High School Consolidation with Equal Representation

There is no real advantage for Middletown in full regionalization. The elementary schools and Gaudet are stable and seem to be functioning well. I have concerns about their preparation for HS, but hopefully curriculum standards will be established at the top as they were in MA, and we will stop teaching to the test. 

However, the high school program that has most concerned me over the years because of the abysmal test scores and because of the increasingly limited opportunities for students. 

The most egregious example is the focus on the top students - bless those mathematical geniuses - at the sacrifice of the majority that may or may not go to college but would profit from practical skills within the high school itself or at the Career & Technical School.  

Not everyone is interested enough or motivated or can afford to go to college or to a trade/technical school.  But Middletown sends few students to NACTC because recruitment means exorbitant tuition for each student. 

But NACTC would be a part of a consolidated high school at no extra cost.  (Also, attaching the Pre-School would be beneficial for both the little ones and the high schoolers who would be trained in a Child Development program.)

Then there is the phasing out of multiple foreign languages, some of the arts, and foundation courses like civics and money management (real practical losses in everyday lives.) 

Of course there is the issue of teaching staff. If 25 students are considered a full classroom, why do we have so many classes with numbers below 20?  And is the explanation for the majority of low scores on the AP exams that we have so many (obviously unqualified) students in AP classes? 

I have heard people say, "It's all about the money." It’s common sense: one building is cheaper to maintain than two. And 2 teachers with 25 students in each classroom is cheaper than 3 teachers with

16 or maybe it’s better to have the same number of teachers with many more available courses.

Finally, there is the challenge of working with Newport. Newport has the name but they can't do it without us and that gives us leverage. I believe in equal control. Our senator told us a year ago that agreements had some flexibility. I would never support any agreement that did not guarantee equal authority and supervision by both communities. Middletown is Newport's sister community, not its poor cousin, and we need to be respected as such.

So, if the Newport proposes regionalization to the Middletown Town Council, I suggest that we tell them that we are only interested in high school consolidation with fair and equal representation.

School Spending

On Monday, May 6, 2019, the Middletown Town Council met with the Middletown School Committee and school department administrators to discuss specifics related to the school budget that had not been addressed at the All-Day meeting on April 27^th.

A list of issues was printed in the May 11^th Middletown Leads newsletter - published on the Middletown Public Library web site and on this blog - along with a graphic which provided a visual representation of the current state of the school department.  Discussion focused on three areas:  special education/staffing, administrative bonuses, and student performance.

School budget discussions began with questions about the way the school department has addressed anticipated revenue over the previous years when it was known that state aid would be reduced.

School administrators stated that it makes decisions about elimination or recall based on anticipated enrollment. For example, this year a reduction of an Art teacher is planned, and last year a Music teacher was eliminated.

It was pointed out that the enrollment of military children fluctuates at the beginning and in the middle of the year, so staffing is not easily predictable.

Questions were asked about services for children who do not speak English. The response was that there are 2 teachers, one serving K-8 and one serving MHS. 

There were further questions about expenses related to Special Education.

When asked about elimination or non-renewals of teachers, the school department said that 4 teachers were retiring (a high school art teacher, 2 elementary teachers, and a special education resource teacher.) Currently, 8 nonrenewals are projected.

No information was offered about reductions in any other area.

The most animated discussion was related to the compensation of those employees who are not members of any union. Data was provided from FY13 to FY18 amounting to more than $250,000.  

The response from the school department was that bonuses were awarded in place of salary increases. However, some of the bonuses amounted to as much as 4% increases when at no time did the teachers receive 4% increases and, in some years, they did not receive increases at all.

For example, in FY13, the teacher contract provided a 0 % increase while top administrators received $3,800, $4,500, and $4,000.

Similarly, in FY16, when the teacher contract provided a 0 % increase, top administrators received $8,000 each.

The school department responded to this inequity by saying that the bonuses were awarded for the previous fiscal year. It should be noted that in FY 15, the previous fiscal year of the $8,000 bonuses, performance bonuses were awarded in the amounts of $6,000.

