NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

6:30 PM Executive Session for a Student Appeal

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

7:00 PM Business Meeting

Central Administration Building                                                                                                                            100 Fairway Drive

“Challenging Student Excellence”

 

Minutes

 

 

           I.          Pledge of Allegiance

         II.          Call To Order                      The meeting was called to order at 7:08 PM.

Roll Call Present:  Chairperson Don DeFedele, Vice Chairperson Dr. Denise Coppa, Lynne Haft, Barry Martasian, Bill Mudge, and Kevin Mulvey

                                                Absent:  Pat Watkins, and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee Representative

                                                                               

                                                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; William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources; and Maureen Buck, Controller

                                                Absent: Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services

 

       III.          Recognition                          All Eastern Honors Orchestra ~ Lydia Lis, Recipient

Don DeFedele read the following statement about the deserving award recipient:

“Lydia Lis, who has been playing violin since she was 5 years old, was recently selected to the All Eastern Honors Orchestra which means she is the best violinist on the East Coast.  She was selected from hundreds of applicants from Washington, DC to Maine.  The judges considered school recommendations, ranking in the state, and school service requirements.  Lydia had to learn 29 pages of music, and go through a very intense performance.  After receiving this honor in the competition, she was chosen to perform at the Music Educator’s Conference.  Lydia is also a high honors student at the High School.”

 

       IV.          Presentation                         A Presentation by the Middle School Principals ~ Cancelled

         V.          Open Forum

·         Lorene Pugh, a Mt. View parent concerned about reconfiguration of school district, spoke in support of a K-center, and does not want her children moved from Forest Park Elementary school.  Dr. Halley reconfirmed the fact that with the K-5 Advisory Committee’s final plan utilizing a K-center there is relocation of a great number of children.

·         Audience members stated that they want a return to the Fishing Cove K-center, as it was, not with town-wide redistricting.

·         Kathy Brown will provide School Committee with the minutes from the last S.O.S. meeting.  At the meeting it was determined that there was a need for seven elementary schools, but they will not get behind the budget.  They do not like the 9:30 am start time for two elementary schools, they would like other reconfiguration plans brought forward for discussion, and they feel that a K-center would be beneficial for the community.

                                  

       VI.          Routine Items

 

A.                  Correspondence and Good News

·         Barry Martasian received email from Mt. View and Quidnessett parents regarding seven elementary schools

·         Bill Mudge received the same, and questions from Hamilton Elementary School parents

·         Lynne Haft would like to extend her congratulations to Lydia Lis; remind members of the March 31st KeyWorks meeting; received correspondence regarding legislative activity; gauging interest in a pre-engineering program at the high school; and a memo regarding a research study

·         Kevin Mulvey received the same

·         Denise Coppa received the same plus correspondence regarding a VNS Home Services Reception; as for “Good News”: Guys and Dolls at the High School was great, she would like to congratulate the Music Department; the kids were incredible

·         Don DeFedele received email from the Stony Lane SAC regarding the reconfiguration discussions, and correspondence from the RI Allegiance for the Arts

·         Dr. Halley mentioned that the Boys and Girls High School Basketball teams came in second in the state.  The kids should really be commended.

 

B.                   Calendars – Dr. Halley went over the calendar for the next two weeks with the School Committee

 

 CONSENT AGENDA

Approved items on the consent agenda are marked with * on a motion by Lynne Haft and seconded by Denise Coppa (6/0).

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 11, 2002 Executive Session Minutes***

2.        January 29, 2003 Executive Session Minutes***

***Dr. Halley withdrew these two items because the first paragraph was unrelated to the topic.

 

3.        February 5, 2003 Executive Session Minutes**

4.        February 12, 2003 Executive Session Minutes**

**These items were sealed on a motion made by Lynne Haft/Denise Coppa (6/0)

 

5.        February 25, 2003 Reconfiguration Worksession Minutes*

6.        February 26, 2003 Executive Session Minutes*

7.        February 26, 2003 Business Meeting Minutes**

**Item VIB changed to read: “The vote on that amendment was 7/0;” as opposed to “The vote on that amendment was 6/1.  Bill Mudge voting ‘No’.”

 

8.        March 12, 2003 Executive Session Minutes*

9.        March 12, 2003 Worksession Minutes*

 

D.                  Financial Reports *

 

E.                   Textbook Adoptions - none

 

F.                   Bids and Awards - none

 

G.                   Personnel Items

 

1.        Appointments, Non-Certificated Staff:*

 

a)                   Debra Peck, Paraprofessional at the North Kingstown High School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, Step 3 @ $10.22 per hour, effective March 3, 2003.

 

b)                   Lisa Silva, Paraprofessional at Wickford Elementary School, 4 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 20 hours per week, Step 1 plus a bachelor’s degree@ $9.29 per hour, effective March 3, 2003.

