Recap: Central Falls Board Hears Enrollment Decline, Tables Superintendent Evaluation

Superintendent Stephanie Downey Toledo said current enrollment is 2,241 students, down from about 3,000 when she started eight years ago. Because funding is tied to each student, she said, hundreds fewer students means millions of dollars less. Budget planning for fiscal 2028 begins in January, and she said some grades could have fewer classes next year. One board member estimated the loss at about $5 million. Separately, the board tabled the superintendent evaluation policy after finding members had the wrong version, and it approved the school physician contract.

Central Falls, R.I. — The Central Falls School Board on Tuesday night heard district leaders warn that enrollment has dropped to its lowest point in more than a decade, with funding cuts likely to follow. The board also tabled its superintendent evaluation policy for a second straight month, according to the Central Falls School Board's published meeting recording.

The board approved a school physician contract and its consent agenda, and took up a $22,500 fund for board member training. It also heard the year's state test results and a first reading of an updated physical restraint policy.

Enrollment down, budget pressure ahead

Superintendent Stephanie Downey Toledo said the district reports enrollment to the state every October. A total of 2,404 students have been enrolled in the Central Falls School District this school year, she said, but current enrollment is 2,241 once students who have already left are counted.

When she started eight years ago, Toledo said, the district was "right around 3,000 kids." Central Falls High School, often described as a school of 800, is "now hovering in the 600s," she said.

Toledo said funding is tied to every student, so hundreds fewer students means millions of dollars less. She said hard decisions lie ahead about added staff, such as instructional coaches, or new after-school programs that parents requested earlier in the evening.

As a theory the district is testing against its data, the superintendent said fewer families have moved to Central Falls from other countries since the federal administration changed. She said new registrations, once a daily occurrence, have declined significantly. Families who leave often cite a housing change, she said, while some choose a charter school or a career and technical program.

About 60 high school students are no longer enrolled since the start of the year. The superintendent said about 30 of those graduated in August, and the district would break down how many were actual dropouts.

One board member estimated the loss could reach about $5 million based on per-pupil funding. That member asked for projections ahead of time and said the community needed to be part of the process. Toledo said budget planning for fiscal year 2028 will begin in January, alongside strategic planning and contract negotiations.

The superintendent said class sizes are currently very low. As one example of the analysis under way, she said a grade with four first-grade classes might have three next year. Asked how staff reductions would work, she said both unions use seniority, though certifications and which classes close also matter, and non-union roles would be reviewed. She said most instructional coaches are grant-funded.

A board member asked whether the district could advocate at the state level, pointing to recent gains in classrooms with small class sizes. Toledo said the state has in past years used what she called a hold harmless, which softened the budget hit of declining enrollment. She said it was too early to know the exact impact.

Superintendent evaluation policy tabled again

The evaluation policy returned for a second reading after being tabled at the board's October 13 meeting. A board member who worked on it said the goal was transparency, noting most districts post their superintendent evaluation and rubric online. The draft is aligned to the Rhode Island standards for educational leaders, the member said.

The member said the board would use an outside evaluator this first year. The draft also includes a 360-degree survey of students, families and staff, aiming for at least 50% of staff at each school to respond.

Another member questioned quotation marks around the word "effectiveness" in the draft. That member also asked whether the board needed both a new 360-degree survey and the state education department's existing surveys, which could survey the same people twice.

Members then found that the copy before them was not the right version. The board voted by voice vote to move the policy to the next meeting. The chair asked members to dig into the draft and send their questions in advance so the board does not "keep kicking this down."

Board training fund

Dr. Sarah Friedman presented a resolution to amend the fiscal 2027 school budget. It would set aside $22,500 from the district's unassigned fund balance for board member professional development, conferences and related travel. Friedman said the board is new after decades of state control, and that a recommendation emerged from the General Assembly process to provide for members' continued development.

Under the plan, Friedman said, each member would have about $2,500 and would fill out a form explaining how the use relates to board work. She mentioned a conference in Texas for newly elected Latino officials as one opportunity.

