Developing a Model for a Regionalized High School in Newport County

On July 15, 2013, the Middletown Town Council approved a resolution based on the following request:

At various times over the last 5 years, there have been discussions related to school regional-ization in Newport County that have resulted in little or no action.  

Change is hard, especially when it involves a culture of independence and separation that has been institutionalized over time. In such a case, timing is everything. It may be that the time is now.

Consider the following:
• The economy is barely in recovery following a crippling recession.
• School enrollments have decreased significantly while school budgets have continued to rise.
• Educational programs have been stripped to the basics while advanced courses have been reduced and entry-level job skill training has been eliminated.
• Newport County municipalities cannot continue to support existing school programs and facilities at the expense of the local economy.

As a result, Newport County residents may now be ready to accept a discomforting cultural change to ensure the best possible education for their children within reasonable budgets.

It is in Middletown’s best interest to promote discussion centered on a model for a regional high school which would have the potential to solve the crushing issues of decreasing educational opportunities for future high school students as well as to consolidate educational funding which has become burdensome to all the local communities.

A model is just a model; it is neither a proposal nor a commitment. However, a model would allow municipal authorities to focus attention and discussion on something more tangible than a concept open to multiple interpretations. Such a model should include the following data:

Personnel
• Per pupil and total costs for an enrollment of 2,000 students
• Number of administrative personnel, average individual costs, and total costs
• Number of teaching faculty, average individual costs, and total costs
• Number of instructional support staff, average individual costs, and total costs
• Number of clerical support staff, average individual costs, and total costs
• Number of custodial staff, average individual costs, and total costs
• Number of maintenance staff, average individual costs, and total costs

Curriculum
• Number of English courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Mathematics courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Science courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Social Studies courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of World Language courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Art courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Music courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Business/Technology courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Consumer Science courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Career and Technical programs, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Physical Education courses, full year and electives, number of sections
• Number of Advanced Placement courses, full year and electives, number of sections

Athletics and Enrichment
• Number of Athletic programs, staff, number of participants, costs
• Number of Intramural programs, staff, number of participants, costs
• Number of Clubs, staff, number of participants, costs

Facilities
• Number of standard classrooms, square footage
• Number of small classroom spaces, square footage
• Number of large specialty rooms (music, arts, technology, consumer science, etc.), square footage
• Library, square footage
• Number of offices
• Number of Bathrooms, square footage.
• Cafeteria, square footage
• Kitchen, square footage
• Gymnasium to accommodate 4 simultaneous classes, square footage
• Auditorium to accommodate 500 seats, square footage
• Additional spaces (closets, equipment storage, etc.), square footage
• Total square footage and cost

It is proposed at this time that the Middletown Town Council direct the administration to develop a data-driven model of a regional high school that would provide an outstanding 9-12 education with personnel, curriculum, instruction, and appropriate facilities for an enrollment of 2,000 that would enable all students to achieve future success and independence through post-secondary education or entry-level skilled positions.