By ETHAN HARTLEY The City of Warwick and the Warwick School Department has avoided resorting to what seemed to be, just a short time ago, certain litigation over the school's $4.9 million budgetary gap, agreeing to enter mediation and, if necessary,
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The City of Warwick and the Warwick School Department has avoided resorting to what seemed to be, just a short time ago, certain litigation over the school’s $4.9 million budgetary gap, agreeing to enter mediation and, if necessary, binding mediation to solve the dispute in an “expedited” fashion.
On Thursday night towards the end of the school committee’s postponed meeting – which was rescheduled due to last Tuesday’s snowstorm – Andrew Henneous, legal counsel for the committee, explained that the school committee agreed in executive session to dismiss their pending lawsuit against the city indefinitely.
He said the two parties were “happy to announce the parties will once again engage in mediation and are working with a well-known mediator in the state to try and bring resolution to the budget situation.” That mediator has been confirmed to be Vincent Ragosta, who helped mediate a conclusion to the multi-year contract dispute between the Warwick Teachers’ Union and the school department in 2017.
If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement on how much money the schools should receive from the city through these sessions, they will enter mutually agreed upon binding mediation, where Ragosta will hear the last best offers from the sides and then make a final decision.
“We are very happy that the city has agreed to this and that we're able to move forward, saving the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills, pain and excruciating testimony,” said school committee chairwoman Karen Bachus. “Sometimes choosing peace is far stronger than choosing to bicker in Warwick.”
The development undoubtedly came as good news to Bachus, who since taking over as chairwoman in January has pledged to work harder to collaborate with the city rather than butt heads. Last week the newly elected school committee – which includes three new members, all of whom had also emphasized improving relationships with the city council during their campaigns – agreed to drop the lawsuit but only if the city would mediate towards a solution.
Another condition to be met under that compromise was that the city would have to hear the school department’s request to release over $6 million in bond funding from the $40 million bond that was approved by voters in November. Bachus said on Monday that the schools were likely going to be placed on the agenda for the first city council meeting in March, which would be March 4.
However, due to concerns about the schools being able to get the bond funds in time to initiate summertime projects for 2019 and 2020, Bachus said they were hopeful that they could get onto the agenda for the next meeting on Feb. 25.
As for the actual mediation meetings, Bachus said that city and school personnel are choosing dates that work for both sides, but she expects the parties to meet in February and perhaps into March over three or four meetings. If those meetings don’t bring about a solution to the budget, the binding mediation process will commence.
Bachus heralded the compromise as something unique among budgetary disputes in Rhode Island history. Instead of choosing to sue, the sides agreed to try and continue to work together – and allow a mediator to decide if they are unable to do so. The lawsuit would have pitted the schools against the city seeking $4.9 million, and would have likely taken months to reach a conclusion.
“We chose to offer the olive branch and to make peace. This is our city and we need to bring the city together, and I think this is the way to do it. This may become a model statewide for districts that end up in situations like this,” she said. “It may set a new model for the state which is far less costly and hopefully brings about better relations with the schools and the cities.”
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richardcorrente
Dear readers,
Let's look at the main players in this issue.
Karen Bachus has been a prominent member of the School Committee for years and was the ONLY member to stand up against the injustice of the Mario Atoyian tragedy. The other School Committee members wanted to sweep the issue under the rug. Bachus said "This is a zero-tolerance issue". Bachus is now the Chair. The others are now gone.
Attorney Vincent Ragosta has been selected as the mediator for this issue. Everyone remembers him from the Mario Atoyian tragedy. His "Ragosta Report" was published in the Warwick Beacon proving it wasn't a "verbal" report as some members of the School Committee declared. Those members are also gone.
So we have a problem and it's being solved by some very caring and intelligent people. Warwick is in good hands.
Happy St. Patricks everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Report this
wwkvoter
Dear Readers,
Let's look at who is NOT a main player in this issue. Corrente. Who is NOT the mayor despite calling himself that.
Happy Real Mayor's Day Everybody
The Truth Seeker's Mayor
Thursday, February 21, 2019 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear wwkvoter and all readers,
I didn't know that today was "Real Mayor's Day" . That's good to know.
Happy "Real Mayors Day" everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, February 22, 2019 Report this
wwkvoter
LOL That was funny
Friday, February 22, 2019 Report this