NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 13, 2002

7:00 PM Worksession

Central Administration Building                                                                                            100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Worksession Agenda

 

           I.          Pledge of Allegiance

 

           I.          Call To Order

A.            Roll Call                 Present:  Vice Chairperson Karin L. Forbes, Denise Coppa, Dr. Janice DeFrances, Carol H. Hueston, Patricia E. Watkins and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee

                                                Absent:  Chairperson Lynne Haft and Michael R. Northup

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

                                                                Absent:  Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services

 

 

         II.          Presentation                         Middle Level Education Month Presentation by Jane Kondon and Davisville Middle School

 

“Girls’ Day” held on March 9 at Davisville Middle School was highlighted by students Lisa Genereux and Meghan Kruger who talked about the activities that took place- everything from tips on hair and nails to advice.  Eighty-three girls aged 11-13 participated in Girls’ Day activities while recognizing their potential.  Ms. Berg and Ms. Brown organized the event.  The school committee thanked Davisville Middle School for this inspiring presentation.

 

       III.          Open Forum  clock counter (cc)  1223

·         Two residents commented regarding the possible closure of a school.  Dr. Halley responded that the school committee is just beginning the discussion of reconfiguration.

·         William Gilbert, Yorktown Road, commented regarding the budget and possible referenda, staying open-minded, and encouraged good public attendance at school committee meetings.

·         Robert Sullivan, President of the NEANK, had concerns about the reconfiguration.  The Association asks for a sense of vision, and a plan that is least disruptive to programs.

·         April Brunelle, Wickford, commented regarding the possible closing of a school and mentioned that the Tucker Turf Deal will generate one hundred new homes in the southern end of town.

 

       IV.          Routine Items

 

A.                  Correspondence  cc  2527

·            Dr. Defrances received NSBA Conference information.

·            Denise Coppa received a poem written by 2nd and 4th graders at Stony Lane School (attached to the minutes).

·            Pat Watkins received a note of appreciation from Dr. Pierson for the recent budget presentation, and a Conference Courier.

·            Karin Forbes received a telephone call from a Wickford Elementary School parent regarding reconfiguration.

·            Per Karin Forbes, Lynne Haft received an e-mail from a Wickford Elementary School parent regarding reconfiguration, a thank you note from Dr. Pierson for the recent budget presentation, a thank you note for the letter of support to the Business Education Roundtable, information on educational benchmarking as a catalyst for change, and an invitation to the I-Plan Showcase regarding a teacher certification pilot program.

 

B.                   Calendar cc  2948- The superintendent reviewed the calendar for the next two weeks with the school committee.

         V.          Unfinished Business

 

A.                  Position Paper: Limitations on obtaining injunctions to prevent a work stoppage- This agenda item will be continued on the 4/10/02 worksession agenda.

 

B.                   North Kingstown Proposed School Calendar 2002-03  cc  24226- This agenda item will be on the 3/27/02 business meeting agenda for further discussion and adoption.  A suggestion was made that fans be installed in classrooms.

 

C.                   2001-02 School Budget- Continued to the 3/27/02 business meeting.

D.                  2002-03 School Budget- Continued to the 3/27/02 business meeting.

E.                   2001-02 School Department Goals and Objectives- Continued to the 3/27/02 business meeting.

F.                   2002-03 School Department Goals and Objectives- Continued to the 3/27/02 business meeting.

       VI.          New Business

 

A.                  Reconfiguration of Schools to include Kindergarten in Neighborhood Schools  cc  3130

 

Dr. Halley distributed the following point paper on the benefits of having kindergarten in the neighborhood schools.

What would be the benefits of having kindergartens in neighborhood schools?

While there is some research relating to grade configurations within schools and transitions between schools, there is little material directly addressing our question about benefits of having kindergartens located in neighborhood schools rather than all together in a separate early childhood schools.  However, in the research there is some indirect evidence, which suggests the benefits which may accrue from having children attend kindergarten in the same school where they are expected to enter first grade.

Continuity of Service

Continuity of service relates to specific needs of children.  While it is expected that a child will have a different classroom teacher each year of elementary school, maintaining continuity in other areas brings a sense of security and stability to children.

Transitions and Achievement

Some studies have documented the loss of achievement when students are required to transition from one school to another.  While these studies have focused on the transitions from elementary to middle school and from middle school to high school, it seems logical that the youngest children would also suffer achievement loss when a transition is required.

School Community and Parent Involvement

Parent involvement is seen as one of the key factors in student success.  The more schools are able to involve parents in the school community and keep them involved over time, the more likely students are to experience success.  Our current kindergarten school strives to involve parents in the school’s activities.  Building and maintaining that involvement could become easier if the parents did not also have to experience a transition to a new school community after one year.

Childhood Stress

Many of our youngest students have already experienced significant transitions in their lives and continue to do so regularly often going from home to childcare to school, and then from school to childcare to home in a single day.  Having to adapt to and remember the rules and procedures of each of these settings can be very stressful.  Requiring an additional major transition between schools at the end of kindergarten just increases the stress.

Opportunity for Cross-Grade Articulation

Teachers at Fishing Cove meet with first grade teachers at least once each year to plan for the kindergarteners’ transitions to their neighborhood schools.  If kindergartens were located in the neighborhood schools, opportunities for both formal and informal discussions would be significantly enhanced.

Role Models

Children may benefit from the presence of older students who serve as role models.