 

c)                   Rhonda Barner, Food Service Worker at Davisville Elementary School, 3 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total 15 hour per week, Step 1 @ $7.83 per hour, effective March 3, 2003.

 

d)                   Peter Ladd, 3rd shift Custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, Step 1 @ $11.31 per hour plus an hourly stipend of $.20 for a total hourly rate of $11.51, effective March 3, 2003

e)                  Jennifer Colprit, 3rd shift custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, Step 2 @ $11.65 per hour plus an hourly stipend of $.20 for a total hourly rate of $11.85, effective March 9, 2003.

 

f)                    Steve Sironen, 2nd shift custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, Step 1 @ $11.31 per hour, effective March 10, 2003.

 

g)                   William Monti, 2nd shift custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, Step 1 @ $11.31 per hour, effective March 3, 2003.

 

h)                   Matthew Maynard, 3rd shift custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, Step 1 @ $11.31 per hour plus an hourly stipend of $.20 for a total hourly rate of $11.85, effective March 3, 2003.

 

i)                     Anthony Degregory, 2nd shift custodian at the North Kingstown High School, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, Step 1 @ 1 @ $11.31 per hour, effective March 3, 2003.

 

j)                     Lori Price, 2nd shift custodian at Stony Lane Elementary School, 4 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 20 hours per week, Step 1 @ $11.31 per hour, effective March 3, 2003.

 

k)                   Robert Neilson, Head Custodian at Wickford Elementary School, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, Step 7 @ $13.48 per hour plus an hourly stipend of $1.00 for a total hourly rate of $14.48, effective February 25, 2003.

 

2.        Appointments, 2002/2003 Advisors:*

 

Wickford Middle School

 

Nancy LaPosta-Frazier                        Co-Science Olympiad Advisor                                          $461.00

Colleen Pickering                                 Co-Science Olympiad Advisor                                          $154.00

Linda Law                                              Co-Pawprint Newspaper Advisor                                     $184.50

Maryann DiBattista                             Co-Pawprint Newspaper Advisor                                     $184.50

Jessica Giguere                                     Co-Youth-To-Youth Advisor                                            $430.50

Judd Silvia                                             Co-Youth-To-Youth Advisor                                            $430.50

Jessica Giguere                                     Co-Student Council Advisor                                             $348.50

Marcia Voccia                                       Co-Student Council Advisor                                             $348.50

Marcia Voccia                                       Co-Yearbook Advisor                                                         $892.67

Judd Silvia                                             Co-Yearbook Advisor                                                         $892.67

Delores Jablonski                                 Co-Yearbook Advisor                                                         $892.67

 

Davisville Middle School

 

Lynn Plotkin                                         Co-Newspaper Advisor                                                      $123.00

Emily Bell                                               Co-Newspaper Advisor                                                      $123.00

 

3.        Appointments, 2002/2003 Interscholastic Coaches:*

 

North Kingstown High School

 

Kevin Gormley                                                      Head Baseball Coach                                                          $3019.00

Anthony Ucci                                                       Asst. Baseball Coach                                                          $2120.00

Peter Clays                                                            Asst. Baseball Coach                                                          $2531.00

Mark Kwolek                                                        Volunteer Baseball Coach                                                  -----

Chris LeBlanc                                                       Volunteer Baseball Coach                                                  -----

Lynn Downey                                                       Head Softball Coach                                                            $3238.00

Tom Doran                                                            Asst. Softball Coach                                                           $2120.00

Richard Powell                                                      Asst. Softball Coach                                                           $2120.00

Steve Feix                                                              Volunteer Softball Coach                                                    -----

Jennifer Chabot                                                    Head Girls Track Coach                                                      $3238.00

Amy Taylor                                                           Asst. Girls Track Coach                                                      $2120.00

Charlie Breagy                                                      Head Boys Track Coach                                                     $3238.00

John Klitzner                                                         Asst. Boys Track Coach                                                     $2531.00

Domenic Marcone                                               Head Golf Coach                                                                  $2210.00

Jacque Faulise                                                      Head Boys Tennis Coach                                                   $2210.00

Kevin Harrington                                                 Head Girls Volleyball Coach                                               $2827.00

Brian Garrepy                                                        Asst. Girls Volleyball Coach                                              $2120.00

Jason Shabo                                                         Spring Weight Lifting Coach                                             $3238.00

Matt Largess                                                        Head Sailing Coach                                                             $2210.00

John Holmes                                                         Head Boys Lacrosse Coach                                               $3019.00

Chris Callahan                                                      Asst. Boys Lacrosse Coach                                               $2312.00

Brian Trapani                                                        Asst. Boys Lacrosse Coach                                               $2312.00

Wendy Anderson                                                                Head Girls Lacrosse Coach                                                $3238.00

Kristine Graham                                                    Asst. Girls Lacrosse Coach                                                $2120.00

