NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

7:00 PM Business Meeting

Central Administration Building                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown

“Challenging Student Excellence”

Minutes

 

                  I.      Meeting Organization

A.      Call to Order                     Denise Coppa called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm

B.       Roll Call                             Present:  Vice Chairperson, Dr. Denise Coppa; Carol Hueston;

Barry Martasian; Bill Mudge; Kevin Mulvey

Absent: Chairperson Don DeFedele; Pat Watkins and Cathy Kaiser, Jamestown School Committee Representative

                                                               

Administration Present: Daniel J. McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Pupil Personnel Services; Joseph F. Quinn, Jr., Director of Administrative Services; William J. Daly, Director of Human Resources; and Maureen Buck, Controller

Absent: James M. Halley, Ed.D, Superintendent of Schools; Barbara A. Fitzsimmons, Ed.D, Curriculum Director

 

C.       Calendars                          Dr. Coppa and Dr. McGregor went over the important dates on the

                                                   calendars with the School Committee.

1)       Because of RIDE’s reception for National Teacher of the Year, Kathy Mellor on May 12, the May Worksession has been rescheduled to May 19th.

 

D.      Presentation:                    COZ & Summer School ~ Donna Thompson

E.       Presentation:     School Committee Liaison to Asset Management Commission ~ Eric Seabury

These presentations were cancelled due to the illness of the presenters.

 

1.        Barry Martasian expressed his disappointment that Eric Seabury has not been able to make his presentation to this committee.  He understands that Mr. Seabury may be ill, or has other commitments, but feels that as the Asset Management Commission’s Liaison to the School Committee, Mr. Seabury could show more interest in reporting to this committee.

2.        Committee members reminded Mr. Martasian that Mr. Seabury did come to a meeting to give his presentation when invited, but he was not on the agenda for that specific meeting.

 

                II.      Citizens’ Comments on Agenda Items

 

A.      Kathy Brown commented that she was concerned about the change in the date for the May School Committee Worksession.  She questioned if the budget calendar was taken into consideration when the meeting date was scheduled.

B.       Joe Quinn responded that the Town Council adopts the budget on the 3rd or 5th of May, and it is not finalized until the 21st.   He did not see a conflict.

 

 

 

              III.      Routine Items

 

A.                  Correspondence

1.        Denise Coppa introduced the following correspondence into the record:

a)       Email with questions from Kathy Brown regarding the Reading Program.  Dr. Coppa would like this item added to the June Worksession for discussion.

b)       Email Mr. DeFedele received regarding clearing the trail behind Quidnessett Elementary School by a Boy Scout troop.  A large piece of Town equipment was stuck in mud.

c)       Blood Drive for Peter Olsen on April 28, 2004 from 3 to 8 pm.

d)       Statement from School Department, written by Dr. Halley, regarding Kathy Mellor receiving the National Teacher of the Year Award (Appendix A)

e)       Mr. Mudge would like to add a letter he received from the attorney general’s office which he had given to Mr. DeFedele.  Dr. Coppa apologized for not having included this item.  Mr. Mulvey disagreed with having this item included into the minutes of this meeting and stated that the Open Meetings law does not support Mr. Mudge’s contention that the item should be included. Dr. Coppa asked the rest of the committee if they agreed with Mr. Mulvey, and she received a consensus.  Mr. Mudge felt that the attorney general’s office should be contacted for an opinion regarding this issue.  Dr. Coppa stated that Mr. Mudge was free to do so if he desired.

 

B.                   Disclosure of  Executive Session Votes

1.        Kevin Mulvey questioned why the Executive Session Minutes of March 3, 2004 were made available to the committee when they should have been sealed.  The School Committee secretary responded that they had been redistributed to the committee, with the date imprinted, for their records only.   Mr. Mulvey motioned to accept these corrected copies with a second by Carol Hueston.  This motion received a unanimous vote.

 

 CONSENT AGENDA

Approved items on the consent agenda are marked with * on a motion by Carol Hueston/Kevin Mulvey with a vote of 4 in favor and 1(Bill Mudge) opposed.

