Coventry Community Irate As 500 Teacher Layoffs Loom

COVENTRY, RI — Tensions ran high at Wednesday night's Town Council meeting, where so many Coventry residents crowded into the auditorium that an overflow room was set up down the hall. The public's anger came to a head during public comment, with voters shouting down the Town Council and demanding answers. At the meeting, three budget options were presented: a 2.94 percent increase from last year's budget, a 1.96 percent increase, or no increase at all. Faced with deep cuts to both school and town programs, many town residents called for a repeat of last week's budget referendum: new vote, same budget.

Even under the most austere budget, the entire recreation arm of the parks and recreation department will be eliminated, including town programs, the teen center and summer camp and programs. Additionally, several town positions including two police officers, several Department of Public Works employees and a part-time emergency dispatcher would be cut, along with curbside yard waste pickup and closing the town transfer station.

Even under the most generous budget, the town positions would be eliminated and the school budget would be slashed by $600,000.

After the new proposals were presented, the floor was opened up to for public comment, which stretched on for several hours. Dozens of residents filled the aisles to speak, showing their support for teachers, schools, recreation and other departments on the chopping block.

During the first all-day budget referendum, only a fraction of voters cast their votes, leading to approximately 1,200 naysaying voters making the decision for nearly 27,000 eligible voters and a total of 35,000 residents. Several people called for better communication between the Town and the voters, asking for emails and more mailings so voters can be more informed.

Knowing now what's at stake, many called for the Town Council to present the initial budget for a second vote, allowing voters a second chance to save their town government services and schools.

Kelly Ernakes, the president of the Coventry Teacher's Alliance, said the voters need a second chance.

"Now people know what the effect will be," she said.

Others admitted their responsibility in the failed budget.

"I'm guilty, I missed the vote," one voter, William Bailey, said. "Please resubmit the original budget."

On Thursday, nearly 500 Coventry teachers will be laid off as the district makes plans to restructure in the coming year. According to the school district's finance director, the town will be forced to pay $260,000 per week in unemployment starting in late June. While many teachers are expected to be recalled before the next school year, Levis said Tuesday that the district will prepare for the worst until a final budget is approved.

Students, parents and teachers stood up at Wednesday night's meeting, begging voters and the Town Council to prevent the drastic cuts put forward by Superintendent Craig Levis.

"I came to this town for the school department, I want to give our children a good education," Interim Town Manager Edward Warzycha said, drawing applause from the audience.

If enough funding is not allocated to the school, Levis said the school district will have no option but to operate the high school on double sessions, slashing electives, extracurriculars and teachers across the board.

"It has always been a privilege to live in Coventry and have a school department as strong as it has always been," said Sue Lyons, a longtime Coventry resident who raised several children in the town. "I am hopeful that we can somehow get across that what we have here is a gift, a gift that must be paid for."

Warzycha lamented the position the Town Council has been put in after the voters turned down the initial budget, saying the Council wouldn't have put forward the budget if they didn't think it was the best for the town.

"I'd much rather see the original budget we worked our tails off for," he said, adding that he was surprised by the low voter turnout.

The Town Council will decide on a budget on Tuesday. Paperwork must then be submitted to the state, and the town must publish a public notice of the new vote at least 10 days ahead of time. The next public vote is expected to be around June 20.