Members of the Town Council also noted that the bonuses appeared to be awarded in Executive Session rather than Open Session when the public would have access to the information. One School Committee member claimed that personnel matters were appropriate for Executive Session. This claim was not well received.

Additional data provided by the school department reflects 2% increases for FY19 awarded across the board for the non-union personnel.

It was noted that the School Department has almost always requested the maximum increase under RI law while using claims of the need to cut activities and athletic programs while it awarded bonuses for less than stellar performance, as indicated by the assessment results.

At the request of a member of the Town Council the school department provided a printout of the enrollment of individual courses by sections. The maximum class size in the teacher contract is 25 students.

The printout clearly identified the current enrollment at Middletown High School: 165 students in grade 9,  99 students in grade 10, 138 students in grade 11, 132 students in grade 12, and 85 students specified as special education for a current total of 619 students. (It should be noted that, largely due to military transfers, the total number can fluctuate minimally from day to day.  

High school scheduling depends on 2 main variables: the number of courses offered and the number of students at each grade level. The number of sections of each course depends on the number of students and the ability of the schedule to meet student needs when students in different grades have signed up for different courses.

There are 2 scheduling options for administrators who are cognizant of the budget impact on taxpayers of each additional teacher:  offer fewer courses or offer fewer sections. 

A review of the scheduling document reflected several anomalies, among others:

             A disproportionate number of sections of AP/Honors classes in all grades

             A disproportionate number of class sections below 20 students

             A phasing out of French instruction (leaving only Spanish)

The data shows that the school department has attempted to maintain an educational program that meets the needs of its students without regard for the financial impact on taxpayers.   

The poor assessment results of RI districts, including Middletown’s, were attributed to the multiple changes in state testing.

Going forward, both the Town and the School Department will have to make some decisions that will not please everyone.

Improving Special Education For All Students

Recently I spoke with someone knowledgeable and credible who has experience with Special Education in the Middletown schools. It made me wonder about who is watching out for the students. 

Special Education is unique in that it is almost always adapted to the student. While general education students can be grouped according to age, grade, and level of knowledge, special education students range across the spectrum with few common denominators. That is why they require special education.

Special Education teachers are also unique in that they walk a line between the expectations of the parents (which might differ from the expectations of the school) as well as a close-up knowledge of the individual student’s strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities.

Special Education is expensive, not only because of the range of differences but also because of the extent of a teacher’s ability to adequately service all his/her charges’ needs. If it is possible to service the child within the school, it may require full services, partial services, or supplemental services, all of which require time and staff.

As a result of their close association with the special education teacher, students form relationships that are generally closer and perhaps even more educationally dependent than the typical student does with a regular education teacher, who could be providing learning experiences for 100 or more students.

What does all this mean for the special education students and teachers in the Middletown schools?  It means that special education staff – resource teachers and aides – are vital components in the broader educational environment, and consideration needs to be given to ensuring that, when they are absent, the needs of the students are still being met. 

How is this situation different from the absence of a teacher in a regular education classroom? In the latter, a substitute can follow the lesson plan for each class that the responsible teacher has left behind. It might not be accomplished as efficiently or effectively as the regular classroom teacher would do it, but the majority of the students will still have a learning experience in that class

However, when a special education teacher is absent, students may be placed in an alternative setting or the substitute might be not much more than an unknown baby sitter who may lack the individualized training that special education requires or be personally unable to relate to the students.

The absence of a special education aide who works with teachers in the classroom is just as detrimental because there is not usually a replacement so the students who get services in that classroom are on their own.

The scenarios above reflect the issues related to special education in the public schools, not just Middletown’s. Some students have so much greater needs that they have to be out-placed. 

All of the special education options are expensive. What is important is the way schools ensure the best services for their students.

Until special education personnel are recognized as vital components of an educational institution, some of our students will fall through the cracks along the way.

Cost is always the biggest factor. So when I talk about consolidating high schools, I see it as pooling our knowledge base, our resources, and our capabilities to provide better education and services for all students.

Middletown High School Has Changed

To those who graduated from MHS before 2000 and still live in the area, I’m telling you that education in Middletown has changed. The school administration would have you believe that the current status is the result of reduced state aid and inadequate local funding, an easy answer for a more pressing problem that is going to get progressively worse. The real culprit is reduced enrollment.

