NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, February 12, 2003

6:00 PM Executive Session for a Personnel Issue Regarding Nonrenewal

Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (a) (1) (2) and (4)*

7:00 PM Worksession

Central Administration Building                                                                                    100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

 

           I.          Pledge of Allegiance

         II.          Call To Order:                     Roll Call: The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM.

 

                                                Present:  Chairperson Don DeFedele, Vice Chairperson Denise Coppa, Lynne Haft, Barry Martasian, Bill Mudge, and Kevin Mulvey, Patricia Watkins and Jamestown Representative, Cathy Kaiser.

                                                               

                                                      Administration Present: James M. Halley, Ed.D, Superintendent of Schools Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Ed.D., Curriculum Director, and William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources

 

Absent: Dr., Joseph Quinn, Director of Administrative Services

 

       III.          Presentation       Aaron Thomas:  Summer Sports Camps – The summer camps goals and objectives are “to give all participants a good sound foundation in athletic skills, techniques and strategies while working in an environment of sportsmanship, team play and safety; and enjoying the summer playing with old friends and meeting new friends while having fun and participating in a unique experience.”  Mr. Thomas went over the camps’ features and costs and described results of the last few years.  The sports offered are Volleyball, Lacrosse, Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, and Cross Country.   The presentation was well received.

 

       IV.          Open Forum

·          A student from the High School stood up to voice her argument against Block Scheduling.  Amongst other things, in this student’s opinion, block scheduling leads to a loss of electives, loss of class rank, disregards the theory of multiple intelligence, does not take into consideration the fatigue of students and teachers, nor the fact that colleges look at GPA as well as class rank.

 

 

         V.          Routine Items

 

A.                  Calendar – Dr. Halley reviewed the calendar for the next two weeks with the school committee.

·         KeyWorks meetings have been added to the School Committee Calendar for the third Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8: 30pm beginning in March.

·         The April 9th School Committee Worksession has been moved to April 15th because School Committee members will be at the NSBA Conference in San Francisco.

 

B.                   Personnel Items - none

C.                   Bids and Awards – none

 

 

       VI.          New Business

 

A.                  K-12 Art Curriculum – Questions were answered by Barbara Fitzsimmons regarding the evaluation process, staffing and materials increases. The Development of an evaluation tool for the arts curriculum will be conducted by the arts department in conjunction with the curriculum director.  The tool will be included with the art curriculum (This statement was added per request by Dr. Denise Coppa at the February 26, 2003 Business Meeting).  Barry Martasian stated that as an artist he is proud to be part of a School Committee of a town with such a strong art program.  A motion was made by Lynne Haft/Barry Martasian to forward this curriculum to the February 26, 2003 Business Meeting.  Vote: 6/0/1 – Don DeFedele abstained from voting.

B.                   Report Regarding Questions Concerning the Comprehensive Guidance Support Plan K-12 – Motion by Denise Coppa/Lynne Haft to support the three Recommendations in Report made by Patti DiCenso and to have her report back to School Committee with actual numbers.  Vote:  6/0/1 – Don DeFedele abstained from voting.

 

C.                   Reports Regarding the Elementary School Roofs – Kevin Mulvey/Lynne Haft made a motion to accept the reports.  Discussion included the roof repairs at Hamilton and Stony Lane Elementary schools.  Bill Mudge still feels that it was unfortunate that the repairs were done while school was in session; feels administration should review future maintenance plans to avert such problems recurring.  Vote: 5/0/2 – Don DeFedele, Bill Mudge abstained from voting.

 

D.                  Report Regarding the January 7, 2003 Bus Accident and Policy on Bus Accident Procedures – Kevin Mulvey/Pat Watkins made a motion to accept the report as the procedures in place on January 7, 2003. Vote: 5 in favor, Bill Mudge against, Don DeFedele abstained from voting.  Discussion regarding the procedures progressed into a motion by Lynne Haft/Denise Coppa to refer them to the policy subcommittee for review. Vote: 6/0/1, Don DeFedele abstained from voting.  This motion was amended by Barry Martasian/Denise Coppa to add the language “to develop a policy”.  Vote:  6/0/1, Don DeFedele abstained from voting.

 

A 15 minute break was taken at 8:55 pm, cc: 1:54:17.  The meeting resumed at approximately 9:05.

