School Committee Adds 283K to FY20 Budget

WARWICK – The Warwick School Committee adopted a recommended revised budget of $170.1 million for FY20 at Warwick Veterans Middle School, reinstating a few items Tuesday after word of increased state aid.

“Based on the receipt of the state’s final allocation of state aid to schools, Warwick Public Schools can anticipate receiving an additional $283,151 in state aid,” Finance and Operations Director Anthony Ferrucci wrote in a Sept. 4 letter to Superintendent Phil Thornton.

This additional revenue will include $200,000 to hire a Capital Projects State Housing Aid Application consultant. $12,169 will be reinstated for student activity account teacher stipends, along with $16,200 for student security, and $15,000 for graduation rentals, plus $25,977 to reinstate late after-school bus service.

Ferrucci noted approximately $3.9 million had been cut from the budget, which has caused hardships.

“At some point in time, we will have people realizing that things aren’t going to get done because of those cuts,” Ferrucci added.

The committee unanimously approved an amended FY20 budget of $165.9 million last June. The committee had made cuts of $7,753,000, which included the elimination of all sports programs in the district.

Ten teacher assistant positions were also cut, along with funds for building improvements, mentoring, uniforms, equipment for schools, and $420,000 for transportation. The original school budget was $175 million.

The city council agreed to restore $3.9 million in funding, which allowed for all sports programs to be reinstated.

The committee also had a second reading of the Free and Reduced Food Services policy.

The policy reads in part:

“The Warwick Public School District and the Food Service Vendor are committed to providing meals to students who choose to participate in the program, however, there is a responsibility on the part of the students and parents to satisfy all financial obligations to the lunch program.

The Warwick Public School District and the Food Service Vendor encourage parents and guardians to prepay meals for their children thereby eliminating situations that could develop during lunchtime over money owed. Prepayments for lunch and breakfast can be made via check or through the online payment website. Cash and check payments will continue to be accepted at each school, however, payment made through the online payment system is preferred. Adults do not have charge on account privileges. Meals must be prepaid or be paid for at the time a lunch is requested.

Warwick Public Schools acknowledges that student performance is impacted by a student’s food intake during any given day. Warwick Public Schools will allow students with lunch/breakfast debt to charge a breakfast and/or lunch, with payment expected to be made within the next two (2) school days. Students with funds owed will not be allowed to buy a la carte items.

Parents must submit a new lunch application yearly at the start of each new school year. In addition, throughout the course of the school year, when household income changes, parents should submit a new lunch application. Applications can be submitted at any time and are available during registration, the lunch office and through the individual schools, as well as on

the district’s website. Free/reduced applications will also become a part of all paperwork provided to families of students transferring into Warwick Public Schools. While we strongly encourage families to apply for free/reduced meal benefits, the final application responsibility lies with the parents. Warwick Public Schools cannot wipe out any student balances incurred as a

result of a failure to submit meal benefit applications in a timely manner.”

The school committee also approved a change order request made by Ahlborg Construction for the Bond Funded Roofing Project at Toll Gate High School. The Purchase Order as authorized for the project was $287,402.00.

The Proposed Change Order was $1,940.00. The Proposed Purchase Order after the Change is $289,342.00.