Letter: Thank you, finance board, for fully funding Bristol Warren schools

Posted 3/26/20

To the editor:

On March 25, 2020, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) passed a budget for the Bristol Warren Regional School District (BWRSD). The budget provides for all requested funding of the …

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Letter: Thank you, finance board, for fully funding Bristol Warren schools

Posted

To the editor:

On March 25, 2020, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) passed a budget for the Bristol Warren Regional School District (BWRSD). The budget provides for all requested funding of the district except for approximately Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) that will be saved due to health care and dental costs not increasing as high as initially projected by our provider. The JFC should be commended for its willingness to listen to the students, teachers, community members, and staff who expressed the importance of funding this budget for the future of BWRSD students. 

What does this mean for us? The JFC decision highlights their faith in the ability of BWRSD staff, students, parents, and community members to create a high performing school district. This approval comes in the midst of the single biggest challenge facing public schools, the sudden implementation of distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 As I reflect on how the first several days of distance learning have progressed, I am in awe of what I have seen — students enthusiastically attending class and working on assignments, teachers creating academically challenging and interactive lessons, the district’s full suite of technology tools being utilized, and parents and community members rallying to support our efforts. Our distance learning efforts highlighted what we already knew, but were reminded of by this crisis, that BWRSD has great students, staff that are knowledgeable about their craft and compassionate toward students, and parents and community members that truly make education a priority. 

It is important for all BWRSD students, parents, staff, and community members to realize this exceptional opportunity that we were provided last evening; a fully funded budget request minus savings from lower than expected health care and dental care increases. The task is now ours, to work each day to teach, learn, and utilize the resources afforded us, to build a Top 5 in 5 Years academically performing school district in Rhode Island. I am excited about the opportunities and challenges that await us, and know that by continuing to work together, we will create a school system that unleashes the full potential of our students. 

Again, thank you to the members of the Joint Finance Committee for their confidence in our students and staff.

Jonathan T. Brice, Ed.D.
Bristol
Superintendent of Schools

Editor's note: This letter was sent to members of the Bristol Warren Regional School District community Thursday morning, March 26.

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