A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
These are challenging times for educators, from the superintendent’s office to the classroom. State and federal aid is dwindling, a rise in multi-language learners presents challenges, and instead of talking about teacher shortages, school administrators are issuing layoff and displacement notices.
Enter Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain. To say her plate is full might be an understatement. She joins WhatsUpNewp tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. for her monthly videocast.
She’ll do so amid a controversy with the teachers’ union that wants input into the administration’s “reorganization” plans that apparently is resulting in 16 teacher layoffs, and 45 displacements. The dispute is headed to arbitration, and while we’ll ask the superintendent about the issues, we suspect she’ll be limited in what she can say.
Read More: https://whatsupnewp.com/2024/06/amid-increasing-challenges-superintendent-jermain-joins-wun-tomorrow-for-her-monthly-videocast/
A convo with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
With the school year quickly coming to a close, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joins What'sUpNewp for her monthly videocast at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, and we’ll ask her to reflect on this past year and her hopes and expectations for the year ahead.
A conversation with Newport Superintendent of Schools Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport Superintendent of Schools Colleen Burns Jermain will join WhatsUpNewp for her monthly one-on-one live virtual video conversation tomorrow (Friday) at 1:30 p.m. to discuss issues ranging from Rogers High School construction to the proposed school budget.
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport School Superintendent Collen Burns Jermain joins What'sUpNewp for her monthly live virtual video conversation.
A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
While kids were on their winter break, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain remained focused on a myriad of issues, including strategic planning, the budget, and Rogers High School construction. She joins WUN for her monthly videocast on Wednesday, February 28, at 1:30 p.m. to discuss these and other issues in Newport schools.
These are difficult times for school administrators. They are embroiled in budget discussions with town and city councils, are facing the loss of some funding from the federal and state governments, and struggle to fill teaching and other positions as the number of education graduates continues to decline nationwide.
Statewide, there are attendance issues and a growing need to accommodate multilanguage learners.
There are several issues we hope to explore in our time with the superintendent:
Updates on Rogers High School construction and closing the financial gap.
Status of the school budget, and what the school department can expect once the City Council finalizes the city’s budget.
This is also when school departments send out layoff notices to teachers who may lose their jobs because of declining enrollment, or as Jermain says in her newsletter “restructuring/reorganization.” This is an annual ritual. We will want to know how many of those teachers the superintendent hopes to bring back.
We will look for an update on attendance.
Strategic Planning – Jermain says in her newsletter that the strategic planning committee expects in March to be presenting several elements of the plan, including its Portrait of a Graduate, to the School Committee.
As the school year enters its final months, we will want to know about staffing for this year and any concerns for next year. The number of education graduates has been steadily declining over the last half century, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The NCES says the number of education graduates is less than half of what it was in 1970-71.
In re
Superintendent Jermain joins What'sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Jan. 31
With the school year half over, WhatsUpNewp will check in for our monthly videocast with Newport Schools’ Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain on Wednesday, January 31 at 1:30 pm, updating ongoing projects and looking at future funding, some of which is now in jeopardy.
Statewide, COVID relief funds to school districts are drying up, and the Rhode Island Department of Education is ending its forgiveness for declining enrollment. Meanwhile, the governor’s proposed budget would raise the per pupil funding formula, provide additional funds for programs supporting impoverished students and multi-language learners. We’ll ask whether the net result is a loss of state funding, or an increase.
We’ll also be looking for an update on the Rogers High School construction project, and how the school department is closing the construction financial gap. Also, we’ll ask whether any decisions have been made about seeking RIDE approval for another bond to fund construction of the automotive and cosmetology areas.
Attendance remains a critical issue, not only raised by RIDE, but also in the latest report from KIDS Count. In her latest newsletter, Jermain says the schools are “working every day to build and improve” attendance, calling on parental and community support. We’ll ask how well the school department is addressing problems of chronic absenteeism.
We’ll ask about the Learn 365 initiative that provides after-school programming at organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs and Martin Luther King Center.
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport Mayor Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong
Newport Mayor Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong will join What'sUpNewp for a live one-on-one conversation at 4 pm on Monday, January 8. Mayor Xay will join What'sUpNewp's Ryan Belmore and take your questions on Newport, including what's going on at Easton's Beach, the Rogers High School construction project, and more.
