,775 students. This marks the first time in recent memory that Newport’s enrollment has fallen below 1,800 students.
“I had never seen it below 1,800. It was getting close, but that happened just at the end of the year, pretty much,” Bolan said.
Bolan suggested reviving a previously used mobility report that tracked where students were going when they left the district.
“Whatever we can do to find out,” she said, emphasizing the importance of understanding the trend.
School Committee Accepts $10,000 Donation for International Studies Program
The Newport School Committee has accepted a $10,000 donation from Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr. for the Rogers High School International Studies and Leadership program.
The donation, announced at Tuesday’s school committee meeting, will support field studies and guest speaker programs for the decade-old initiative.
Colleen Turner, history department head at Rogers High School, said the program began 10 years ago after students requested a class focused on current events and international issues.
“The philosophy of the program was to put as many leaders in front of students as we could,” Turner said. “So that you never know who a student might connect with.”
The program partners with the Naval War College to bring international officers to speak with students about global issues.
Captain Mark Turner, who supports the program, said it has helped students build relationships and opened their eyes to potential career paths.
“I’ve had students go on to college to study international relations, diplomacy. And some have chose to wear their nation’s cloth to defend this nation upon graduation,” he said.
Principal Jeffrey Vance called it “one of the most popular programs that we have in the building.”
He noted the program’s impact on students from diverse backgrounds, recalling Brazilian students who connected with speakers from their home country.
“It is a phenomenal, phenomenal program,” Vance said. “And the fact that we’re receiving funds from outside organizations to help support it, just show the level and the value that it has at Rogers High School.”
School committee members expressed enthusiasm for the program, with some requesting to observe classes.
The donation will help fund field trips to Boston and New York, with potential plans for a Washington, D.C. trip in the future.
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