Superintendent's Update

In closing, my sincere thanks go out in advance for any actions taken on the items listed above. Whether providing feedback on our schools via SurveyWorks, working with your child to familiarize them with questions found on upcoming State tests, or lending your voice to assist in the adoption of a fiscally and educationally responsible FY 26 budget, your engagement and support of South Kingstown’s public schools is greatly appreciated.

With respect and gratitude,

Michael J. Podraza

Superintendent

“When large numbers of people have a deeply understood sense of what needs to be done—and see their part in achieving that purpose—coherence emerges and powerful things happen.”

~Michael Fullan~

• 3/5 Budget Subcommittee 4:15 PM @ Central Office Conference Room

• 3/5 SMILE Club Night 5:30 PM @ PDES

• 3/6 Building Subcommittee 6 PM @ Town Hall

• 3/7 SELAC Coffee Hour 8 AM @ Hazard

• 3/13 Town Council and School Committee Budget Workshop 7 PM @ Town Hall

• 3/13 7th and 8th Grade - Almost Spring Concert 6 PM @ BRMS

• 3/14 & 3/15 SKPADES @ SKHS

• 3/18 Sing Fling 6 PM @ SKHS

• 3/20 Instrumental Concert 6:30 PM @ SKHS

• 3/26 Jazz Bands Concert 6:30 @ BRMS

*Please verify meeting details on the RI Secretary of State website as dates approach

The Greatest 8 is a free resource designed to help parents build 8 key mental wellness skills in their children from birth through age 8

Developed by the Washington County Coalition for Children in partnership with researchers from the University of Rhode Island and Brown University, The Greatest 8 is designed with busy parents in mind. Parents can search for information by age and skill in multiple languages on our website at www.thegreatest8.org.

Parents can also get a free text message each week to help them teach their children eight skills for a lifetime of mental wellness (in both English & Spanish)! The Greatest 8™ delivers TIPS AND ACTIVITIES you can use to nurture your child’s healthy emotions and behavior. Sign up on the website or text GREATEST8 to 401-297-3020.

Watch a brief PSA about The Greatest 8 here in English and here in Spanish. Click here for a Greatest 8 flyer.

The South Kingstown School District's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request addresses the critical alignment between our community's transformative $150 million investment in new facilities and the operational foundation necessary to maximize South Kingstown’s historic commitment to educational excellence. This budget proposal reflects both the opportunities and challenges we face as our district moves forward with implementing a shared vision of growth for South Kingstown's educational future.

Our District and Town face a complex financial landscape shaped by several key factors. The state's 4% tax levy cap creates inherent tensions between educational aspirations and fiscal constraints. Additionally, as the debt service for our new facilities comes onto the town's books in future fiscal years, it will consume a significant portion of our community's financial capacity. These realities require us to think strategically about how we must find ways to maintain, and perhaps more importantly- grow educational opportunities while facing increasingly challenging circumstances.

The stakes of this budget decision extend beyond immediate operational considerations. Without adequate funding to support robust core academic programs from Preschool to Grade 12, as well as meaningful career pathways demanded in the 21st century, we risk accelerating a concerning trend: the departure of students to charter schools and career and technical education programs in other districts. Each student who leaves represents not only a loss to the collective culture of our community but also the creation of a significant financial burden to the taxpayer through required out-of-district tuition payments. These departures create a self-perpetuating cycle – reduced enrollment leads to reduced resources, potentially prompting more families to seek alternatives outside our district, further straining South Kingstown’s budget through additional tuition obligations.

In previous years, our district managed enrollment and budgetary pressures through school consolidations and reorganizations. This approach allowed us to preserve educational quality while responding to enrollment changes and financial constraints. However, we have now exhausted these options. We can no longer close or consolidate schools, eliminating a crucial and relied-upon mechanism for cost management. This structural change limits how the District is now able to respond to financial pressures without jeopardizing or eliminating current programming.

Our ability to attract and retain families in South Kingstown depends not just on our existing and new facilities but on the comprehensive educational experience we offer. Prospective and current residents evaluate school systems holistically, considering the quality and depth of academic programs, career and technical opportunities, the experience and dedication of our teaching staff, and the availability of support services and enrichment opportunities. If we cannot maintain existing programming, we risk watching families exercise their expanding educational choices through charter schools and out-of-district CTE programs, with each departure adding to our residents’ financial obligations through tuition payments.

Without adequate operational funding, we risk creating a disconnect between our community's $150 million capital investment and our day-to-day educational delivery. This misalignment could trigger a cascade of consequences: accelerating declining enrollment, increasing out-of-district tuitions, and reducing resources for remaining students – potentially deterring the very families and students we hope to retain and attract to South Kingstown’s schools.

Our budget request for Fiscal Year 2026 represents a careful balance between fiscal responsibility and educational necessity. It acknowledges both the tax levy constraints and debt service obligations our community faces while attempting to protect the core educational services that make South Kingstown a destination district. This budget seeks to:

• Respond appropriately to changes in enrollment and address duplication of services

• Continue to offer compelling programs that South Kingstown families have come to expect- and that our students deserve

• Preserve the educational services that support student success

• Position our district for sustainable growth within our financial constraints

• Provide the administration with both resources and personnel to improve upon student achievement and close achievement gaps

The decisions we make about operational funding in FY 26 will determine whether our $150 million facilities investment achieves its full potential. Our commitment to educational excellence in South Kingstown must extend beyond physical infrastructure to encompass the full spectrum of learning opportunities we provide our students. Without this commitment, we risk watching our investment underperform while bearing the additional financial burden of increasing out-of-district tuition.

I respectfully request careful consideration of this FY 26 budget proposal through more than just a fiscal lens, as it represents more than a financial document—it is an ongoing, strategic investment in South Kingstown's educational future and our community's continued vitality.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael J. Podraza

Superintendent of Schools

South Kingstown School District is a proud Professional Learning Community built upon collaborative leadership and 21st-century deep learning competencies while developing a culture of equity, openness, and sharing of ideas.