NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, February 27, 2002

7:00 PM Business Meeting

Central Administration Building                                                                                                                    100 Fairway Drive

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

           I.          Pledge of Allegiance

 

           I.          Call To Order                      The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM.

 

Roll Call Present:  Chairperson Lynne Haft, Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Denise Coppa, Dr. Janice DeFrances (present at 8:03 pm), Carol H. Hueston, Michael R. Northup and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee

                                                Absent:  Patricia E. Watkins

                                                Administration Present:  James M. Halley, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services, William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources and Maureen Buck, Controller

                                                                Absent:  Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Ed.D., Curriculum Director, and Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services

 

         II.          Open Forum

¨         Barbara Fournier, President of the Forest Park Elementary School PTO read the following letter dated February 25, 2002 from Diane Hunter, FPSAC Chair and herself.

 

Members of the North Kingstown School Committee:

 

                Last spring the Forest Park School Community expressed various concerns to the North Kingstown School Committee, including maintenance and capital improvement projects required at our school.  These projects included a new roof, and replacement of doors and windows, new classrooms and gymnasium.  In addition to addressing the pending capital improvement projects, the SAC and PTO would like to express their concerns regarding additional issues at this time.

 

                In light of the looming budget battle with the town council and the cost overruns of the high school, we request an update on the status of the capital improvement projects and a response to the additional concerns.

 

                Specifically we ask for your consideration of and action on the following requests:

 

1.             A timeline with specific completion dates for all formerly requested capital improvement projects, including renovation and reconstruction at Forest Park School.

2.                   A commitment of continued funding to the SmART School Program currently in place at Forest Park School.  This program is the driving force behind current reform initiatives at the school and has made a significant contribution to our dramatic student achievement in standardized testing results; most notably our students obtaining the highest scores in the state in mathematics problem solving.

3.                   Safeguards to ensure a fair and equitable process which includes representatives from all school communities if any significant changes in staffing, restructuring of school facilities or budget cuts become necessary.  The school committee is strongly encouraged to ensure an equitable distribution of available funds, kindergarten through grade twelve, with consideration given to both long-term and short-term initiatives formerly or currently in place at all levels.

 

We thank you for your attention to these requests and look forward to your response.  Your hard work and dedication in supporting a high quality educational experience for all students in North Kingstown is greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

       III.          Presentations

 

A.                  Child Outreach Presentation by Donna Thompson  clock counter (cc)  403

Mary Nelson, Child Outreach Coordinator, gave examples of the types of screening tests that children take as part of the Child Outreach Program.  This free service is sponsored by the Rhode Island Department of Education and the North Kingstown School Department.  Screening will be required for any child entering Fishing Cove Kindergarten.  Screenings are offered to residents with children ages 3, 4 and 5.  Last year over 400 children were screened in North Kingstown.  Lynne Bushoven, Community Outreach Special Education Teacher, receives referrals from the screening process.  Ms. Bushoven said that the program cuts down on unnecessary referrals to special education and is a comfort to parents and teachers.  Donna Thompson believes that the children’s needs are met more expeditiously.  Dr. McGregor is thankful and complimentary of the program where the initiative is to have all children come to school ready to learn.

 

       IV.          Routine Items

A.                  Correspondence  cc  2695

¨                   Karin Forbes received a telephone call regarding a bus issue that was forwarded to Dr. Halley and a notice of a RIASC Workshop regarding Lobbying the Legislature to be held on 3/23/02.

¨                   Lynne Haft received the agenda for the March 5 Keywork Workshop, a letter from NEASC on the topic of implementation of the Advisory Program, a copy of the Wickford Elementary School SALT Report and a thank you note from Debra D’Amico.

B.                   Calendar-The superintendent reviewed the calendar for the next two weeks with the school committee.  The topic of the upcoming "Keywork" Meeting on March 5 is “climate”.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Approved items on the consent agenda are marked with * on a motion by Karin Forbes and seconded by Carol Hueston (5/0).

Approved items that were exempted or amended within the consent agenda are marked with ** as indicated immediately following the item.

Withdrawn or Tabled Items from the consent agenda are marked with *** as indicated immediately following the item.

