Politics & Government

Newport Commends Middletown For Step Towards Regional High School

Newport City Council supports a Middletown resolution to build a model for a regional high school.

Last Monday, Middletown Town Council approved a resolution to develop a regional high school model. Newport council members unanimously supported the resolution and commended Middletown for the initiative Wednesday night at the City Council meeting.  

"[It's] a model for what would a regional high school look like," explained Middletown Councilor Dick Adams, who co-sponsored the resolution with Middletown Councilor Barbara Vonvillas.

The Newport resolution, introduced by Naomi Neville states that “regionalization of school services and schools as been of interest to the City of Newport for quite some time because of the potential financial and educational benefits.”

Find out what's happening in Newportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Newport Mayor Harry Winthrop expressed cautious optimism. 

“I think this review is long long overdue on this island,” said Winthrop. “I hope this is successful island-wide.” He added that he is “hesitant” to go as far as that it will actually happen.

Find out what's happening in Newportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Newport Councilman Justin McLaughlin added that Councilor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano has done a significant amount of work on this in the past. “This isn’t going to happen just because you pass a resolution. We aren’t starting this process tonight; I guess this is the start of the second act.”

Napolitano said she is “very supportive” of Middletown’s resolution. “This is so long overdue, she said. “We need to figure out a way to deliver services to the kids, to whether it’s at Rogers, or Middletown, or anywhere else.”

How do you think the communities should move forward? Tell us in the comments. Earlier this month, Patch asked the question: Should Middletown and Newport Share a Superintendent? See what readers had to say here.










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