Fewer students means less opportunity at greater cost.

How do I know this? Because I was an administrator in 5 districts of varying sizes in 3 states: the class scheduler for 1,600 students in a RI high school, 400 in a CT regional 7-12, and 200 in a MA 9-12, and the Deputy Superintendent in charge of Curriculum & Operations in the largest regional district in MA (the last 2 immediately following the passage of the MA Ed Reform Act that has resulted in an outstanding state-wide program.

Change is hard, and waiting for the state to revise its standards means that, even if work is done to improve curriculum, it will take years to filter down to the individual districts. Meanwhile, the current generation of students will fall through the cracks. Of course, the top students will always get what they need while the majority are stuck in mediocrity – at increasing costs per student.

Please do not dismiss the above as “gloom and doom” criticism. Those of you personally acquainted with me will know that I am a positive person. But I am also an activist. If something can be done to improve a situation, I will pursue it relentlessly, and that is the reason I have consistently advocated for high school consolidation. Common sense says that double the students in one facility rather than two provides more opportunity at a lower cost – especially in light of a potential 55% reimbursement.

What are the hangups that are getting in the way?  Issues such as control, provincialism, and resistance to change, none of which speak well for their advocates. These issues are emotionally-based and irrelevant to the improvement of education for students and lower cost to taxpayers. To those who would raise the flags of fear, I say “Get out of the way.”

Our children’s future is at stake. Let those of us who care about future generations and the ability of our children to succeed in life address those important considerations and leave the self-centered protectionism behind. 

Previous generations were kinder and more civil, looking to the future and making it better. Yes, there will be issues that need to be resolved, but we must not lose sight of the big picture. The future is in the children. Let’s put them first.

Tax Proposal Considerations

The April 1, 2019 Town Council discussion of the proposed adjustments to the Senior Exemptions and the institution of a Homestead Exemption was complicated by the reminder that the Town is waiting for a RIPEC study of the 2018 proposal to completely change the way taxes are assessed in Middletown.

In October, 2018, I reviewed the tax rolls and compared the taxes paid by every town resident for the past 4 tax years, including the years of re-evaluation. In early May, I addressed my concerns to the Middletown Town Council as follows:

Following observations based on comparative study of actual data, I determined that Seniors who own property in close proximity to the beach will see increases in their property taxes, and Seniors who live more centrally or on the west side will see decreases in their property taxes.

These observations led to the conclusion that statements that suggest that seniors are being forced out of their homes by taxes are misleading or at least disingenuous.

Actual personal experience with two houses of different values reflected minimal increases of an average $115 per year over a 17 year period and $66 per year over a 12 year period, including 5 re-evaluations, which did not seem excessive.

This experience led to the conclusion that the system that is being proposed seems to be aimed at those property owners who seem to need relief the least rather than those who are in the most need. It seemed clear that the existing exemptions seemed to be providing necessary relief.

There appeared to be a number of major concerns going forward.

Making revolutionary changes to the tax system in a single town needs to be based on more research as it would apply to the local economy and its relation to the state economy than on experiences in another state. 

The listed owners of many Middletown properties are legal trusts, which would facilitate property value stagnation, effectively protecting the properties from tax increases in perpetuity.

The burden in Middletown would shift to the average property owner who might see a drop in value but an increase in taxes

We do not know what the impact will be on the Town’s revenue and expenditures.

We do not know the possible impact on sales of property – both residential and commercial. For example, could a hotel evaluated a $6 mil be harder to sell if its value increased to $13 mil with concurrent tax increases?

I concluded my remarks by saying that the TC had been reluctant to spend resources on many projects that are pending.  Furthermore, rushing to institute a revolutionary tax system without complete information provided by an unbiased source suggests a reluctance to hear about potential issues that could negatively affect the town for decades.

Before the end of 2018, Middletown contracted for a RIPEC study.

