NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE Minutes 2/13/02

NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, February 13, 2002

7:00 PM Worksession followed by a Business Meeting to Adopt the 2002-03 Budget

Central Administration Building 100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

I. Pledge of Allegiance

II. Call To Order The meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM.

A. Roll Call Present: Chairperson Lynne Haft, Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Denise Coppa, Patricia E. Watkins and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee

Absent: Dr. Janice DeFrances, Carol H. Hueston, and Michael R. Northup

Administration Present: James M. Halley, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Ed.D., Curriculum Director, Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services, William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources, and Maureen Buck, Controller

Absent: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services,

III. Open Forum- None

IV. Routine Items

A. Correspondence clock counter (cc) 55

¨ Denise Coppa and other school committee members received invitations to a Middle Level Education Month breakfast at Davisville Middle School on March 1 at 7:15 am.

¨ Pat Watkins and other school committee members received invitations to Girl’s Day at Davisville Middle School on March 9, compliments were given to all the different people who were noted in the newspapers for good things and the Davisville Middle School article by Julia Steiny was wonderful.

¨ Dr. Halley mentioned an article in the Narragansett newspaper regarding the SORICO meeting that took place at the high school decision center.

B. Calendar- The superintendent reviewed the calendar for the next two weeks with the school committee. Also, the committee reviewed dates for the school PTO meeting budget presentations.

V. Unfinished Business

A. COPS Program Memorandum of Understanding cc 1236- Bill Daly reported that interviews have been conducted for School Resource Officers. The COPS Program Memorandum of Understanding will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

B. 2001-02 School Budget- Bill Mudge had questions regarding operating fund expenditures for the high school with respect to furniture and janitorial expenses, money spent on landscaping, and money spent on the D building and its current use.

C. 2002-03 School Budget- Muriel Camarra asked questions regarding staff development, benefits, and purchased services. Bill Mudge questioned how many new hires there are, the maintenance budget, a rollback of numbers to “actual”, operational costs for the sewage plant, and the Aspiring Principals Program. April Brunelle, co-chair of the Wickford Elementary School PTO addressed the budget increase compared to surrounding towns, staff development, the Aspiring Principals Program, and a concern to not cut the budget.

D. 2001-02 School Department Goals and Objectives- None

E. 2002-03 School Department Goals and Objectives- None

F. Position Papers cc 11650

1. Limitations on obtaining injunctions to prevent a work stoppage- Dr. Halley said that this position paper deals with public employees. The position paper will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

2. Use of life experience in place of education in certifying substitute teachers- This position paper will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

VI. New Business

A. North Kingstown Proposed School Calendar 2002-03 cc 12107- The proposed calendar was discussed in terms of professional development days, the length of the winter recess, and the starting and ending dates of school. Discussion of the proposed 2002-03 calendar will be continued at the 3/13/02 worksession.

B. Business Education Roundtable Statewide Insurance Pool cc 13731- A letter of support for the Statewide Insurance Pool will be drafted and presented at the 2/27/02 business meeting for approval.

C. Policies

1. Policy EEA- Student Transportation Services-This policy will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

2. Policy EEAEC- Student Conduct on Buses- This policy will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

3. Policy GBEBC- Gifts to and Solicitation by Staff- This agenda item will be continued for additional research.

4. Policy ICA- School Calendar- This policy will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

5. Policy ID- School Day- This policy will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

6. Policy JICD- Student Conduct, Behavior and Discipline- This agenda item will be continued for additional research.

7. Policy JIH- Interrogations and Searches- This policy will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

8. Policy JLIA- Supervision of Students- This policy will be on the 2/27/02 business meeting agenda for approval.

Karin Forbes mentioned that the Policy Subcommittee will have recommendations regarding sunset clauses for policies.

VII. Comments cc 22047

¨ Denise Coppa complimented Davisville Middle School for being recognized in the Journal’s article by Julia Steiny.

¨ Pat Watkins would like a Physical Education Report by the end of April with a presentation placed on the agenda in May, if necessary, with regard to staffing changes, instructional issues, size of classes and failures of classes.

¨ Karin Forbes said that a request has been made to write a new policy on grievance procedures.

¨ Lynne Haft attended the LINKS Board Meeting in January and itemized the following concerns: LINKS does not want MTI volunteers (university mentoring students) decreasing parent volunteerism in the schools; LINKS would have liked to participate in the Centore Learning Academy but were refused, and the Chamber of Commerce will not be contributing $4,000 that they do annually for the Business Education Partnership.

¨ Home Schooling requests were approved on a motion by Pat Watkins/Karin Forbes (4/0).

¨ Dr. Halley is pleased to see the recognition that the schools have received recently such as the Davisville Middle School article by Julia Steiny, articles on the Art Program, the Music Program, and the Statewide Results. “It’s nice to see positive things and they are well deserved.”

¨ Bill Daly has three openings next year for administrators- two Principals and an Assistant Principal/Director of Guidance. A school committee screener will be needed sometime during the first two weeks in March.

¨ Barry Martasian commented regarding monitors on middle school buses, the process by which students are removed from the bus, and finding a way to have retired people be active in the schools.

¨ Bill Mudge commented regarding furniture expenditures made out of the operating budget and bond money.

VIII. A motion to adjourn was made by Pat Watkins/Karin Forbes (4/0) at 9:47 PM.

Business Meeting Agenda

I. Call to Order The business meeting was called to order at 9:52 PM.

A. Roll Call Present: Chairperson Lynne Haft, Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Denise Coppa and Patricia E. Watkins

Absent: Dr. Janice DeFrances, Carol H. Hueston, Michael R. Northup and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee

Absent: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services,

II. New Business 2002-03 School Budget for Adoption

A motion to approve the School Budget as presented by the Superintendent was made by Pat Watkins/Denise Coppa (4/0).

III. Comments

¨ Lynne Haft received telephone calls during which Carol Hueston and Mike Northup expressed their full support for the Superintendent’s Budget and wanted that message conveyed in public.

¨ Joseph Quinn needs a revised budget letter for the Town Council.

IV. A motion to adjourn was made by Pat Watkins/Karin Forbes (4/0) at 9:53 PM, clock counter 2:46:22.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________________

Donna F. Keough

School Committee Secretary