Warwick Schools Nix Admin Positions

Warwick School Committee Chairman Shaun Galligan announced the elimination of the Assistant Superintendent position at Tuesday’s School Committee meeting.

“That’s a big change for this district,” Galligan said, commending Superintendent William McCaffrey for reducing the number of administrative positions.

The committee voted 5 to 0 to approve the restructuring of admin positions.

That shuffle included promoting Joseph Napolillo, previously Assistant Director of IT, as the district’s new IT Director. The Assistant Director of IT position was eliminated.

Lisa Schultz, formerly Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and RTI, is the new Executive Director of Elementary Education, replacing Patricia Cousineau, who retired at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Shultz will also be responsible for her previous duties. 

Timothy Kane, formerly director at Warwick Area Career and Technical Center, will serve as Executive Director of Secondary Schools. He will also handle his previous duties as WACTC Assistant Principal. 

McCaffrey and Napolillo will also be solely responsible for the duties they performed as assistant administrators.

The committee also approved an extension of the AlphaBest contract for one year in a 5 to 0 vote. The school department entered into the initial contract with the after school child care services provider in 2022.

1. The contract states, in part: Warwick and AlphaBEST agree that the term of the Existing Agreement is hereby extended through August 31, 2026 (the “Extended Term”), unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Existing Agreement.
2. AlphaBEST will pay a monthly 3 percent net revenue share for each school with an AlphaBEST program up to the first 59 students enrolled. Should enrollment reach 60 or more students at any point during the 2025/2026 school year, then the monthly net revenue share will be increased to 5 percent for any months with 60 or more students per school. The monthly net revenue share payments will be calculated based on gross tuition less all discounts, bank card fees and refunds.
3. AlphaBEST will provide Before and After School Child Care Services at the following schools during the 2025/2026 school year:
   1. Cedar Hill Elementary, 35 Red Chimey Dr., Warwick, RI 02886;
   2. Lippitt Elementary, 30 Almy St., Warwick, RI 02886;
   3. Robertson Elementary, 70 Nausauket Rd., Warwick, RI 02886;
   4. Scott Elementary, 833 Centerville Rd., Warwick, RI 02886;
   5. Sherman Elementary, 120 Killey Ave., Warwick, RI 02889; and
   6. Warwick Neck Elementary, 150 Lennox Ave., Warwick, RI 02889.

Schultz presented an Academic Update for Spring 2025. There was noticeable growth in the Math and Reading scores, in which Park Elementary, Warwick Veterans Middle School, Winman Middle School, and Norwood Elementary School showed the highest growth and performance for the entire district.

ELA scores for the district were above the state average for 2025. However, the ELA scores were down 10 points over 2024. 

Toll Gate High School’s ELA scores were down 13 points compared to the previous year. Toll Gate’s Math scores were down two points compared to 2024.

Pilgrim’s ELA scores dropped eight points compared to 2024. Pilgrim’s Math scores were up by five points.

Schultz also noted the top passing AP courses at Toll Gate, which included 2D Art and Design/Drawing with 100 percent, English Language and Composition with 97 percent, English Literature and Composition with 95 percent, Precalculus with 95 percent, and Psychology with 88 percent.

The total number of AP students was 123. The total number of AP students at Pilgrim was 196. The complete report can be accessed on the school district website – www.warwickschools.org.

“The progress being made is very impressive,” said committee member David Testa, noting the improved scores were a “testament to all the hard work up and down the district.”

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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.