Town of Johnston granted oversight of school committee finances

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — The Johnston School Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to give the town oversight of the school committee’s finances.

Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. and the school committee reached an agreement on an oversight rather than the takeover he announced last month.

Polisena provided the following statement after the vote:

“We appreciate the Johnston School Committee for their willingness to cooperate and collaborate with the mayor and the town in the oversight of their finances and passing this resolution unanimously.”

The Johnston School Committee and Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. reach an agreement going forward with the school department’s finances, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (WLNE)

Last month, Polisena said a takeover was necessary because the district ended last fiscal year with a deficit of about $1 million and is projected to have a multi-million-dollar deficit in the current fiscal year.

The committee said they didn’t believe a takeover would “improve educational outcomes” for students.

The mayor will now review the spending of the school department but will not take over administrative duties.