With absenteeism a major concern of schools throughout Rhode Island, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain discusses how the school system is trying to improve attendance and turn around a poor showing by pupils in recent statewide testing when she joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation o nWednesday.Recent independent reports have identified absenteeism as a significant problem statewide, with many students characterized as chronically absent. In Newport, Jermain, in her community update, said that some students in Newport have already missed 14 days of school.Absenteeism, coupled with poor testing for pupils in grades 3 to 8 in the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System testing has raised concerns for Jermain, who is working with other school administrators to implement programs to improve pupil performance.Meanwhile, the school committee has allocated surplus funds to help fill the construction budget shortfall for the Rogers High School project. We hear from the superintendent how that will fill the budget gap and how much more money is needed to ensure all aspects of the project are completed.We also discuss several other issues, including staffing and whether the schools are fully staffed, not only in the classroom but in other areas, including bus drivers and maintenance staff.Watch our conversation below or listen to it above.The Latest From What’sUpNewpWhat’s Up Interview: Singer-Songwriter Anna Mieke, playing Newport’s Colony House on Friday, November 3Win tickets to see acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter in Newport Live concertJan Brogan: Lessons from a smartphone fastIf you measure an addiction to a smartphone by the number of downloaded apps, I should probably be in rehab.VIDEO: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns JermainNewport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Wednesday.Red Sox hiring ex-pitcher Craig Breslow to run baseball operations, AP source saysThe Boston Red Sox have hired ex-pitcher Craig Breslow to run their baseball operations department, a team official said Wednesday.7-Day Weather forecast for Newport CountyHere’s what’s on tap for the weather this week and weekend.Obituary: Matilda VallesFebruary 10, 1938 – October 18, 2023Newport police report for Oct. 24 – 25Here’s a look at the Newport Police Department arrest and dispatch logs for Tuesday, October 24 through 7 am on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.How gas prices have changed in the Providence metro area in the last weekThe average cost for a gallon of gasoline continues to slowly fall this week. This is the fifth week in a row that American drivers have seen prices drop.Obituary: Mary Catherine JamesNovember 16, 1935 – October 20, 2023Best-performing Rhode Island stocks last weekThe highest-performing stock on the list returned +0.1% last week. Read on to see which companies made the list.3-day Surf Forecast for Rhode IslandForecast includes rip current risk, surf height, weather, winds, and more.Popular on WhatsUpNewp.com* What Sold: 24 recent sales in Newport County* Water main flushing to take place across Aquidneck Island Oct. 29 – Nov. 9* Newport police report for Oct. 23 - 24* Opinion | Realizing Newport’s North End potential - The next stage of the Bridge realignment* In Rhode Island, a hunt is on for the reason for dropping numbers of the signature quahog clamFurther ReadingWLNE: Newport police searching for owner of abandoned dogSalve Today: Trinity Leite ’25 makes choreographic debut in NYC with works performed by Salve's dance programEast Bay Times: Transfer station fans trash-talk Portsmouth council at meetingecoRI News: ‘Mermaid’ Uses Her Passion to Teach Stewardship of R.I.’s OceansWhat’s Up on ThursdayWeather* Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 5 to 8 mph.* Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 57. Southwest wind around 6 mph.Marine Forecast* Thursday: Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming SW 5 to 7 kt in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.* Thursday Night: Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly cloudy. Seas 1 ft or less.* Coastal Water Temperature: 57°F.Sun, Moon, & Tide* Sunrise: 7:09 am | Sunset: 5:48 pm | 10 hours and 38 minutes of sun.* High tide at 6:11 am & 6:36 pm | Low tide at 12:17 pm.* Moon: Waxing Gibbous. 11.5 days, 89% lighting.Things To Do* 9 am: Tree Walk: Island Cemetery* 9:30 am: Baby Bookworms Storytime at Newport Public Library* 11 am: Maker Kids: Halloween Scratch at Newport Public Library* 12 pm to 6 pm: Pumpkin Patch at Trinity Church Newport* 2:30 pm: Computer Workshop: Google Drive at Newport Public Library* 3:30 pm: Pit Fired Ceramics Workshop at Jamestown Arts Center* 3:30 pm: Franken-toys at Newport Public Library* 4 pm: Illuminating Your Gratitude on Thames at IYRS* 4 pm: Creepy Crawlies at Middletown Public Library* 5 pm: Newport Middle Passage Port Marker Project at Newport Public Library* 5:30 pm: Adult Intermediate Ballet at The Academy at Newport Contemporary Ballet* 6 pm: Conflict Archaeology and the Battle of Rhode Island at Portsmouth Historical Society* 6 pm: Halloween Cocktail Club at Hotel Viking* 6:30 pm: Halloween Beer Dinner at Caleb & Broad* 7 pm: Adult Beginner Ballet and Stretch at The Academy at Newport Contemporary Ballet* 7 pm: Climate Future Film Festival at Jamestown Arts Center* 8 pm: Whatever Fate Decides at The Firehouse TheaterLive Music & Entertainment* JPT Film & Event Center: The Miracle Club at 4:30 pm, The Phantom of The Opera with live score by Jeff Rapsis at 7:30 pm* Midtown Oyster Bar: John Erikson at 8 pm* Newport Blues Cafe: Spiffy at 9 pm* One Pelham East: Stu Sinclair at 9:30 pm* Pour Judgement: Live music at 10 pm* Ragged Island Brewing Company: Trivia at 6 pm* Sunset Cove: Karaoke at 6 pmLocal GovernmentThe following public meetings are scheduled;* Jamestown: School Committee at 6 pm* Little Compton: 350 (LC350) at 6:30 pm* Middletown: Tree Commission at 4 pm, Prevention Coalition at 6 pm* Newport: Planning Board at 6:30 pm* Tiverton: North End and Indus