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.        March 24, 2004 School Committee Business Meeting Minutes*** Mr. Mudge exempted these minutes.  The committee agreed that the minutes be moved to the May 26 Business Meeting for reconsideration after the following corrections are made:

a)       Include the vote for the disclosure of the March 10, 2004 Executive Session Votes.

b)       Itemize the correspondences submitted by Mr. Mudge for review mentioned on page 2.

c)       Provide Mr. Mudge with an additional copy of the letter from the Jamestown Superintendent regarding the Jamestown tuitions.

 

2.        April 7, 2004 School Committee Worksession Minutes

a)       Denise Coppa suggested that the word “contact” be corrected to “content” on page 3, 8th bullet, in the discussion of Technology and Electric Communication Systems Policy.

b)       Kevin Mulvey/Carol Hueston motioned to accept these minutes as amended.  Vote recorded: 4 in favor, Bill Mudge abstained.

 

 

A.                  Financial Reports**

 

1.        Financial Reports Overview

2.        Monthly Deficit Monitoring Report

3.        Year to Date Expenditure Report 

 

1.        Mr. Mudge exempted these items with questions regarding the School Committee’s acceptance of horizontal and lateral transference of funds from one account to another.  Mr. Mudge stated that according to policy the School Committee needed to vote on these transfers.

2.        Joe Quinn and Maureen Buck each stated that this was fact if it exceeded the original budget, but items that have been bid on were within the budget.

3.     Denise Coppa had the policy available, and read it to the committee.  A discussion of this policy then commenced.

4.        Mr. Mudge again questioned Mrs. Buck about the School Department not having had an occasion to ask for the School Committee’s approval for vertical transfers.

5.        Mrs. Buck stated that Mr. Mudge was correct, other than the exceptions such as substitute teachers and certain supply categories, which he had agreed that he understood during the discussion of the policy.

6.        Dr. Coppa asked Mr. Mudge, “What leads you to believe that has happened?”

7.        Mr. Mudge responded, “I will leave that for a later date, because I think that we have.”

8.        Kevin Mulvey motioned to accept the financial reports, and Carol Hueston seconded the motion.  The vote was 4 in favor; Bill Mudge opposed on the basis that he “was not voting to authorize any transfers if that is what occurred.  It is just a report.”

9.        Dr. Coppa stated that this record should reflect that “The policy is being followed by Mrs. Buck and Mr. Quinn to the satisfaction of the rest of the School Committee.”

 

B.                   Bids and Awards – There were no items, no discussion, nor action taken.

 

C.                   Donations – There were no items, no discussion, nor action taken.

 

D.                  Personnel Items*

 

1.        Appointments, Non-Certificated Staff:

a.        Jayne Botvin, 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 plus a Bachelor’s Degree @ $9.51, effective April 5, 2004 – budgeted.

 

2.              Appointment, 2004 Extended School Year Coordinator:

 

a)             Rachel Santa, 2004 Extended School Year Coordinator for the North Kingstown School Department with an annual salary of $5250 – budgeted

 

·         Mr. Mudge was curious as to what this position was.  Mr. Daly informed him that it was for the Special Education Summer School Coordinator.

 

3.              Appointment, Director of Adult Education:

 

a)             Carin Shaw, Director of Adult Education; enterprise account.

 

·         Mr. Mudge questioned if this was a paid position, and if so how much would this position earn.  Mr. Daly responded that the salary was dependent on how many students enrolled in the classes, last year the salary range was somewhere between $16,000 and $!8,000.  Mr. Mudge also wanted to know if this position was advertised.  Mr. Daly assured him that it had been.

 

4.              Appointments, 2003/2004 Coaches:

 

·         Mr. Mudge wanted to know if these individuals are already serving in these capacities without being approved by the School Committee.  Mr. Mudge stated that according to School Committee policy and Town Charter, they should be approved before they start.  Mr. Daly stated that some names come to him within the proper time frame, but some do not.  He tries to get them all together to give them to the School Committee at one time.  After much discussion, Mr. Daly agreed to review the way he submits these names to the School Committee, and Dr. Coppa said that the policy would be looked at for possible changes.

