Isom-Agazie and other students, parents and activists stood on the steps of Providence City Hall on Monday to denounce proposed cuts that include the elimination of all winter and spring sports as well as non-union layoffs and more.

The financial crisis comes in the middle of an era impasse Between city leaders and those who run the state-controlled school district over how much money the city should contribute to the public school system. The dispute is currently in court.

“I think it’s ridiculous that I’m even here,” Isom-Agazie said. “As everyone who works at City Hall, I want to ask you one thing: Would you let this happen to your children?”

Cutting bus passes for students living 1 to 2 miles from school would save $735,000, and cutting sports would save $1.7 million, according to district leaders. These two proposed cuts have caused the most alarm in society, as they directly impact student attendance, mental health, and college scholarships.

Providence City Council leaders said last week they had identified $1.5 million in unspent Covid relief money they could offer to schools, in addition to the $1 million previously offered by Mayor Brett Smiley. However, the offer has conditions; The city wants an audit of the district’s finances, and council members want a promise that the $2.5 million will be used specifically to restore athletic and bus passes.

The district rejected the offer.

“Your proposal is inadequate, and we have serious concerns about how far we are from adequately addressing the crisis ahead,” Superintendent Javier Montañez wrote in an Oct. 23 letter to June Rose, the council’s chief of staff.

When asked why the district wouldn’t take the $2.5 million now and continue fighting for the rest, spokesman Jay Wegimont reiterated the superintendent’s message that it wasn’t enough.

“We have repeatedly renewed our request for $10.9 million to close the FY25 budget deficit,” Wegimont said. “While this also does not meet the city’s full legal obligation to PPSD, it will allow the district to meet the immediate needs of students and ensure the district’s continued operations.” He declined to comment further because the case is ongoing.

Smiley objected to Montañez’s request for an additional $11 million. I tell reporters in October the inspector called him to make the request and demanded a response within 24 hours; the mayor took this as an “ultimatum”.

Montañez confirmed that he asked the mayor to get back to him within 24 hours, but said he called the mayor “in the spirit of cooperation.”

On Monday, students expressed anger over the disagreement between leaders.

“I don’t care who does what,” Isom-Agazie said. “We need our money.” He accused Smiley of “deflecting” from the long-standing issue of City Hall underfunding schools. “Don’t punish the children,” he said.

Classical High School sophomore Theo Avila said he doesn’t blame any particular leader.

“This is a recurring problem,” Avila said. “This is not something that happened overnight, so this cannot be blamed on a single person or program. “I think it’s because it got this bad because of the bad decisions of a bunch of people.”

Avila skipped World History class to attend the press conference — “If I get in trouble, it’s worth it,” he said — and hopes to be on the swim team this winter if it isn’t canceled.

Avila, who wants to study child psychology at university, said, “I hope this will get me a scholarship.”

City leaders provided equal funding to city schools for most of the state’s takeover, providing $130 million a year even as state funding increased each year. County officials say state law is clear that the city must increase its annual appropriation during the acquisition, but city officials dispute the interpretation of that law.

Meanwhile, city leaders increased school funding by $5.5 million in the budget year that began July 1, for a total of $135.5 this year.

“Mayor Smiley acknowledged that Providence schools have been underfunded for decades, but this problem cannot be resolved quickly, especially during state intervention,” Smiley spokesman Anthony Vega said in a statement Monday. he said. “The district did not prepare for the fiscal challenges that came with the expiration of COVID-19 relief funds and did not pass a balanced budget, leading to the proposed cuts they now face.”

He said the city’s ability to offer more money depends on the outcome of a recent lawsuit in which the RI Department of Education filed a request with state Treasurer James Diossa. Cutting off $8.5 million in car tax subsidies to Providence to redirect those funds to the school system.

Monthly state aid is held in escrow until the problem is resolved. The next hearing is on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the remaining COVID relief money, which must be allocated by Dec. 31.

“This is a one-time money that will expire if we do not allocate it immediately,” Council President Rachel Miller said Monday. “We urge the district to accept funding under these simple terms and reverse cuts that would harm our city’s children.”

Steph Machado can be reached at [email protected]. follow him @StephMachado.