 

C.                   Approval of Minutes of Prior Meetings*

1.                    December 19, 2001 School Committee Executive Session

2.                    January 9, 2002 School Committee Worksession

3.                    January 9, 2002 School Committee Executive Session

4.                    January 14, 2002 School Committee/Legislators Meeting

5.                    January 23, 2002 School Committee Business Meeting

6.                    January 23, 2002 School Committee Executive Session

7.                    January 30, 2002 School Committee Budget Hearing/Worksession

8.                    February 6, 2002 School Committee Budget Hearing/Worksession

9.                    February 6, 2002 School Committee Executive Session

10.                 February 13, 2002 School Committee Worksession

D.                  Financial Reports*

1.                    Financial Narrative from the Director of Administrative Services

2.                    NKSD Year to Date Expenditure Report as of 1/31/02

E.                   Bids and Awards

1.        Wickford Middle School Burner Award***- This item will be on the 3/27/02 business meeting consent agenda.

 

2.        North Kingstown High School NEAV TV/LCD Projector Installation Bid*

 

Topic:  Extension of the 9/12/01 NEAV Award

Background:     Previous Approval                              $10,272.10

                            Requested Approval                             13,155.58

                            Total Approval                                     $23,427.68

Funding Source:  School Operating Fund

Recommendation:  It is recommended that NEAV be awarded a total of $23,427.68 for the installation of ceiling mounts, TV’s, and LCD Projectors throughout the High School.

F.                   Personnel Items

 

1.                    Appointment, Certificated Staff:*

a)                   Kristine Graham, .2 FTE Itinerant PE/Adaptive PE, Step 3, pro-rated for 80 days in the 2001/2002 school year with a total salary of $2,982, effective February 25, 2002.

 

2.                    Appointments, Non-Certificated Staff:

a)                   Stacey Turnbull, Special Education Paraprofessional at Wickford Elementary School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1 @ $9.09 per hour, effective January 23, 2002.*

 

b)                   William Fry, Food Service Worker/Driver for the North Kingstown School Department, 5.5 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 27.5 hours per week, Step 1 @ $7.55 per hour + an hourly stipend of $1.25 for a total hourly rate of $8.80 per hour, effective January 28, 2002.*

 

c)                   Alki Joshi, Temporary School Paraprofessional at Stony Lane Elementary School, 4 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 20 hours per week, Step 1 @ $8.49 per hour, effective January 22, 2002.*

 

d)                   Denise Slade, Temporary Specialized Paraprofessional at Quidnessett Elementary School, 6 hour per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1, Level III @ $12.03 per hour, effective January 28, 2002.*

 

e)                   Patricia Hughes, Specialized Paraprofessional at Forest Park Elementary School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 1, Level I @ $9.20 per hour, effective January 28, 2002.*

 

f)                    Carol Welesko, Special Education/School Paraprofessional at Quidnessett Elementary School, 6 hours per day (3 hours + 3 hours), 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, effective February 4, 2002.*

 

g)                   Cherrie Dorsey, Mini Bus Driver for the North Kingstown School Department, Step 1 @ $65.13 per day, effective March 4, 2002.*

 

h)                   Paula Fagan, Head Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, Step 4 @ $12.02 per hour plus an hourly stipend of $2.25 for a total hourly rate of $14.27, effective February 4, 2002.**- This item was exempted by Dr. McGregor for comment.  Ms. Fagan was commended for opening several rooms and spending a considerable amount of time showing the high school during a recent tour by SELAC members.  Item V.F.2.h. was approved on a motion by Karin Forbes/Denise Coppa (5/0).

 

i)                     Mary Churchill-DaSilva, School Paraprofessional at Forest Park Elementary School, 4 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 20 hours per week, Step 1 @ $8.49 per hour, effective January 31, 2002.*

 

j)                     Caylen Harmon, 3rd Shift Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, Step 1 @ $10.90 per hour plus an hourly stipend of $.25 for 3rd shift for a total hourly rate of $11.15 per hour, effective February 19, 2002.*

 

k)                   Albert Norman, 3rd Shift Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, Step 1 @ $10.90 per hour plus an hourly stipend of $.25 for 3rd shift for a total hourly rate of $11.15 per hour, effective February 19, 2002.*

 

3.                    Appointments, 2001/2002 Advisors:*

 

Wickford Middle School

 

Delores Jablonski                                 Yearbook Co-Advisor                         $858.33

Marcia McDevitt                                  Yearbook Co-Advisor                         $858.34

Judd Silvia                                             Yearbook Co-Advisor                         $858.34

Jessica Giguere                                     Student Council Co-Advisor             $585.00

Marcia McDevitt                                  Student Council Co-Advisor             $585.00

4.                    Appointments, 2001/2002 Interscholastic Coaches:*

 

                                                                                                North Kingstown High School

 

Patrick O’Donnell                 Head Baseball Coach                          $3113

Kevin Gormley                                      Asst. Baseball Coach                          $2222

