Budget problems mount for Warwick School District

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: rturco@abc6.com

WARWICK, R.I. – Warwick Schools’ Superintendent Philip Thornton appealed to city officials Monday morning in hopes of securing additional funding for the district.

Thornton is seeking an additional $5.3-million in order to avoid drastic $6.6-million budget drastic cuts recently approved by the school committee, which include cutting 15 janitors as well as more than a dozen current teachers and library workers.

“We’ve already really cut the meat, if you will,” Thornton told ABC6 News. “We’ve cut some of the bone, as well.”

These cuts technically put the district back on track, but Thornton calls them, “problematic.” He explains that’s why he initially considered a controversial measure to make up the difference.

Thornton had contacted State Education Commissioner Ken Wagner to request alternative funding sources, such as charging parents fees for things like school busing and sports programs. Wagner denied those requests, saying he lacked the legal authority to do so.

Interim Mayor Joseph Solomon says $5.3-million is a steep request from the school department. “You could not raise taxes enough legally to generate that type of revenue,” he said, explaining coming up with that kind of money would likely mean taking from other city departments’ funding.

The school district has dealt with decreased enrollment, eliminating nine schools through mergers in the past ten years.

Meanwhile parents like Kerri Manson, president of the Wyman Elementary PTA, want answers. She feels these ongoing issues all come back to the leadership.

“This didn’t happen overnight; this didn’t happen last year,” Manson told ABC6 News. “This has been going on for many years and it’s time for Warwick to ask why.”

Thornton plans to meet again with city officials at a later date.

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