Budget reopened after health insurance costs jumped 14.5%

What happened

The School Committee adopted its 2026-2027 budget in February, then had to vote on it again on April 9 because health insurance costs had risen 14.5% and dental costs had also gone up. Money was moved into the employee benefits line and less was directed toward the deficit reduction plan. The budget was already built for a hard year: the superintendent told the committee in January that about $1.29 million of federal money is going away as temporary grants end, and that Coventry has the lowest per-pupil spending in Rhode Island. No layoffs were needed because retirements covered the staffing reductions.

Why it matters to families

When benefit costs rise faster than income, the money comes from somewhere else, and here it came partly out of paying down the district's deficit.

The evidence

The April 9, 2026 approved minutes record the superintendent explaining that healthcare costs have increased by 14.5% with dental costs also rising, that funds were reallocated into the benefits line with less directed toward the deficit reduction plan, and a 7-0 vote approving the FY27 budget. The January 22, 2026 minutes record declining federal funds of approximately $1.29 million, the statement that the district has the lowest per-pupil spending in Rhode Island, and that the budget is focused on preservation rather than expansion using zero-based budgeting. The June 11, 2026 minutes record that through retirements no layoffs were necessary. The budget document itself was not filed with the minutes, so the total is not on the public record.

The source