Scott Sutherland Appointed New Superintendent of Johnston Schools

News Summary

Scott Sutherland has been appointed as the new superintendent of Johnston Public Schools, following the retirement of Bernard DiLullo. Sutherland previously served as chief of staff for Providence Public Schools and has extensive experience in educational leadership. The Johnston School District is currently facing significant financial challenges despite a recent bailout, as budget deficits continue to loom. The district aims to enhance career and technical education programs while collaboratively working with the town administration on fiscal priorities for the future.

Johnston, Rhode Island – Scott Sutherland has been appointed as the new superintendent of Johnston Public Schools, effective immediately. The announcement was made by Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. in an interview with 12 News. Sutherland, who has a solid background in educational leadership, replaces Bernard DiLullo, who retired after serving 15 years in the role.

Sutherland comes to Johnston after a tenure as chief of staff for Providence Public Schools, a position he held starting in 2022. He has extensive experience as a principal at various schools within Providence, including Hope High School, Mount Pleasant High School, Central High School, and Gilbert Stuart Middle School.

The Johnston School District is currently dealing with significant financial challenges. Recently, the school board received a one-time financial bailout of $5.4 million from the town due to ongoing fiscal issues. Despite the additional funding, the district continues to struggle, facing a projected budget shortfall of the same amount for Fiscal Year 2026. These financial difficulties arise from consistently ending previous fiscal years with deficits, even as town and state support increased during Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.

In FY 2024, the district saw an injection of $2.1 million in local funding and $1.6 million from the state. The following fiscal year, FY 2025, brought an additional $1 million from local sources and $2.4 million from state funding, totaling $3.4 million in new money. Nonetheless, the school department reported a $2.6 million deficit at the close of FY 2025. Mayor Polisena has attributed the persistent financial troubles to the previous administration’s mismanagement of the school department’s resources.

The Johnston Federation of Teachers has expressed concerns regarding underfunding, which has resulted in job cuts in recent years. However, the mayor suggests that the recent bailout may effectively prevent further layoffs in the district. The newfound funding will be allocated with specific conditions, including a focus on expanding career and technical education programs to help retain students.

As the Johnston School Committee prepares to address its budget challenges, it is collaborating with the Town Administration on a Budget Memorandum of Agreement to outline the fiscal responsibilities and ensure alignment on budgeting priorities moving forward.

Scott Sutherland’s appointment comes at a time when several school districts across Rhode Island, including East Greenwich, Warwick, Lincoln, Tiverton, and Pawtucket, are also in the process of hiring new superintendents. This wave of leadership changes across the state highlights an evolving educational landscape that may affect the strategic direction of local school systems.

In summary, Scott Sutherland’s leadership will be vital as the Johnston School District navigates through financial adversity and strives to improve its educational offerings for students in the community.

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Johnston Appoints New Superintendent Amid Financial Issues

Additional Resources

• WPRI News
• Boston Globe
• Providence Journal
• Wikipedia: Johnston, Rhode Island
• Google Search: Johnston Public Schools