Reorganizing schools

Plan would reduce personnel by 47.1 FTEs, saving $4.8 million

By John Howell
Posted 1/21/16

Turning to the school department’s “Connect-Ed” system, which calls and sends emails to every student, parent or guardian, and technology available over the Internet and smartphones, …

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Reorganizing schools

Plan would reduce personnel by 47.1 FTEs, saving $4.8 million

Posted

Turning to the school department’s “Connect-Ed” system, which calls and sends emails to every student, parent or guardian, and technology available over the Internet and smartphones, Superintendent Philip Thornton unveiled Monday evening his “blueprint for a more efficient and effective school system.”

In response to the consolidation of secondary schools that will happen with the start of school in September, Thornton is calling for a reduction of 47.1 full-time equivalents, or FTEs, which includes teachers, classified staff and administrators. The district has about 900 teachers. That reduction in personnel, he projects, would save an estimated $4.8 million, which he would like to see “re-purposed” to meet the cost of a new teacher contract, Chromebooks for all middle school students, and additional busing costing related to the closings of Aldrich and Gorton Junior High Schools and the “re-purposing” of Vets High as a junior high. This will leave the city with two junior highs, Vets and Winman, and two senior highs, Toll Gate and Pilgrim.

Consistent with statements made in recent years, Mayor Scott Avedisian reaffirmed yesterday he would support school “re-purposing” funds saved by consolation for other school purposes.

In an interview Tuesday, Thornton said he has “a duty” to implement a consolidation plan and “right-size the district.”

While Thornton and his staff have worked on the plan for several weeks and he said he has shared ideas with the School Committee and Avedisian, the Warwick Teachers Union did not see it until it was released Monday night.

“Dr. Phil didn’t speak to us,” a union staff member said Tuesday.

She said that union president George Landrie would review the proposal and that he would address his concerns with Thornton.

“The enrollment has gone from 19,000 to 9,000; it makes sense to reduce the workforce,” Thornton said when asked how he expects to justify the projected cuts in teachers.

Accomplishing it may be more challenging. Under the terms of the contract that expired last August, the committee is limited to laying off 20 teachers, a number that has been the district threshold for decades. In spite of past practices, Thornton said at this time there is no contract, and the reorganization is designed to “create a more cost-efficient, educationally-effective, student-focused school system.”

After failing to reach a contract in mediation, the School Committee turned to arbitration. That process has started, although the two parties have not been able to agree on the number of issues to be arbitrated.

The plan looks at class sizes – 23 to 25 students per secondary school class – but does not take into consideration a “weighting” system that is unique to Warwick. Under the former contract, students with an IEP, or individual education program, are designated as more than one student when calculating class size. Thornton said these special education students would not be shortchanged and, in some cases, would actually receive greater attention. He said the system would be complying with state and federal laws as they relate to students with IEPs.

The plan isn’t all about cuts, either. It calls for implementing districtwide, full-day kindergarten this fall; the addition of middle school sports; an additional 4.6 social workers; and increased nursing support in schools.

Thornton based his high school teacher projections and schedule on student course selections. The reorganization calls for the reduction of 47.1 high school teachers. At the junior high level, there would be a reduction of 14 teachers. With full-day K, the district would add five elementary teachers plus 2.6 support professionals. There would also be the addition of 11 math interventionists and three literacy coaches. In addition, there would be a reduction of five reading interventionists.

The reorganization plan is displayed in a series of slides that can be easily viewed by going to the district website and clicking on the designated link. It is computer, tablet, and smartphone compatible, and narrated slide-by-slide by Thornton. Under the program used, the viewer has the option to replay slides, stop or fast-forward the presentation.

Thornton opens his presentation stating he is seeking to outline “what we are doing and why we are doing it.”

He expects to bring the message to the public personally, starting as soon as this evening when he addresses the Norwood School PTO meeting starting at 6:30. He is likewise anxious to explain the plan and answer questions for neighborhood groups. He is scheduled to speak at the Feb. 10 meeting of the Conimicut Village Association starting at 7 p.m. at the William Shields Post on West Shore Road.

While not outlined in this reorganization plan, Thornton said he expects to start a review of elementary school consolidation beginning this spring, with the intent that a plan would be in place for the 2018 academic year. In its study of the district, consultants SMMA (Symms, Maini, McKee Associates) found that four to five elementary schools could be closed. Thornton said Lynn Dambruch, director of elementary schools, will head that study panel to be named in the near future.

In an email responding to questions about the plan, Avedisian said: “The Superintendent has shared with me his reorganization plan. I am impressed with the methodical manner in which he has looked at the consolidation plan. I have long said that any consolidation plan would include a promise from me that money saved would be reinvested in the system. Thus far the reinvestment of money saved is an example of the commitment made to improve the educational system.”

Comments

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  • SOS822

    The comments in this article concerning special education students are misleading. Dr. Thorton is claiming that " special education students would not be shortchanged and, in some cases, would actually receive greater attention". This is far from the truth. His plan calls for smaller class sizes for alternate assessment students ( he refers to this group as the most involved students) which make up only a handful of high school students with IEP's. All other students with IEP's will be in larger classes with less support. Cutting 7 special educators at the high school level and a few more at the middle school level will NEVER result in special education students receiving greater attention. Many districts are adding special education programing and supports for all students with IEP's, but Warwick seems to be moving in the opposite direction. Parents should be aware that these changes in special education will not improve their child's education and will negatively impact the amount of support that they are provided throughout the school day. Dr. Thorton's comments are completely misleading and wrong.