 

North Kingstown High School

 

Kevin Gormley                                  Head Baseball Coach                          $3338

Anthony Ucci                                   Asst. Baseball Coach                          $2186

Peter Clays                                        Asst. Baseball Coach                          $2609

Mark Kwolek                                    Volunteer Baseball Coach                  $-----

Chris LeBlanc                                   Volunteer Baseball Coach                  $-----

Lynn Downey                                   Head Softball Coach                            $3338

Elizabeth Parvo                 Asst. Softball Coach                           $2186

Thomas Doran                                  Volunteer Softball Coach                    $-----

Richard Powell                                  Asst. Softball Coach                           $2186

Steve Feix                                          Volunteer Softball Coach                    $-----

Jennifer Chabot                                Head Girls Track Coach                      $3338

Jim Knowles                                      Asst. Girls Track Coach                      $2609

Katherine Hughes                            Volunteer Girls Track Coach              $-----

Amy Souza                                        Volunteer Girls Track Coach              $-----

Charles Breagy                                 Head Boys Track Coach                     $3338

Jim Hirst                                             Co-Asst. Boys Track Coach              $1305

Keven O’Neil                                    Co-Asst. Boys Track Coach              $1305

Domenic Marcone                           Head Golf Coach                                  $2278

Jacque Faulise                                  Head Boys Tennis Coach                   $2808

Tim O’Neil                                         Asst. Boys Tennis Coach                  $2212

Keving Harrington                           Head Girls Volleyball Coach               $3113

Brian Garrepy                                    Asst. Girls Volleyball Coach              $2186

Jason Shabo                                     Spring Weight Training Coach          $3338

Matt Largess                                    Head Sailing Coach                             $2278

John Holmes                                     Head Boys Lacrosse Coach               $3113

Chris Callahan                                  Asst. Boys Lacrosse Coach               $2384

Brian Trapani                                    Asst. Boys Lacrosse Coach               $2384

Wendy Anderson                                            Head Girls Lacrosse Coach                $3338

Kristine Graham                                                Asst. Girls Lacrosse Coach                $2384

Keith Higgins                                   Asst. Girls Lacrosse Coach                $2186

 

Wickford Middle School

 

Christopher Wilson                         Head Baseball Coach                          $1988

Raymond Tanguay                          Head Softball Coach                            $2411

 

                           

 

 

 

 

Davisville Middle School

 

Bill Donnelly                                     Head Baseball Coach                          $2186

Kerrie Mazur                                     Head Softball Coach                            $1988

 

5.              Approval of Increase in Salary Indexes for Non-Unit Personnel, effective January 1, 2004:

 

·         Maureen Buck, Controller     

1.0 Index                            Salary $60,875

·         Deborah B. Gardiner, Admin. Asst.     

0.67 Index                          Salary $40,137

·         Nancy Scheib, Payroll Supervisor

0.80 Index                          Salary $48,700

·         Lewis Cahoone, Plant & Grounds Supervisor

                                                                                1.0 Index                                Salary $63,767

 

6.              Approval of Advanced Degree Increment Awards (effective for ½ of the 2003/2004 school year only) – budgeted per NEA/NK Contract.

 

a)             Patricia Jutras, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Wickford Elementary School, Bachelor’s + 15 credits, total annual increment of $994.

 

b)             Christine Benedict, 1.0 FTE Special Education at Fishing Cove School, Bachelor’s + 15 credits, total annual increment $994.

 

c)             Christine Keefe, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Stony Lane Elementary School, Bachelor’s + 15 credits, total annual increment of $994.

 

d)             David Cesaro, 1.0 FTE Mathematic Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Bachelor’s + 30 credits, total annual increment of $1563.

