Town and school officials welcomed the idea Tuesday of sitting down and discussing how #MiddletownRI should handle a proposal from Newport to restart school regionalization talks. A meeting date hasn't been set, but was expected in coming weeks.
COUNCIL, SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS REGIONALIZATION
MIDDLETOWN, RI (SEPTEMBER 2, 2025) – The Town Council and School Committee will sit down to discuss what course to take on regionalizing schools with Newport.
During a meeting Tuesday night in Town Hall, the Town Council said it was important to hear from education officials directly before making a decision on whether to accept or reject the city’s invitation to restart conversations about combining school systems.
By agreeing to meet with the school board, council members said that should not be taken as an endorsement or rejection of regionalization. Rather, they wanted to do their due diligence and get all the latest facts before determining what to do next.
A date for the council-school board regionalization session was not set Tuesday night, but was expected in coming weeks.
“I think we should meet with our School Department and lay everything out on the table and see which direction you want to go,” council President Paul M. Rodrigues said, who asked the item be included in Tuesday’s council docket.
It came about after the Newport City Council and school board revived the issue over the summer.
Out of that conversation came a resolution approved by a split City Council last month asking for Middletown to take the three following actions related to regionalization:
- Appointing local representatives to an Academic Integration Advisory Commission.
- Participating in a meeting between the Middletown Town Council and Newport City Council to talk about creating an endowment fund to improve educational opportunities with additional state reimbursement money generated from regionalization.
- Holding a regionalization summit between the councils and School Committees from each community with the Rhode Island Department of Education to go over what regionalization could look like for both communities.
To read a memo from Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown for Rodrigues on the matter, go to https://mdl.town/Regionalization-Memo-82625 online.
On Aug. 21, the Middletown School Committee made a unanimous vote not to reopen regionalization with Newport and prohibiting Superintendent Billy Niemeyer and his staff from spending any time on the subject.
To read the School Committee’s complete statement on why it opted not to pursue regionalization again, go to https://mdl.town/LTE-Regionalization online.
Over the past two decades plus, regionalization has been an off and on again subject between Middletown and Newport.
Most recently in November 2022, Middletown voters overwhelmingly approved plans to form a joint School Committee, a combined school administration and other measures with Newport.
However, City By The Sea voters rejected the idea narrowly, ending that round of conversation.
On Tuesday night, the council said it was important to do its homework with the city’s request before making a final determination — together.
Agreeing with School Committee Chairperson Greg Huet, they said they welcomed the discussion. Town Clerk Wendy J.W. Marshall was asked to work with Huet and school officials to find dates that work mutually for both groups.
In response to a question from the council, Assistant Town Solicitor Michael Monti said based on his view of the upcoming discussion, most of it would need to be handled in public. At the same time, Monti said there were components that could be eligible for executive session behind closed doors.
Council members said they looked forward to sitting down with the school board and do what’s best for Middletown and its students.
“I absolutely do (want to speak to the School Committee),” council Vice President Thomas Welch III said. “I think it’s shortsighted for us…(to meet with Newport) when we haven’t discussed it amongst ourselves.
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Regional
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
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