Public education is one of the most important investments we make in Newport’s future. My approach to improving Newport Public Schools begins with a simple principle: students must come first. Every decision involving funding, staffing, programming, or long-term planning should be measured by whether it improves educational opportunities and prepares our students for success.
With the new Rogers High School complete, we have made a significant investment in our educational infrastructure. Now we must make an equally strong investment in what happens inside our schools. That means supporting and retaining excellent teachers, strengthening early literacy and mathematics, expanding STEM, arts and music, and providing the academic and student-support resources necessary for every child to succeed.
We also need to recognize that success after graduation looks different for every student. Newport should continue expanding Career and Technical Education, financial literacy, life skills, Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment opportunities, while developing stronger partnerships with local businesses, higher education institutions, nonprofits, and community organizations. Students should graduate prepared for college, the skilled trades, military service, entrepreneurship, or direct entry into the workforce.
Improving attendance must also be a priority. Chronic absenteeism cannot be addressed simply by looking at numbers. We need to understand why students are missing school and work collaboratively with families, educators, counselors, healthcare providers, and community partners to remove those barriers. Students themselves should have a voice in identifying solutions.
As a City Councilor, I have advocated for stronger collaboration between the City Council and School Committee, greater financial transparency, and long-term planning. I co-sponsored the Academic Integration Committee Resolution, approved by the City Council, to encourage broader community partnerships that strengthen educational opportunities.
Finally, while Middletown has chosen not to pursue regionalization at this time, Newport should remain open to future collaboration. Any future regionalization discussion must begin with an educational plan, not simply a financial one, and demonstrate clear benefits for students.
Our goal should be ambitious: make Newport Public Schools a school system families actively choose, teachers want to join and remain in, and students are proud to attend. Investing in our students is investing in Newport’s future.