Exemptions Proposed at April 1, 2019 TC meeting

At the April1, 2019 meeting of the Middletown Town Council, there was considerable discussion about proposals regarding property tax exemptions. The Town currently provides a variety of exemptions:

                                    Veterans                      Real Estate, Motor Vehicle Exemptions

                                    Seniors 65-74              Flat Exemption

                                                                        Income Based Exemption

                                    Seniors 75+                 Flat Exemption

                                                                        Income Based Exemption

One proposal focused on increasing the exemptions on residential property, based on age as well as on income.

The second, a Homestead Exemption, was intended to provide tax relief to those whose primary residence is in Middletown.

The new proposal to increase the Senior Exemptions recommends changing the age brackets  to 65-69 and 70+. It also adjusts the income-based requirements.

The Homestead Exemption is intended to provide tax relief to residents whose primary residence in in Middletown.

The fact that Middletown is an attractive destination for tourists has resulted in an increase of short-term rentals, which many regard as profit-making entities, while the year-round residents are responsible for maintaining the superstructure that supports that commercialism.

The proposal for a Homestead Exemption is intended to level the playing field by shifting more of the financial responsibility to those who benefit.

 The Homestead Exemption would apply to property which is the resident taxpayer’s “principal residence and legal domicile.”

The principal residence would be “legally titled to the resident taxpayer, a trust to which the resident taxpayer is the named beneficiary, or to a corporate entity owned and controlled by the resident taxpayer.”

The property would have to be “used exclusively for residential purposes and improved with a dwelling containing less than five units, or used for a combination of residential and commercial uses.”

The resident taxpayer must hold legal title to the property as evidenced by the address on the owner’s driver’s license, car registration, federal income tax return, state income tax return, the Middletown voter’s address and/or other documents.

In the case of multiple units within the property, the property tax would be pro-rated to reflect the owner-occupied area

One of the most important issues to be resolved is the impact of exemptions on Town revenue. In the development of the Town Budget, the proposed expenditures are identified – those items that require funding, such as salaries and superstructure, as well as new efforts to promote economic growth and development. Taxes provide that support.

Before exemptions can be increased, it is important to identify the consequences of the resulting loss of revenue and identify the sources of replacement. How would the costs shift? What would be the impact?

As a new entity, a Homestead Exemption must be approved by the legislature.  While the details – the exact amounts, age requirements, etc. – need not be identified at this time, a basic proposal must be presented and approved within the next few weeks if a Homestead Exemption is to be implemented for the next tax assessment.

A delayed decision means that no action can be taken this year, and residents will have to wait another year for potential relief.  

Middletown's Comprehensive Plan Needs Updating

Reviewing the Middletown Comprehensive Plan for the Middletown Leads Newsletter (published on the Middletown Library website)  raised issues regarding the effects of changing conditions and the passage of time.

The Comprehensive Community Plan was most recently updated in 2014; it was adopted by the Middletown Town Council On March 2, 2015.  Many changes have taken place since 2014 which make some of the existing guidelines out-of-date.

For example, the Aquidneck Island Transportation Study, which was used to form many of the conclusions in the Transportation section, was actually completed in 2011, which makes it 8 years out-of-date, a long period of time considering the road construction that has taken place in Middletown (and on the island) over recent years.

In addition, the state no longer requires that Comprehensive Plans be formally reviewed every 10 years, so extensive change is unlikely even though time doesn’t stand still.

Neither does there seem to be a formal process in place for making appropriate adjustments, so the Town is continuously faced with conflicts over economic development and land usage that should have been addressed before they occurred, rather than when it was too late to do anything about them.

For example, there was the recent controversy over the applications for 2 new hotels in the Atlantic Beach District. Residents were concerned that the unique character of the area was being threatened and that more preference was being given to investors and tourists than to residents. 

Some went so far as to suggest a moratorium on building in the area until the zoning could be changed to restrict further hotel development. Unfortunately, it was too late. The applications had already been submitted; the Town was legally obligated to consider them within the existing zoning ordinances.

These examples point out the need for the Town to develop a process for continuous review of the Comprehensive Community Plan and the Town Ordinances that support it.

Perhaps the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission can be persuaded to undertake another Aquidneck Island Transportation Study.