 

E.                   Korean War Veterans – A motion was made by Lynne Haft/Barry Martasian to submit this matter to the February 26, 2003 Business Meeting for action.  Discussion covered High School graduating class of 2003 currently doing research and will advertise for veterans who may want to receive diplomas.  Vote taken on motion revealed: 6/0/1, Don DeFedele abstained from voting.

 

F.                   High School Regulations – Dr. Halley provided this information to the School Committee so that they would know the current requirements.  No action required.

 

G.                   School Committee Website Updates – Current training of school administration staff was discussed.  Barry Martasian mentioned that this topic has been discussed in the meetings of the Community Relations Subcommittee.  No action required.

 

H.                  Development of a Log of Motions and Comments – A motion was made by Barry Martasian/Bill Mudge to maintain a log of motions from this day forward.  This log shall show the date of the meeting, the wording of the motion, who made the motion, whether it received a second and by whom, if it passed or failed, and show the result of the vote.  The vote on this motion was 6/0/1 with Don DeFedele abstaining.

 

I.                     Policies - none

 

 

     VII.          Unfinished Business

 

A.                  2002-03 School Budget - none

B.                   2003-04 School Budget – Moved to the Budget/Reconfiguration Worksession, February 13, 2003

C.                   2002-03 School Department Goals and Objectives - none

D.                  2003-04 School Department Goals and Objectives – Meeting was held today in the Decision Center at the High School.  The members of the School Committee reported that this meeting was very productive.

 

E.                   School Modernization Advisory Committee } To be discussed at the

F.                   Elementary K-5 Organization Advisory Committee } Reconfiguration meeting on February 25, 2003

   VIII.          Correspondence and Good News

 

·         Bill Mudge tendered his resignation from the Jamestown Tuition Subcommittee, which was accepted by the Chair.

·         Lynne Haft received correspondence from parents regarding the Middle School music/string program; email from a parent of a 4th grade student at Quidnessett Elementary School, a former Davisville Elementary School student, who is highly complimentary of the program at QES; invitations to spelling bee; negotiations committee.

·         Kevin Mulvey discussed receiving an email from a member of the community which was also emailed to the other new members of the School Committee.  This email requested a public reprimand of one of the members of the administration.  Mr. Mulvey reminded the audience in attendance that the School Committee does not publicly reprimand any member of the School Department.  Discussions of School Department employee job performance is handled in closed executive session only; never in public.

·         Denise Coppa received a number of calls from parents of hockey players requesting support; and calls from parents of high school students requesting information on block scheduling.

·         Don DeFedele received information regarding the National School Board Seminar to be held in April; a letter from a substitute teacher thanking the School Committee for hiring her; a copy of a letter from the Town Council to contractor that built the new high school officially terminating their contract; a letter from G. Timothy Cranston requesting that the athletic facilities be named after his aunt Lenore Cranston: this is to be sent to the March 12th Worksession for discussion.

·         Dr. Halley brought the School Committee’s attention to two pieces of correspondence in their packets: a memo from Steve Nardelli of RIDE discussing the Initial Implementation of the Change in Kindergarten Eligibility Age (Appendix A); and “Your Family Disaster Plan” put out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Anyone interested in this plan can access it at the FEMA website: www.FEMA.gov.

 

       IX.          Comments

·         Bill Mudge requested that a Request for a Report from the School Committee’s Liaison to the Asset Management Commission, Eric Seabury, be placed on the next Worksession in March.

·         Terry Ohs mentioned that she was surprised that the School Committee was not discussing block scheduling.  She showed the School Committee the article that is printed in the High School newspaper regarding the topic.  Don DeFedele informed the audience that the subject of block scheduling is being reviewed at the high school level only, and has not been brought forward to the School Committee for discussion or adoption.

·         Bill Mudge would also like to know why block scheduling is being discussed at the High School.  Would like to see why topics are discussed at school level prior to coming to School Committee on the March Worksession agenda.

·         Toni Silveira would like School Committee to remember the Middle School String Program.

 

 

         X.          A motion to adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (1) and (2) for Personnel issues*, negotiations, discussion and Home Schooling Requests was made by Lynne Haft/Kevin Mulvey at 10:07 pm, clock counter 2:54:27.  A vote yielded unanimous approval.   The school committee will return to open session following the executive session; however, no business will be conducted.  *At the election of the employee, the personnel matter may be heard in public.

 

                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                _______________________________

                                                Konnie M. Mazur

                                                School Committee Secretary