Peter Clays                                            Asst. Baseball Coach                          $2434

David Croll                                            Volunteer Baseball Coach                  $-----

Lynn Downey                                       Head Softball Coach                            $3113

Thomas Kenworthy                             Asst. Softball Coach                           $2222

Elizabeth Parvo                                     Asst. Softball Coach                           $2120

Jennifer Chabot                                    Head Girls Track Coach                      $3113

Jennalee Williams                                Asst. Girls Track Coach                      $2120

Charles Breagy                                     Head Boys Track Coach                     $3113

Dustin Kuzma                                       Asst. Boys Track Coach                     $2120

Domenic Marcone                               Head Golf Coach                                  $2125

Paul Tetreault                                       Head Boys Cross Country                 $2619

Kevin DuBois                                       Head Boys Tennis Coach                   $1799

Corey Maack                                        Head Girls Volleyball Coach               $3019

Kevin Harrington                                 Asst. Girls Volleyball Coach              $2120

Jason Shabo                                         Spring Weight Training                      $2619

John Holmes                                         Head Boys Lacrosse Coach               $2717

Wendy Anderson                                                Head Girls Lacrosse Coach                $3238

Kristine Lemay                                     Asst. Girls Lacrosse Coach                $2120

 

                                                Wickford Middle School

 

Felix Hebert                                           Head Baseball Coach                          $1928

Raymond Tanguay                              Head Softball Coach                            $2037

 

                                                Davisville Middle School

 

William Donnelly                 Head Baseball Coach                          $2037

Michael Berndt                                     Head Softball Coach                            $2249

 

5.                    Decrease in FTE, Certificated Staff:*

 

a)                   Joy LaPrade, from 1.0 to .6 FTE Speech Teacher at Fishing Cove School, Step 10 + a Masters, pro-rated for 78 days at .6 FTE and 92 days at 1.0 FTE in the 2001/2002 school year for a total salary of $44,053.42, effective February 25, 2002

 

6.                    Increase in FTE, Certificated Staff:*

 

a)                   Keith Higgins, from .8 FTE to 1.0 FTE PE/Adaptive PE/Health Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Step 3, pro-rated for 86 days at .8 FTE and 85 days at 1.0 FTE in the 2001/2002 school year for a total salary of $28,068, effective February 11, 2002.

 

b)                   Ingrid DeGrooth, from .5 FTE to .8 FTE Itinerant Speech Teacher, Step 7 + Masters + 30 credits, pro-rated for 78 days in the 2001/2002 school year with a total salary of $15,872, effective February 25, 2002

 

7.                    Request for Unpaid Parental Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:*

 

a)                   Leslie Varone, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Quidnessett Elementary School for the 2002/2003 school year.

 

8.                    Retirement, Non-Certificated Staff:*

 

a)                   Angelina Lawton, Cook at Wickford Middle School, 5.5 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 27.5 hours per week, effective at the end of the 2001/2002 school year.

9.                    Retirements, Certificated Staff:*

 

a)                   Carol DeCoster, 1.0 FTE 6th Grade Teacher at Wickford Middle School, effective at the end of the 2001/2002 school year.

 

10.                 Resignations, Non-Certificated Staff:*

 

a)                   Leroy Holloway, Head Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, effective March 1, 2002.

 

b)                   Cindy Highling, 3rd Shift Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, effective January 29, 2002.

 

11.                 Approval of Notification of Layoff Letters*

 

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

         V.          New Business

A.                  COPS Program Memorandum of Understanding between the North Kingstown Police Department and the North Kingstown School Department- The memorandum was approved on a motion by Mike Northup/Carol Hueston (5/0).  The school committee would like a yearly report on the program.

B.                   Business Education Roundtable Statewide Insurance Pool Letter of Support  cc  3729- The letter was approved on a motion by Denise Coppa/Karin Forbes (5/0).

C.                   Position papers for approval

1.                    Limitations on obtaining injunctions to prevent a work stoppage-  This agenda item will be on the 3/13/02 worksession agenda.

2.                    Use of life experience in place of education in certifying substitute teachers- This position paper was approved on a motion by Denise Coppa/Carol Hueston (5/1 abstention by Mike Northup).

D.                  Policies

1.             Policy EEA- Student Transportation Services

2.             Policy EEAEC- Student Conduct on Buses

3.                                                                    Policy ICA- School Calendar

4.                    Policy ID- School Day

5.                    Policy JIH- Interrogations and Searches

6.                    Policy JLIA- Supervision of Students

 

Agenda items VI.D.1.-6. was approved on a motion by Mike Northup/Denise Coppa (6/0).  These policies are appended to the minutes.

