January 5, 2026
Dear Students, Staff, and Families:
Happy New Year! Welcome back, I hope you enjoyed a refreshing holiday break. As we approach the mid-year mark, I hope we’re feeling rested and ready to make real progress on your personal goals with intention.
2026 School Committee Meetings
The first regular meeting of the School Committee of 2026 will be held on Thursday, January 8th, at 7:00 PM in the Transitional Cafeteria. Meetings are open to the public, and we encourage all to attend. It is a great way to stay informed of happenings around the district. If you are not able to attend, but would still like to watch, you can log in to our YouTube channel for the live stream. Upcoming topics will include the 2026-2027 Budget, School Calendar, and a question-and-answer session with Transpar regarding transportation and redistricting.
The 2024‑25 RICAS results have been published on RIDE’s Assessment Data Portal. Assistant Superintendent DiManna and his team have been working to break down the data for Cumberland.
In short, we continue to distinguish ourselves among Rhode Island districts. Cumberland’s momentum in both ELA and Math emphasizes our district’s resilience, purposeful instruction, and steady growth. Compared to peer districts across the state, Cumberland’s performance places us as one of the leaders in both Math and ELA. That standing demonstrates not only academic strength, but also a capacity for continual improvement. These results are a valid reassurance to our community that our efforts are paying off, and they sharpen our focus: we will build on our successes, direct resources toward areas of unfinished work, and aim not just to compete, but to lead. Cumberland’s achievement is a credit to the collective hard work of students, teachers, and administrators.
To watch the 2024-2025 RICAS Presentation, Cumberland School Committee 12/11/2025, starting at 15:50. Thank you to Mr. DiManna and his team for the thorough breakdown and your tireless work of navigating the district to the top.
Construction Update
Construction projects throughout the district have wrapped up, leaving only our biggest project, the new B.F. Norton Elementary School. Thank you to the Staff and Families for your support and patience as we opened the year. The transition of the property has already been astounding with the filling and grading, and the installation of the loop road. Updates with photos are given at every school committee meeting; you can find them in the Superintendent’s Report.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools