Warwick Needs $2.2M for FY25 Schools Deficit

Warwick Schools Director of Finance Craig Enos informed the Warwick School Committee during its Tuesday night meeting that the district is facing an approximate $4.4 million deficit for FY25, which he and Superintendent William McCaffrey propose cutting in half by withdrawing $2.2 million from the West Bay Health line item.

During public comment, Warwick Teachers Union President Darlene Netcoh noted the roots of the stubborn accounting revenue gap began 15 years ago.

“At the last meeting, they actually voted to request some more money from the city. And they will be appearing before the City Council on Sept. 22, so I think it is imperative for members of this school community to show up and to once again advocate for our school department receiving the funds that it needs,” Netcoh said.

“The city under-funded our schools back in about 2009 or 2010, cut us five percent below the maintenance of effort, and the only city or town in the state that never returned it. So as this Budget Commission has been fine-tooth combing everything for the past couple of months and approving every last nut, bolt, wrench, whatever, and looking for money here and there, I think they’ve left no stone unturned,” she continued, “They have proven and our finance department has proven that this school system was under-funded back in May, when the city approved the budget, and it’s time to properly fund us.”

FY25 Schools Deficit: A Year in Review

Originally reported as a  $9 million deficit in late 2024, the Commission had identified a cumulative $1.7 million deficit from FY24 and FY25, by the time of the four-person body’s May 2025 meeting.

By the start of 2025, the Warwick School Committee had reduced the $9 million deficit by $2.8 million. In February, Committee budget cuts reduced the FY25 schools deficit to $3.1 million.

Last week, the School Budget Commission presented a $201 million budget to the city for approval.  However, Enos noted the total amount of revenue for Warwick Public Schools, including state and city appropriations, was only $197 million. Enos and McCaffrey proposed the $2.2M withdrawal from the West Bay Health line item “to reduce the cost of the increase for health care that we had.”

The next step is for the commission to create a deficit reduction plan.

“I also want to express my thanks to the budget commission and all their work, as well as the City Finance Department,” said  Galligan. “I’m happy that you guys are forming a relationship there and opening up the lines of communication.”

“I have a great team,” Enos said. “I have a great administration team. I think we have a great Superintendent. It is imperative that we work together as a team.”

Committee Member David Testa said Enos was “the right person at the right time.”

To save money, the School Department eliminated many teaching positions from the FY’2026 budget.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” said Committee Member Leah Hazelwood. 

New Pilgrim, Toll Gate High Build Updates

There was an update on the new Pilgrim and Toll Gate High Schools.

John Bates, Project Manager for Left Field, told the committee that soil remediation at Pilgrim is ongoing. The soil will be sent to a lab for testing. Bates said the results would be delivered in two weeks.

At Toll Gate High School, Bates said Drum Rock School has been demolished.

Last month, the school committee voted to amend the cost of construction for Pilgrim High School to $153, 427, 714. That amount is $8 million more than the Dimeo Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).

Bates said completion of the schools would be delayed. Pilgrim was slated to be completed in August 2027. That date has been pushed forward to November 2027.

Toll Gate was expected to be completed in August 2027. Bates said the new move-in date would be December 2027, during winter vacation. 

Bates said no GMP for Toll Gate would be provided until November. There will be a “significant” update to the project website, featuring construction photos and videos, Bates added.

In November 2022, voters approved a $350 million bond to pay for the two new high schools. Last October, it was revealed that the cost of construction for the schools had escalated to $387.8 million, $38.7 million more than was originally estimated.

Author: Joe Siegel

Joe Siegel is a regular contributing writer for WarwickPost.com. His reporting has appeared in The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro and EDGE.