A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Colleen Burns Jermain, Superintendent of Newport Public Schools, will join What'sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 3 pm on Wednesday, December 20.
A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain will join What'sUpNewp for a one-on-one live virtual video conversation at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
Have a question for the superintendent? Leave it in the comments below or email it to [email protected].
Watch live or anytime afterward below.
A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
With absenteeism a major concern of schools throughout Rhode Island, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain will discuss how the school system is trying to improve attendance, and turnaround a poor showing by pupils in recent statewide testing when she joins a WhatsUpNewp videocast today (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m.
Recent independent reports have identified absenteeism as a significant problem statewide, with many students characterized as chronically absent. In Newport, Jermain, in her community update, said that some students in Newport have already missed 14 days of school.
Absenteeism, coupled with poor testing for pupils in grades 3 to 8 in the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System testing has raised concerns for Jermain, who is working with other school administrators to implement programs to improve pupil performance.
Meanwhile, the school committee has allocated surplus funds to help fill the construction budget shortfall for the Rogers High School project. We will ask the superintendent how that will fill the budget gap and how much more money is needed to ensure all aspects of the project are completed.
We will also discuss several other issues, including staffing and whether the schools are fully staffed, not only in the classroom, but in other areas, including bus drivers and maintenance staff.
A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain sits down with What’sUpNewp at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, September 27 for a live virtual video conversation. We will discuss how the new school year is going, get an update on the Rogers High School construction project, and answer your questions. Have a question for the Superintendent, comment below.
A conversation with Deanna Lopes, Director of Paradigm Escape Rooms
Paradigm Escape Rooms on William Street is bringing interactive entertainment to Aquidneck Island with two newly designed, second-generation escape room experiences, fit for everyone, rain or shine.
Deanna Lopes, Director of Paradigm Escape Rooms, will join What’sUpNewp at 2 pm on Monday, September 18 for a live virtual video conversation to tell us more about Paradigm.
Tune in live as the convo happens or watch anytime afterwards on WhatsUpNewp.com.
A conversation with Gabe Amo, Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District
Amo joined What’sUpNewp for a one-on-one conversation at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, September 6 to discuss the primary election, what it’s going to take to win in the General Election on November 7, what he hopes to accomplish for Rhode Island, and more.
A conversation with Gabe Amo, Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District
Former White House aide Gabe Amo could become the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress after his win Tuesday in the crowded Democratic primary for the state’s 1st Congressional District.
Amo, a Pawtucket resident, will square off against Jamestown resident Gerry Leonard, a U.S. Marine veteran and political newcomer who defeated fellow Republican candidate Terri Flynn, a former Middletown town council member, to win the GOP primary Tuesday.
Amo will join What'sUpNewp for a one-on-one conversation at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, September 6 to discuss the primary election, what it's going to take to win in the General Election on November 7, what he hopes to accomplish for Rhode Island, and more.
Have a question for Amo? Leave it in the comments below.
A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain will join What'sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Wednesday, September 6 at 1:30 pm.
During the conversation, we'll discuss the new school year, and the latest on the Rogers High School construction project, and will answer viewer questions. Have a question for the Superintendent, leave them below!
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Walter Berbrick, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Walter Berbrick, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island's Congressional District 1, will join What'sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
During the interview, we'll learn more about Walter, find out why he's running in this special election, and discuss what he believes sets him apart from his opponents.
Have a question for Walter? Please leave it in the comments below. Watch the interview live as it happens or anytime afterward on WhatsUpNewp.com.
A special primary for the Congressional District 1 Special Election will be held on September 5. The Special Election will take place on November 7.
What'sUpNewp has invited every candidate to join us for a WUN-ON-ONE interview. Visit WhatsUpNewp.com for our full special election coverage.
What Governor McKee’s Learn365RI Initiative means for Newport
Newport is among the 31 municipalities that have signed Governor Dan McKee's Learn365RI Municipal Compact, committing to increase out-of-school learning opportunities for young people in their communities.
What does that mean (and look like) for the City of Newport, students, and families? Governor Dan McKee, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain, and Newport Mayor Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong will tell answer those questions and tell us more about the initiative when they join What'sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Tuesday, August 1 at 9 am.
What questions do you have about the Governor's Learn365RI initiative? Please leave your comments below.
Watch the conversation live at 9 am on Tuesday, August 1, or catch it anytime afterward.
