Warwick Schools Budget: Picozzi Contributes $2M, Council Reviews FY26

WARWICK, RI — Hours after Warwick Lecturers protested exterior Warwick Metropolis Corridor urging officers to extend the Warwick Faculties price range, Mayor Frank Picozzi elevated college funding to $2.1 million.

The brand new metropolis appropriation to varsities is now $143 million. Additionally, well being care financial savings might present one other $1 million, practically closing the hole between Picozzi’s unique proposed price range and the $144,994,757 funding the varsity district requested, discussed at Thursday’s special meeting on the school budget. 

“We have been at a monetary cliff. We nonetheless have some challenges, however we’re getting there,” stated Metropolis Councilman Invoice Muto.

Muto famous the district remains to be brief about $1,525,000 with Picozzi’s improve to the price range.

Picozzi stated that improve, making the overall quantity for colleges $2,194,746 from town, had been managed with out  affecting the estimated tax charges for his price range proposal.

“It doesn’t alter our estimated tax charge,” Picozzi stated Monday night time.

McCaffrey stated the extra funding for colleges was appreciated, and thanked Picozzi.

“It does make a distinction,” he stated.

McCaffrey stated the potential financial savings of about $1 million on healthcare is topic to contractual clauses, which can not apply to your complete yr, so the final word quantity saved stays to be seen.

Councilman Jeremy Rix and Councilman Bryan Nappa requested concerning the 20 Warwick Lecturers Union and 25 WISE positions lower, and in the event that they have been prone to be restored with the brand new funding.

McCaffrey stated the introduced layoffs are primarily based on scholar inhabitants and enrollment, which can be adjusted if numbers of scholars on the primary day of college is greater than anticipated.

“I’d be fairly assured in saying that many of the positions is not going to come again subsequent yr,” McCaffrey stated.

Nappa requested if sports activities packages can be spared.

McCaffrey stated he was searching for efficiencies in healthcare first. After that, he stated, he intends to take a look at the essential schooling plan and see what there’s left to fund.

Lecturers Rally Supporting Warwick Faculties Price range

Previous to the price range listening to, members of the Warwick Instructor’s Union protested exterior Warwick Metropolis Corridor, urging Councilors to extend funding to the Warwick College Division.

Thursday, a day after showing earlier than the Warwick Metropolis Council throughout their particular assembly to debate the district’s price range,  Performing Superintendent William McCaffrey despatched a letter to folks and the group asking their assist to extend native metropolis funding (support) to the varsity division.

“The Mayor’s Really helpful Price range proposes a rise of simply $409,000 to our colleges’ working price range. This represents a mere .29 p.c improve over our present native appropriation of roughly $141 million. By comparability, different metropolis departments are proposed to obtain working price range will increase of as much as 10 p.c,” McCaffrey wrote.

He famous the district had already lower 20 academics and 25 different employees positions, a complete of 45, and in addition in the reduction of on non-staffing spending for the FY26 price range. He wrote the group should do all the pieces it will probably to forestall extra reductions straight affecting college students’ studying expertise.

“I strongly encourage you to attend, make your voice heard, and present the Metropolis Council that Warwick households care deeply about the way forward for our colleges,” McCaffrey wrote. Monday afternoon, dozens of teachers and parents did that, according to a WPRI report.