Barrington Representatives Jason Knight and Jennifer Boylan are co-sponsoring legislation intended to help school districts that are facing a sudden drop in state education aid. 

A few weeks ago Barrington school officials discovered an unexpected decrease in state education aid. According to Barrington School Finance Director Doug Fiore, the local district received $11.6 million in state aid for education last year, but the governor’s budget this year only included $11.1 million for Barrington schools. 

The state’s education funding formula takes into account a variety of factors, such as property values and household income. 

During an earlier interview, Fiore said Barrington experienced increases in local property values and median income. That change resulted in a decrease in state education aid, he said. 

The legislation being proposed by Reps. Boylan and Knight would increase the funding that is provided to “soften the impact of state share reductions.”

How the bill works: If a district’s state share ratio is to decline by more than 2 percent from the previous year, the state will make up 50 percent of the loss attributed to that decline through a “poverty loss stabilization” fund to give the district more time to align its budget. The proposed legislation would increase that funding to 75 percent of the difference.

Rep. Knight said it is appropriate for the state to give districts losing aid time to adjust their budgets.

“If passed, this bill will help Barrington make that transition,” said Rep. Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren).

Rep. Boylan added: “Our school district is experiencing the same rising costs as the rest of Rhode Island and the nation. Losing a substantial portion of education funding is going to have a negative impact on kids. That shouldn’t happen here or anywhere else in our state. If a community is going to lose aid under the funding formula, that reduction should be instituted gradually so the district isn’t forced to suddenly and drastically cut programs that students rely on.”

Rep. Justine Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) is the bill’s primary sponsor; East Greenwich schools also stand to lose state education aid next year. 

The legislation was introduced Feb. 26, and is now before the House Finance Committee.