Additionally, unless the Town Council develops a review process for the Comprehensive Community Plan and the Zoning Ordinances, the Planning Board and the Zoning Board will be faced with decisions that can only lead to more controversy. 

One issue that needs to be resolved immediately is the perception that the Comprehensive Community Plan is a rule book written in stone. In fact, it is really only a guide, approved by the Town Council.

Sr. Housing - Middletown Town Council Meeing - Mar 4, 2019

The need for affordable senior housing has been on the Middletown Town Council docket since April 2017. 

Early in 2018, the Town Council met with a local non-profit provider as well as Rhode Island Housing to discuss options.

Subsequently, the Town Council formed a Senior Housing Sub-Committee which, after multiple meetings, finally recommended in December 2018 that the Town Council hire a consultant to advise the Town about developing senior housing units.

At the March 4^th meeting, the Town Council reviewed the scope of the work, which included the following tasks:

1.      Identify the need (as if the need had not already been established)

2.      Identify funding options (which had already been discussed at length with such agencies as Rhode Island Housing)

3.      Conduct a market analysis (to “provide the Town with an understanding of the potential for success for non-profit and/or for-profit development”)

4.      Identify potential locations (of which the Town is already well aware)

5.      Identify potential partners (with some of whom the Town had already had discussions)

6.      Make recommendations for implementation

Following consideration of the proposed scope of the work and the conclusion that the Town Council was already aware of the information to be provided, the Town Council voted not to authorize the proposed Feasibility Study related to Senior Housing.

There was consensus that $22,500 to compile information in 4 months that was already available was not a good use of funds, not to mention the anticipated 2 to 3 years for the project to actually get underway, 

Several points were made that led to a change in direction:

1.      If the Town desires to use residency as a criterion for establishing wait lists, then it would be ineligible for grants and tax credits and would have to rely on taxpayer dollars to subsidize the costs of construction and rent.

2.      The Town is not going to use taxpayer money to build and operate an affordable senior housing project on its own.

3.      A non-profit partner typically has connections within the community and generally keeps money in the project.

4.      A for-profit partner general takes money out of the project.

These points led to the reorganization of the previous TC Senior Housing Committee which would again review the options, but this time within a 2-month deadline for concrete recommendations. At that point, the Town Council would meet with potential partners and, hopefully, get the project underway. 

 

The important point to be made is that the Town Council agreed that a decision needed to be made sooner rather than later, and it initiated action to achieve that goal.

Middletown Housing Data Updated to 2017 (2/18/19)

On February 9^th and 16^th, Middletown Leads reported Housing issues as they were addressed in the 2014 Middletown Comprehensive Community Plan. 

Information in the plan reflected conditions current at that time.

The R.I. 2017 Housing Fact Book provides updated information that is more relevant and promotes reinforcement and urgency for the statement in the 

Comprehensive Plan that promises “annual review.” 

The following is the data for Middletown, updated to 2017:

The 2017 population was 16,057.

There were 6,419 households of which 53% were owner occupied and 47% were rentals.

The Median Single Family home price was $352,500 which generated a down payment of approximately $12,338, a mortgage of $346,115, and a monthly house payment of $2,395.

A comparison of the median home prices showed a 7% increase from 2011-2016 (5 yr.) and a 23% increase from 2006-2016 (10 yr.).

An income of $56,280 was needed to pay the average 2-bedroom rent of $1,407.

A comparison of the 2-bedroom rentals showed a 2% increase from 2011-2016 (5 yr.) and a 14% decrease from 2006-2016 (10 yr.).

Middletown had 7,365 dwellings in 2017 of which 36% were multifamily, 64% were single family, and 5.4% qualified as affordable housing.

Housing is considered affordable when a household spends 30% or less of its income on housing costs.

Nesletter #12 - 2/16/19 - Housing- Part 2

Middletown Leads

Area #6 - Housing - Part 2

Data from 2014 Middletown Comprehensive Community Plan

Income 

The disparity between wages and home prices makes it incredibly difficult for workers to afford to live in Middletown. Sales prices of homes are equivalent in Newport and Portsmouth, meaning most workers cannot comfortably afford to live on Aquidneck Island, and instead must live elsewhere and commute. Middletown’s median household income was $70,766 (2008-2012) approximately $25,000 less than the required income to comfortably afford the median home price in Middletown.

