While some school districts in Rhode Island are projecting significant savings due in part to the switch to distance learning, that is not the case in Barrington.

"We have not had a significant variance to the budget thus far as a result of distance learning," said Doug Fiore, the district's director of finance and administration.

Mr. Fiore said much of the school budget remains unchanged, as the bulk of the costs are tied to salaries and benefits, and Barrington school officials have said that the vast majority of employees have continued working during the switch to distance learning. For example, despite schools being closed, custodians continue to clean the buildings.

"… the majority of our costs are for pay and benefits and those have continued as budgeted through distance learning," Mr. Fiore said.

The schools' director of finance and administration said that the district did see a modest drop in utility costs. Barrington schools spent $67,460 for gas and electric in March 2020, a drop off from the $78,722 the district spent for those utilities in March 2019.

But approximately $11,000 in savings pales in comparison to the savings some school districts have reaped during the switch to distance learning.

In Portsmouth, for example, school officials are projecting a fiscal surplus between $500,000 and $1 million due to cost savings in services not being provided during the coronavirus pandemic.

In late April, Bristol Warren Regional School District officials announced $336,395 in savings for February and March — "Because we don’t have people physically in buildings, it’s clear that we are going to have some cost savings,” said Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Brice.

Mr. Fiore said the possibility exists that Barrington schools could reap greater savings, although he is not projecting something similar to Portsmouth's.

He said Barrington could enjoy some reduced transportation costs, adding "But without knowing if there are any conditions on state or federal aid that we may be getting, I'm reluctant to assign a specific dollar amount. Some aid may be contingent on passing a portion to our vendors. I'm using the same caution with regard to projection where we will be at the end of the fiscal year. Sorry I can't be more specific, but we just have too many unknowns at the moment."

Transportation and food

Mr. Fiore said that while Barrington schools are not paying the expected transportation costs, there has been some discussion among local officials about continuing contractor payments as part of the CARES Act funding.

"…it's too early to determine what the impact of that funding will be on the district and how we will proceed once we know," he said.

Mr. Fiore added that food services are contracted and paid through a fund separate from the operating budget, "so there's no impact on our operating budget, nor are we incurring those expenses."

Barrington also employs four bus drivers outside of the school transportation contract with Ocean State Transit. Mr. Fiore said Barrington school officials offered those four employees alternative duties during the switch to distance learning, such as delivering students' books and (in conjunction with the local municipal government) calling vulnerable seniors and disabled residents for wellness checks.

"Two of the four have taken us up on the offer, and two have not," Mr. Fiore said.

The school district is also using the distance learning time as an opportunity to make repairs and complete inspections on the district-owned school buses.