Coventry parents concerned about possible changes in school district

COVENTRY, R.I. (WLNE) — Coventry’s school committee is looking at restructuring the district to address inequalities in its schools as enrollment numbers drop year over year.

But parents are worried the changes will break up a tight-knit community and cause more headaches than it’s worth.

A proposal was brought forward last week to restructure how Coventry’s school district grades work.

The plan would turn Blackrock Elementary School into a pre-k school and learning center, sending the nearly 300 students to other schools.

“We feel like a family,” said parent Dorrine Albright. “Blackrock is a place where it’s not just a school. You get to know people, you bring them into your life.”

“My son and daughter have been going to Blackrock for their entire schooling career,” said parent Hannah Eagleson. “It’s our home. The school is our home.”

The new pre-k program at Blackrock would branch out to elementary schools at Tiogue and Washington Oak.

Those schools would feed into intermediate schools at Hopkins Hill and Western Coventry, respectively, before coming back together for middle and high school.

“The way [Superintendent Don Cowart] presented things at the meeting was either dishonest or misinformed,” Albright said. “And, either way, that’s unacceptable for someone who’s in charge of our schools. He kept touting East Greenwich and Barrington as places where the split-model elementary works, and both of them have voted to return to a single elementary school.”

Coventry school board members explained they’ve seen a year-over-year decrease in enrollment, and say these changes could bring better opportunities to students.

ABC 6 News reached out to Coventry superintendent Don Cowart for comments on the plan but did not receive any response.

“We’re hoping that the school committee does what we elected them to do, looks out for our kids,” Albright said. “I do have faith in them. I think that they really do have our best interests at heart. I just hope to see it when this does come to vote.”

The next Coventry school committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25, but no agenda has been set for that meeting yet.