Rents

Rents have also risen rapidly in recent decades, making it difficult for workers in Middletown to find housing they can afford. Middletown saw a 45% increase in average rent from 2000 to 2010. In 2010, the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Middletown was $1,265 (considerably higher in 2019.)

Housing Costs & Affordability

Despite the recent (2014) decline in housing prices and low interest rates, the cost of the median home is still out of reach for many. As of 2013, the median income required to afford a median priced home in Middletown was over $95,000. Housing is considered affordable if a family or person pays less than 30 percent of their income on housing-related costs.

Housing Needs

By 2035, the projected population for Middletown is 12,822 and by 2040, that population is expected to decline to 12,121. These projected population figures were used as the basis for assessing future needs.

A basic assessment of future housing needs is to divide the projected population for the 20-year time period by the current average household size. Using the current household size, 2.34, and the projected population for Middletown in 20 years of 12,822, the town’s housing needs will be approximately 5,479 housing units.

This is 1,395 less than the current year-round housing stock of 6,874. Therefore, for Middletown, the future housing needs will more likely be related to the suitability and affordability of these units rather than the actual amount of housing stock.

Housing Plans

In recognition of the importance and its responsibility in promoting affordable housing, Middletown developed an action plan that lays out actions that will be taken over the next ten years to meet the town’s affordable housing goals.

The plan is intended to be reviewed annually to ensure progress is being made. Changes to the plan will be made as necessary and as new guidelines on affordable housing are made available from Statewide Planning, the Housing Resources Commission and Rhode Island Housing.

Middletown Housing Facts (2013) 

      1.       Median sales price of homes: $321,500

      2.       Typical monthly housing payment* for a $321,500 house: $2,393

      3.       Household income required to afford a $306,500 house: $95,735

      4.       Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,390

      5.        Household income required for that rent to be affordable: $55,600

      6.      Average private-sector wage for jobs in Middletown: $44,668

Note:  *2013 calculation using a 30-year mortgage at 3.66% interest rate with a 3.5% down payment, municipal property taxes, hazard insurance ($100/month), and monthly mortgage insurance (1.25%/month). Source: HousingWorks RI

Newsletter #11 - 2/9/19 - Housing Part I

Middletown Leads

Area #6 - Housing - Part 1

The guiding principles of the Housing area of the Comprehensive Plan are represented in the following Housing Vision Statement:

Residential development in Middletown will be planned and designed in a way that complements our heritage, preserves our natural resources, and enhances the quality of life of our residents. The town will have a balance of housing opportunities for all income levels that allows multiple generations to call Middletown home.

Housing - Goals, Policies, & Action Items

Recognizing the importance and its responsibility in promoting affordable housing, Middletown developed in 2013 a Ten-Year Affordable Housing Action Plan, which set forth its strategy to increase the town’s supply of affordable housing. The stated intent was to review the plan annually to ensure progress is being made.  Goals were as follows:

1.      Protect the existing supply of affordable housing

2.      Promote a balance of housing choices for all income levels and  

         age groups

3.      Increase the town’s supply of workforce housing

4.      Reduce housing costs while promoting more sustainable  

         development

5.     Appropriately site affordable housing

6.     Meet the state’s 10% requirement for low-and-moderate income 

Conditions Related to Housing

The Comprehensive Community Plan looks at multiple existing conditions that impact availability as well as new development.

Currently existing housing units include single-family, multi-family, apartment complexes of various sizes, and mobile homes.

Lot size determines density. The west side of town has high-density zoning while the east side is zoned low-density.

Occupancy rates are determined by year-round primary use. The percentage of rentals belonging to seasonal residents has increased substantially.

The majority of homes in Middletown are post-World War II construction.

The cost of the median priced home is out of reach for many. 

Housing is considered affordable if a family or person pays less than 30 percent of their income on housing-related costs.

The disparity between wages and home prices as well as rents makes it difficult for workers to afford to live in Middletown.