THIS MEETING CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE WWW.MIDDLETOWNRI.COM OR THE DVD IS AVAILABLE AT THE MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY.

At a Special Meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Middletown, RI at the Wyndham Hotel 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, RI in person, on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 5:33 P.M.

Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding

Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III

Councilor Peter D. Connerton, Sr.

Councilor Christopher M. Logan

Councilor Charles R. Roberts

Councilor Dennis B. Turano

Councilor Barbara A. VonVillas, Members Present

POSTED – JANUARY 6, 2026

SPECIAL MEETING – JANUARY 12, 2026

The following items of business, having been filed with the Town Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at a special meeting to be held on Joint Town Council Meeting/Workshop with the Newport City Council, Monday, January 12, 2026 at 5:30 P.M. at the Wyndham Hotel, Easton’s Pavilion Ballroom, 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, Rhode Island. Said meeting will be conducted in person.

Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC

Town Clerk

Town of Middletown

Town Hall – 350 East Main Road

Middletown, Rhode Island 02842

Dear Ms. Marshall:

Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 203 of the Town Charter and in accordance with Sections 42-46-2., 42-46-4., 42-46-5., and 42-46-6., RIGL, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Town Council to formally consider, discuss and act upon the following items of business. All items on this agenda, may be considered, discussed and voted upon.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Joint Town Council Meeting/Workshop with the Newport City Council

Welcome/Introductions

Community updates

a. Status of Academic Integration Advisory Committee (AIAC)

b. Draft resolutions by the City of Newport

Regionalization timeline update.

Discussion and Q&A with Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE).

Engagement of Consultant to work with the Town of Middletown, City of Newport and Academic Integration Advisory Committee (AIAC).

Legislation

a. Status – Endowment

b. Potential Power of Regional School Committee (Tax, Take, Borrow).

c. Matters related to H 8267 SUBSTITUTE A

d. Status – Regional School Committee authority

Next Meeting

Joint meeting with Academic Integration Advisory Committee – proposal February 9, 2026. (Proposed agenda - Joint meeting with AIAC - jointly meet with AIAC in the form of an AIAC “kickoff” meeting. Then the Councils adjourn and leave the AIAC to elect a chair - discuss their vision/mission, establish a meeting schedule, and prepare to coordinate with the consultant.)

Adjourn

Said meeting will be held at the Wyndham Hotel, Easton’s Pavilion Ballroom, 240 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown, Rhode Island 02842 on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 5:30 P.M.

____________________________________

Paul M. Rodrigues, President

Middletown Town Council

cc : Town Council Public Library Finance Director

Town Administrator Town Solicitor School Committee

This meeting location is accessible to the handicapped. Individuals requiring interpreter services for the hearing-impaired should notify the Town Clerk’s Office at 847-0009 not less than 48 hours before this meeting.

Posted on January 6, 2026 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library and Secretary of State Web Site.

Present representing the City of Newport were Mayor Charles M. Holder, Vice Chair Lynne Underwood Ceglier, At-Large Councilor Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong, At-Large Councilor Jeanne Marie Napolitano, At-Large Councilor Stephanie Smyth, First Ward Councilor Ellen Pinnock, City Manager Colin Kennedy, Deputy City Manager Mike Carulo, City Solicitor Christopher Behan and City Clerk Laura Swistak.

Mayor Charlie Holder from the Newport City Council thanked all for attending and welcomed everyone and noting the importance of continuing the regionalization discussion to keep the momentum going. Mr. Holder noted that representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) are present to answer questions.

Council President Rodrigues thanked all for attending, welcomed everyone and noted agreement with Mayor Holder.

The City of Newport voted to begin said meeting.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin said meeting/workshop.

Present were representatives from RIDE Deputy Commissioner Drew Echelson, Chief Operations Officer Dr. Mario Carren, Finance Director Brandon Bohl and Chief Legal Counsel Anthony Cottone.

Discussion from both Councils centered around the process for regionalization is in state law, RI Department of Education takes no stance regarding regionalization it is up to the City and Town, there is only full regionalization not administrative or partial, the legislation submitted for the prior regionalization vote is not in effect, new legislation must be drafted to place a question on the ballot and outlining the structure/framework of the regionalization between the City and Town and the following questions were asked to RIDE and answered.

