E. Providence, RI: Out-of-district SPED placements part of $1.3M district deficit

Oct 4, 2026, Hoodline: East Providence Schools Face $1.3M Budget Deficit

East Providence’s school district projected a $1.3 million deficit for fiscal 2026, with transportation, out-of-district special education placements and utilities among the costs running above budget. The projection emerged as new Superintendent Robert Perry took office and amid vacancies in the district’s finance office.

A New Superintendent Walks Into a Budget Crisis

At the School Committee’s August 11 meeting, officials projected transportation costs would exceed budget by $918,000, out-of-district special education placements by $1.1 million and utilities by $325,000, according to Superintendent Robert Perry, who started July 1, took office as the district was confronting those projected overruns.

The figures come with limits on how quickly the district can adjust spending. Salaries and benefits account for as much as 83% of the budget, while other fixed costs, including insurance and utilities, have been rising 10% to 12%, eastbayri.com reported.

Transportation, special-education placements and utility costs are therefore significant pressures, but the reported figures do not by themselves indicate what savings could be made. . . .