 

       VI.          Unfinished Business

A.                  2001-02 School Budget- None

B.                   2002-03 School Budget  cc  10148

                A sentence in the cover letter to the budget has been changed.  “Much of the increase in the budget is a result of external circumstances such as negotiated salaries, step increases, increased special education, increased utility costs and a nine and one half percent increase in health benefits costs.”  The health benefits increase is a result of a pooling of town employees and is projected to save $90,000 of taxpayer money.

 

Page xii has added a note.  “While reading the budget it should be noted that the actual column contains costs that have been allocated to departments and schools from a district wide account.  An example of this is the budget for substitute teachers.  This item is budgeted in a district wide account (district wide salaries) until it is needed at each school.  The actual expense is allocated to schools and departments based on the actual use.”

 

Budget and Actual Comparisons for the years 1996-2001 found on Page 3.16 has also been added.

 

The following subjects were discussed with regard to next year’s budget.

¨                   School requests for personnel and programming changes.

¨                   What is projected State Aid?

¨                   The calculation of cost/student.

¨                   Part-time Enrichment personnel and training in the SmART Program.

¨                   Request for the Capital Improvement Lists for each school.

¨                   Estimated budget increases in other towns.

¨                   Dr. Halley responded to the letter from Diane Hunter, FPSAC Chair and Barbara Fournier, Forest Park PTO President at the meeting. 

NKHS is still within budget at $34 million with $33 million from bond money and $1 million from the Capital Improvement Reserve.  Dr. Halley said that a gym and other things are online to be done after Davisville Elementary School is dealt with.  There is a commitment to the SmART Program and it is included in the current budget.  Resources are distributed fairly as a result of standards based budgeting.  There has been discussion about the movement of kindergarten into the elementary schools.  Concerns will be further responded to at the Forest Park PTO meeting that is scheduled for March 14 at 7:00 PM at the school.  Lynne Haft will correspond with the PTO President before the meeting and ask if there are any other concerns.

¨                   Forms will be available at PTO meetings for signing to show support for the 2002-03 school budget.

¨                   Discussion of moving kindergarten and the closing of a school will begin at the March 13 worksession.  The impact would be a problem for Davisville Elementary School; fourth and fifth graders could go to Quidnessett Elementary School.

¨                   A request was made for an impact study on special education for discussion.

¨                   A request was made for educational research regarding transition and peer group information.

¨                   A suggestion was made to bring point papers to the PTO meetings and keep notes of questions.

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

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

 

     VII.          Reports  cc  14824

A.                  Enrollment Report- Enrollment is decreasing in number and this is normal.

B.                   Policy Subcommittee Report- Karin Forbes reported that they met today and will need decisions by the school committee before policies on home schooling and volunteerism can be drafted. 

C.                   Special Education Local Advisory Committee Report- Dr. DeFrances reported that the meeting was held at the high school.  There was a discussion of the existing resource program, the global program, and possible alternatives for children with special needs.  The Jamestown SELAC joined the meeting.

D.                  RIASC and other Legislative Activity- Karin Forbes reported that a Workshop on the Lobbying of the Legislature would include a budget overview, an education legislation review, and a discussion of Representative Paul Crowley’s Education Reform Act on March 23 from 9-12 pm.

E.                   School Based Health Center Community Committee- Denise Coppa reported that there is no state funding for SBHCs at suburban schools, and they are working on keeping the seven centers open that they have now.  They are looking to establish systems so that kids can use the SBHC as their primary care provider. 

 

   VIII.          Comments

¨                     Lynne Haft requested a Child Opportunity Zone impact study of the fourth and fifth grades transferring from Davisville Elementary School to Quidnessett Elementary School.

¨                     Dr. Halley gave a progress report of the high school and presented three teacher opinion papers generated via the SALT Survey.  The papers deal with involvement in decision making and teacher satisfaction ratings in the areas of extrinsic rewards, intrinsic rewards, instructional resources, student behavior, parents/community support and involvement, job evaluation feedback, and input into decision making.

¨                     Bill Daly requested if any school committee members are available to be a screener for the Principal position at Fishing Cove School.

¨                     Denise Coppa mentioned that “Our Town” is playing at the high school this weekend.

       IX.          A motion to adjourn was made by Mike Northup and seconded by Karin Forbes (6/0) at 9:12 PM, clock counter 2:04:31.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                                _______________________________________

                                                                                                Donna F. Keough

                                                                                                School Committee Secretary