Coventry Town Council Adopts New Budget, Residents To Vote

COVENTRY, RI — The Town Council voted to adopt a new budget on Tuesday night, one that will now go to voters. The $108 million budget will be voted on June 13.

Since voters turned down the budget on May 14, massive cuts to both the town and school district were proposed. Superintendent Craig Levis said the district would be preparing for the worst, laying off nearly 400 teachers.

Cuts are still likely if the new budget is approved by voters, but they would be far less drastic.

At a pair of meetings last week, residents called for a second chance to vote on the original budget, realizing now what was at stake. Only a fraction of registered voters turned up to the first referendum on May 14 of the nearly 27,000 in the town.

On Thursday, nearly 400 Coventry teachers were told they will be laid off at the end of the school year, which gives the school district the flexibility to plan a major restructure of the district. Until a budget is formally approved, Levis said the district will be planning for a level-funded budget, meaning double sessions at the high school, the elimination of nearly all extracurricular activities and sports and massive staffing cuts.

Now that a budget has been voted on by the Town Council, the Town Manager will submit the paperwork to the state. If a budget is approved, the School Committee will hold a meeting the following day to begin the teacher recall process.

Patch Editor Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.

READ MORE:

• Breaking Down The Numbers: Coventry's Four Budget Options
• 385 Coventry Teachers Receive Precautionary Pink Slips
• Coventry Community Irate As 500 Teacher Layoffs Loom
• Double Sessions, Teacher Layoffs Planned For Coventry Schools