A speaker described the fund balance as "almost like our savings account." One member raised concern about spending while the district faces lost revenue, saying "kids first." Other speakers said members do not have to use the money and that unused funds stay in the fund balance rather than building up year to year. One member noted that $22,500 does not buy half a teacher. A speaker said budgets for board members typically run between $2,000 and $4,000, and that the district went toward the low end.

The chair called for a voice vote on a motion to approve the resolution.

State test results

Chief Academic Officer Joy Souza said every category on the state's district overview improved from the prior year. She said overall English language arts proficiency rose from 9% to 11.5% and science proficiency doubled from 8% to 16%. On the state's math test, eighth graders went from 1.6% proficient in 2025 to 17.9% in 2026.

Souza also named areas of concern. All district schools are rated two stars except the high school, which is one star and was again identified for state comprehensive support and improvement. She said two schools, an elementary school and Calcutt Middle School, lost a star in one category because of teacher chronic absenteeism.

One board member said numbers tell only part of the story and warned against making teachers a scapegoat. Another member said the driver was a fact worth flagging, noting a substitute shortage and that the flag means missing more than 18 days.

Souza said students with disabilities were 1% proficient in English language arts and 1.9% in math. Members asked for more data, including comparisons with nearby districts, disability types, classroom settings, and how many classrooms lack a certified special educator. On the brighter side, she said students who recently exited multilingual learner status gained 22.1 percentage points in math proficiency, compared with 7.3 points statewide.

Other votes and business

School physician contract: Approved by voice vote, with one member recusing. A speaker said state law and regulation require a district doctor. Consent agenda: Approved by voice vote, seconded by Vice Chair Carla Hernandez. The agenda included the October 13 minutes, salary and expense warrants, and civic use of buildings. A member raised concerns about how executive session was reflected in the minutes and was told sealed executive session minutes are kept separately and can be placed on next month's agenda for approval. Building use policy: After no questions, the chair called a voice vote on a motion to approve the policy on second reading. Physical restraint policy: The board held a first reading with no vote. The superintendent said the policy was last approved in 2007 and contained out-of-date language. She said the district has an internal crisis-intervention trainer, Roberto Rivera, who works at the high school. Members asked about review by the police department and about hearing from the training company before the second reading. Executive session: Tabled to the next meeting after the superintendent said a pending matter had no update. Personnel: The superintendent reported new hires, mostly Warrior Fellows, and no resignations or retirements. She said the district has about five vacancies and is still seeking a chief financial officer, possibly with a retired school business administrator to fill in for up to 90 days. Vacancies will be added to the monthly report. Construction: A district official said demolition began that day on the old high school. The official said the groundbreaking for the new high school's track and field was moved to December 3 because it overlapped with next week's 10-year accreditation visit by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Parents and a student speak

The meeting opened at an elementary school, where Principal Buddy Comet said enrollment there has declined but student needs remain complex. He asked the board to keep enough teachers and support staff in mind when weighing cuts.

One parent, Harris, suggested a school running from kindergarten through sixth grade, a longer school day and more parking. A second parent asked for more after-school programs.

During public comment, an eighth grader said they have had only gym for two years and no access to advanced math. The student also asked for an assistant principal because the school's principal splits time between two buildings. Rory Marty, the district's director of operations and safety, introduced themself to the new board. A teacher speaking online noted that it had been a year since the board was first seated, ending 34 years of state control.

Board members said the board's three working groups, on special education, policy and finance, are open to teachers, staff, students and parents. In an update, a speaker said the policy working group discussed in-person sessions and a Google Form for public input on each new policy.

The superintendent evaluation policy and the tabled executive session are expected to return at the board's next meeting. The restraint policy will come back for a second reading, and budget planning for fiscal 2028 is set to begin in January.

Recap: Central Falls Board Hears Enrollment Decline, Tables Superintendent Evaluation

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