Middletown - Newport School Regionalization - Questions from elected officials

Permissible Structures
Under Rhode Island law (Title 16), what regionalization models are legally permissible, including full regional districts, administration-only models, or hybrid arrangements?
Derived from questions on:
– “What does administrative regionalization mean in practical terms?”
– “Is the proposal for a full regional district, an administration-only model, or a hybrid structure?”
– “How does RIDE interpret Title 16 with respect to an administration-only structure?”
Authority and Governance
What authority would remain with each municipality, and what authority would be delegated to a regional entity, including the powers of a regional school committee?
Derived from questions on:
– “What authority would remain local and what would shift to a regional body?”
– “What authority would a regional school committee have?”
– “Would a regional school committee have independent taxing authority?”
Approval Requirements
What specific approvals or findings would RIDE be required to issue before any regionalization proposal could proceed to voters?
Derived from questions on:
– “Has RIDE reviewed or provided guidance on any proposed structure?”
– “What formal actions are required before a proposal can proceed to voters?”
Reimbursement Eligibility
Under what statutory authority would state reimbursement be provided for regionalization, what cost categories are eligible, and for what duration?
Derived from questions on:
– “Under what laws would state reimbursement be provided?”
– “What costs would be eligible for reimbursement, and for how long?”
– “How would reimbursement funds be allocated and restricted?”
Reimbursement Certainty and Deferral
What level of certainty can RIDE provide regarding reimbursement levels, how does reimbursement deferral work, and how would delaying a referendum affect eligibility or timing?
Derived from questions on:
– “Is there any formal commitment regarding reimbursement levels?”
– “How does reimbursement deferral work, and what risks are associated with it?”
– “Would delaying a public vote affect reimbursement eligibility or timing?”
Exit and Modification Provisions
What mechanisms are legally permissible for modifying or dissolving a regional arrangement if it proves ineffective or unsustainable?
Derived from questions on:
– “What exit or modification options would exist if the model does not work?”
– “What mechanisms exist to unwind or modify the agreement?”
Enrollment Data and Projections
What enrollment data and projections does RIDE maintain for Middletown and Newport, including those used for recent school construction approvals, and how should they be interpreted for regionalization?
Derived from questions on:
– “What are recent enrollment trends in both districts?”
– “What enrollment projections were approved by the state for recent school construction?”
– “How would uneven enrollment changes be addressed fairly?”
Accountability and Performance Metrics
How would regionalization affect accountability measures, including STAR ratings, when districts with differing performance levels combine?
Derived from questions on:
– “How would regionalization affect accountability ratings?”
– “How would higher-performing schools be protected from academic dilution?”
Use of Housing-Related Funds
What is the legal basis for using Housing Aid or Housing Reimbursement funds for educational purposes rather than bond reduction, and are education endowment concepts permissible?
Derived from questions on:
– “What is the legal basis for using housing-related reimbursement funds for education?”
– “Is creating an education endowment using such funds legally permissible?”
Precedents and Lessons Learned
What lessons—positive and negative—does RIDE identify from existing Rhode Island regional school districts, and how relevant are out-of-state examples to Rhode Island?
Derived from questions on:
– “What lessons can be learned from other Rhode Island regional school districts?”
– “How relevant are examples from other states with different funding and governance systems?”

Public Input was taken at this time.

Theresa Spengler, Middletown, addressed the Town Council and City Council inquiring if regionalization were to be dissolved at any time, would the reimbursement be lost? Ms. Spengler inquired does the district that has the larger enrollment always have more representation on the combined school board?

Penelope Hunt, Newport, addressed the Town Council and City Council inquiring if each City and Town have their own debt obligations, can the bond debt be reassigned to joint authority, if the children attended schools together

Don Morin, Middletown, addressed the Town Council and City Council noting that the Bristol/Warren Regional School district has modified their regionalization agreement.

Art Weber, Middletown, addressed the Town Council and City Council requesting them to pause the regionalization discussion, noting the Middletown School Committee is not in support of regionalization.

Discussion centered around timelines for getting a question on the November 2026 ballot, the hiring of a consultant to assist the City, Town and the Academic Integration Advisory Committee and the cost of the consultant.

Tami Holden, Middletown, addressed the Town Council and City Council inquiring how legislation can be drafted without input from the Academic Integration Advisory Committee.

On motion of Mayor Holder, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to move forward.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to schedule a meeting with the Newport City Council to discuss regionalization in the future.

Newport City Council adjourned at 7:32 pm.

On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 7:32 p.m.

Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC

Council Clerk

supporting documentation is available at http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-ri