    Friday, January 22, 2016 Report this

  • davebarry109

    19000 students down to 9000 at a cost of 13,000 per student, one of the highest in the country. Our school department is a disgrace and these changes are drastically needed. Unfortunately, they don't go far enough. Our property taxes are outrageous and go up every year, largely due to school costs. 60% of all taxes feed the school system beast. Teachers are well paid and have generous pensions. You can't maintain such a workforce when the student population keeps falling. Warwick is headed towards the direction of Providence if we don't start changing now.

    Friday, January 22, 2016 Report this

  • Bob_Cushman

    Davebarry school cost do not account for 60% of all taxes. In 2004 60% of the taxes was allocated to schools. Take a look at your tax bill and you will find that 52.15% of your property tax bill is allocated to the school budget while 47.85% to the city budget.

    The fact is that schools have been level funded for practically 7 years. In the last 10 years local tax dollars to support city spending has increased from $66.2 million to $102.4 million. That's $36.2 million more to the city. That's a 54.6% increase in. Schools have received $16 million more. City spending is at an all time high, school spending is below 2009 spending figures.

    Soon the breakdown between the city and school will be 50/50. Schools have a plan to save money, the city will continue to require more and more funds and that will result in increasing property taxes each year. Most of that new money is paving for retired employee legacy costs.

    The reason I point this out is that I am not disagreeing with you. Schools need to continue to consolidate and cut costs. However where is the call for the Mayor and the City Council to equally consolidate and cut spending. Property taxes have increased not because of school spending but because of city spending and it is onlt going to get worse.

    Friday, January 22, 2016 Report this

  • Warwickresident12

    These idiots fell off some garbage truck from Cumberland and Woonsocket and landed onto a keyboard in Warwick, made a stupid slideshow with fake kids and all of a sudden tjey r experts on fixing things at the schools in warwick? Is this some kind of joke? Why should I hand my hard earned paycheck to thesee losers to keep making the same mistakes they made when they were in charge elsewhere? They couldn't cut it where they came from so they came here tomess things up even more. Not with my money. Give me proof I'm gonna get my money's worth!!!

    Saturday, January 23, 2016 Report this

  • howdydoody

    The school committee would have most of the items in Dr.Thorntons plan if they had spent wisely. All day Kindergarten could be had if the school committee had not blown 350k on an out side company to close schools in which they had already decided to close. They Blew that money to justify the mayors plan from years ago. They could have middle school sports on the 30k they spent hiring an outside lawyer to investigate Penisgate. When someone from the inside could have saved them Money by doing the investigation. They will not release the findings of penisgate because it shows that Jenn Ahern knew about the drawings and good with them. How much is Howdydoody now spending fighting the teachers in NONbinding Arbitration? I have heard it will be close to a Million when done. Dr. Thorntons past stops only they lawyers have made out the kids have lost. North Kingstown he spent 500K in lawyer bills getting rid of people. In cumberland he is still involved in a law suit. Again more Tax payer money spent not on the children but high priced lawyers.

    Dr,Phils blue print must have been put out by his public relations firm. This again is taking money away from the children of Warwick to make the people at the top look good. Just more smoke and mirrors from a guy who is using Warwick as a stepping stone for a bigger and better paying job.

    Saturday, January 23, 2016 Report this

  • howdydoody

    Just one more question and thought today.

    Why is this story under the Obituaries page? Must be because Dr.Thornton is looking to kill the schools!!!!!

    Saturday, January 23, 2016 Report this

  • danfire

    Gee I have a bridge to sell you also.Cumberland had the state test scores go down last year under this guy. I don't think his ideas work very well.

    Saturday, January 23, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Just who does he think he is, president of the teacher's union?

    He better learn that the teachers set the agenda, misinform the students, and spend taxpayer's money like it fell from the money tree.

    The nerve of some people.

    Sheeeessssshhhhhhh

    Monday, January 25, 2016 Report this

  • DO2015

    This plan gets most of the cuts by cutting education via less teachers and horrible school conditions but does not address an overstaffed admin. This city has not done anything to reduce some of the do nothing admin and continues to cut services for its citizens. We are all doomed with a ruined school system that operates in last century's buildings and without technology. The savings out of cuts in admin is barely 200k.

    Monday, January 25, 2016 Report this

  • ginaa

    Why does RI have 34 districts with 34 superintendents and supporting staff??? Florida districts are larger than RI!! Let's start saving money at the top. Each district has their own curriculum, different text books, different finding formula, etc.... Look at the pays for every director, every assistant, every assistant to an assistant and you will see the waste of tax payers dollars. Warwick schools need money for great education. Special needs students will be overlooked as his plan is to add pre algebra in the 9th grade. Then will survive in an algebra 1 class with 25 students. This is a such a disgrace to a special education student. Don't look at just Warwick; look at Rhode Island!!!!

    Monday, January 25, 2016 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Why is guvmint in the education business anyway?

    You want kids, fine, you pay for their education. Can't afford it, don't have kids.

    Tuesday, January 26, 2016 Report this