Keith Higgins                                                       Asst. Girls Lacrosse Coach                                                $2120.00

 

Wickford Middle School

 

Felix Hebert                                                           Head Baseball Coach                                                          $1928.00

Raymond Tanguay                                              Head Softball Coach                                                            $2120.00

 

                                Davisville Middle School

 

William Donnelly                                 Head Baseball Coach                                                          $2120.00

Michael Berndt                                                     Head Softball Coach                                                            $2339.00

 

4.        Request for an extension for an unpaid Parental Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:*

 

a)                   Pamela Dillon, 1.0 FTE Media Specialist at Hamilton Elementary School from April 21, 2003 through the remainder of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

5.        Request for an unpaid Parental Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:

a)                   Michelle Ouhrabka, .6 FTE Music Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School from October 7, 2002 through the remainder of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

6.        Request for an unpaid Medical Leave of Absence, Non-Certificated Staff:

 

a)                   Cherrie Dorsey, Mini Bus Driver for the North Kingstown School Department from March 18, 2003 through March 31, 2003.

7.        Retirements, Certificated Staff:

 

a)                   Susan Osberg, 1.0 FTE Mathematics Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

b)                   Teresa Lowe, 1.0 FTE Mathematics Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

c)                   C. Judith Wallace, 1.0 FTE Guidance Counselor at Wickford Middle School and Davisville Middle School, effective July 1, 2003.

 

d)                   Pendleton Hall, 1.0 FTE Foreign Language Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

e)                   Diane Rudegeair, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

f)                    Susan Tarbox, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

g)                   Sandra Koehler, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

h)                   Jeanne Dunn, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

i)                     Richard Dunne, 1.0 FTE English Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

j)                     Michaela Bongiovanni, 1.0 FTE Itinerant School Nurse Teacher, effective at the end of the 2002/2003 school year.

 

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

V.  New Business

 

A.            Request to Name Main Gymnasium after Lenore Cranston – On a motion made by Bill Mudge/Barry Martasian the decision was made to send the request to the Town Council for approval.  The motion carried with a unanimous vote.

 

B.                   Discussion:  High School Graduation Colors – Denise Coppa/Bill Mudge motioned to continue with previous vote by School Committee and keep the High School graduation gowns brown for boys and white for girls.  Dr. Halley voiced his opposition by stating that graduation belongs to the class and not to the School Committee, the alumni, nor the community at large.  He believes that the School Committee should get input from the graduating class and not ignore their wishes.  Lynne Haft agreed, and stated that she would like to hear from the students before she votes on the matter.  The vote on the motion: 6/1 – Lynne Haft voting “No”.

 

C.                   Development of a Community Survey in Relation to the Seven K-5 School Recommendation – Denise Coppa/Lynne Haft motioned for a rank order survey developed by Dr Halley based on values to be determined by the School Committee:

1.        Number of transitions that students make/limiting number of changes between schools

2.        Finances i.e. taxes

3.        Spot Redistricting – keeping boundary lines of schools stable

4.        Equality of programs

5.        Equality of facilities/dedicated space

6.        Integration of Kindergarten students with 1-5 grade

7.        Length of bus ride

8.        Integration of students with siblings

9.        Continuity of Parent Involvement

10.     Start times of schools

11.     High quality of programs

12.     Overcrowding of schools

Vote on this motion: 6/0

 

A ten-minute recess was taken at this time, 8:57 pm cc: 1:50: 21.

 

VI.           Unfinished Business

 

(Due to the lateness of the hour the School Committee decided to move discussion of the remainder of the agenda to the next meeting, April 15, 2003).

 

A.                  2002-03 School Budget

B.                   2003-04 School Budget

C.                   2002-03 School Department Goals and Objectives

D.                  2003-04 School Department Goals and Objectives

E.                   School Modernization Advisory Committee

F.                   Elementary K-5 Organization Advisory Committee

 VII.        Reports

 

A.            Subcommittee Reports

 

B.             RIASC and other Legislative Activity

 

IX.                Comments

·         Jim Izzi voiced his approval of a survey, and would like to be sure that the School Committee is aware of what his values are.

·         Kathy Brown enlightened the School Committee of areas she thought were lacking in the February 25, 2003 and March 12, 2003 School Committee meeting minutes.

·         Dr. Halley cautioned the School Committee about slanderous comments made by members of the committee regarding school department employees that could leave them open for lawsuits.  The Open Meetings Law requires that personnel be discussed in closed session.

 

X.                  Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to RIGL 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (1) and (2) for Personnel Issues*, negotiations, and Home Schooling Requests was made by Lynne Haft/Kevin Mulvey at 10:40 pm, clock counter, 3:21:26. *At the election of the employee, the personnel matter may be heard in public.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                                _______________________________________

                                                                                                Konnie M. Mazur

                                                                                                School Committee Secretary