 

Dr. Halley cited parental continuity, difficulties with articulation, and a complete turnover of the student body at Fishing Cove annually as being problems for the principal.

 

Projected enrollment reports were also prepared with enrollments adjusted for kindergarten distribution and enrollments adjusted for kindergarten distribution with Davisville Elementary grades 4 and 5 moving to Quidnessett Elementary School.

 

The superintendent said that there is room in every school for kindergarten to move into except Davisville Elementary School.  The two pre-school classes will be dealt with after a decision is made about kindergarten.  If there were a movement to full-day kindergarten, a redistricting would have to take place.  All principals have said that they can handle kindergarten and feel that it would strengthen their program.  Closing Fishing Cove would result in a savings of $250,000 generated by the costs associated with principal, clerical, and janitorial positions.  With the amount of state aid still unknown at this point, possible shortfalls were enumerated.

 

The following concerns were heard from numerous meeting attendees on the topic of moving kindergarten students back into neighborhood schools.

·                                    Half-day kindergarten and the logistics of getting children to and from daycare.

·                                    Facilities adjustments for the kindergarteners.

·                                    Changes in daycare arrangements.

·                                    The transfer of services from Fishing Cove School to the elementary schools.

·                                    Is there a larger issue here?

·                                    Parental involvement at Fishing Cove is not a problem.

·                                    When a full-day kindergarten program is implemented, won’t there be a need for extra space?

·                                    Town-wide kindergarten fosters transition.

·                                    The pre-school program.

·                                    Will there be enough school materials to go around?

·                                    What are the plans for Fishing Cove School- the building?

·                                    Need to allow room for schools to grow.

 

Dr. DeFrances said that full-day kindergarten is something that needs to be thought about.  Dr. Halley would like a decision about Fishing Cove to be made by the end of the month.

 

Dr. Power listed the current classroom arrangements at Davisville Elementary School.  There are fourteen regular classrooms, one with four specialists, one side room with two specialists, the janitor’s closet is a conference room, the paper closet is a band room, the music class meets in the art room in the afternoon, the paraprofessionals’ room is in the foyer, the COZ or Family Center is in a closet, and the cafeteria is also the gymnasium.  “We’re very crowded.”

 

Dr. Halley said there is no teacher’s lounge and that the school is “maxed out.”  The capacity of the school is 315 and current enrollment is 271 students.  Options include redistricting, moving Davisville Elementary to Fishing Cove, and moving a grade level portion of the school to another school. 

 

Glenn Stinson said that the topic was discussed two weeks ago and that on March 14, a school wide community meeting will take place.  At the next school committee meeting, the Davisville Elementary School Advisory Committee will present their findings.  Pat Watkins commended the Davisville Elementary School Community.

 

With fifteen classrooms before the addition, added art and music rooms, and an added gymnasium at Quidnessett Elementary, this opens up Davisville Elementary as a pre-school center according to the superintendent.  Different scenarios were offered to relieve the overcrowding that involved Quidnessett, Forest Park, Wickford Elementary, and Fishing Cove.

 

A break was taken at 9:27 PM, clock counter 1:25:13.  The meeting resumed at 9:40 PM.

 

The following concerns were heard on the topic of allaying the overcrowding at Davisville Elementary regardless of whether kindergarten is moved back into the neighborhood schools.

·                                    Robert Sullivan, President of the Teachers Association, said that Davisville Elementary teachers are trying to keep things together and are willing to go into trailers to buy some time.  There was a question regarding the teacher/student ratio as per the contract.

·                                    Christine Stevens, Davisville Elementary School PTO Co-chair, asked the school committee to take a long-term view.  Moving grades 4 and 5 will have a great impact on the school leadership at Davisville Elementary.

 

Reconfiguration of Schools to include Kindergarten in Neighborhood Schools will be continued at the 3/27/02 business meeting for more discussion and possibly a vote.  A motion to move the rest of the agenda to the worksession in April was made by Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston (5/0). 

 

B.                   Policies- This agenda item will be continued on the 4/10/02 worksession agenda.

1.                    Request Discussion on Issue Papers Regarding Proposed Policies

a.                                Home Schooling- IHBG

b.                               School Volunteers- IJOC

2.                    Approval of Administrative Regulations

a.                                Student Conduct on Buses- Administrative Regulation- EEAEC-R

b.                               Deviation from Attendance Boundary Policy- Administrative Regulation- JCAC-R

 

c.                                Maintenance of Student Conduct- Administrative Regulation- JLIA-R

 

3.                    Recommend Rescission of Old Policies

a.             Sexual Harassment- GBCC

     VII.          Comments  cc  25052

·         Dr. DeFrances said that the activities and the presentation at the Davisville Middle School breakfast were excellent.

·         Denise Coppa mentioned that high school student Zack Tobin was elected to the All American Soccer Team 2002.

·         Pat Watkins praised four A/P Art students who painted a mural of the Wickford Town Beach at DCYF’s entrance.

·         Dr. Halley mentioned excellent History Day projects, honors in math, honors in art, and Girls Indoor Track national accomplishments.  Congratulations to all the students and the people who work with them.

·         Bill Daly congratulated the Girls Gymnastics Team for placing first by five hundredths of a point.

 

   VIII.          A motion to adjourn was made by Pat Watkins/Carol Hueston (5/0) at 10:10 PM, clock counter 2:54:54.

 

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                                _______________________________________

                                                                                                Donna F. Keough

                                                                                                School Committee Secretary