 

e)             Barbara Thompson, 1.0 FTE Family & Consumer Science Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Bachelor’s + 30 credits, total annual increment of $1563.

 

f)              Carolyn Coppolino, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Davisville Middle School , Bachelor’s + 30 credits, total annual increment of $1563.

 

 

g)             Kenneth Duva, 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher at Quidnessett Elementary School, Bachelor’s + 30 credits, total annual increment of $1563

 

h)             Liz Parvo, 1.0 FTE Science Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Master’s Degree, total annual increment of $2702.

 

i)               Jo-Ann Walsh, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Quidnessett Elementary School, Master’s Degree, total annual increment of $2702.

 

j)               Caroline Monti, 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher at Fishing Cove School, Master’s Degree, total annual increment of $2702.

 

k)             Kimberly Ramos, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Davisville Elementary School, Master’s + 15 credits, total annual increment of $3125.

 

l)               Marea Rice, 1.0 FTE Itinerant Reading Teacher, Master’s + 15 credits, total annual increment of $3125.

 

m)            Rachel Santa, 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Master’s + 15 credits, total annual increment of $3125.

 

n)             Donna Fraser, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, Master’s + 15 credits, total annual increment of $3125.

 

o)             John Daneau, 1.0 FTE Science Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Master’s + 30 credits, total annual increment of $3551.

 

p)             Matthew Lyons, 1.0 FTE Social Studies Teacher at the North Kingstown High School, Master’s + 30 credits, total annual increment of $3551.

 

q)             Judith Bodzioch-Wooler, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary School, Master’s + 30 credits, total annual increment of $3551.

 

r)              Sheila McGraw, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Davisville Middle School, Master’s + 30 credits, total annual increment of $3551.

 

7.              Approval, Unpaid Leave of Absence, Certificated Staff:

 

a)             Sandra Makielski, 1.0 FTE Social Studies Teacher at Davisville Middle, unpaid leave of absence for the 2004/2005 school year.

 

b)             Susan Alexander, 1.0 FTE Elementary Teacher at Hamilton Elementary Teacher, unpaid leave of absence for the 2004/2005 school year.

 

8.              Retirements, Certificated Staff:

 

a)             Ann Lavoie, 1.0 FTE Itinerant Reading for the North Kingstown School Department, effective at the end of the 2003/2004 school year.

 

9.              Resignation, Non-Certificated Staff:

 

a)             Cheryl VanLuven, Food Service Worker at the North Kingstown High School, 3 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 15 hours per week, effective March 19, 2004.

 

b)             Linda Williams, Special Education Paraprofessional at Stony Lane Elementary School, 6 hours per day, 5 days a week for a total of 30 hours per week, effective April 9, 2004.

 

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

 

 

I.      Unfinished Business

 

A.          2005 School Committee Meetings Calendar

·         After reviewing the amendments made to the month of November, the committee agreed to the calendar, and Kevin Mulvey motioned to accept the School Committee Meetings Calendar for 2005 with a second by Carol Hueston.  This motion received a unanimous vote.

 

B.       Policies:

 

1.        NSBA #JICD.2 Prevention of Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying (Appendix B)

a)       This is a second reading of this policy and per Kevin Mulvey is almost verbatim what the state dictates the policy has to say, and must be in place by June 2004.

b)       Mr. Mudge questioned if there were any reports of bullying. Denise Coppa denied this discussion to take place because that topic is not on the agenda and she would like the public to have the opportunity to speak.

c)       Carol Hueston moved to accept the policy in order to begin the discussion.  Barry Martasian seconded the motion.

d)       Mr. Mudge dislikes having the staff “commit” to carrying out the policy as it is described in the Philosophy section of the policy and suggests that it be substituted with another word such as “direct.”

e)       Mr. Mudge questioned the definition of “bullying” and asked if the school department’s lawyer had an opportunity to look this policy over.

f)        Kevin Mulvey stated that as the wording came directly from the state, he had no problem accepting it.

g)       Mr. Mudge also asked for the definition of “immediately adjacent to the school’s property”.  The committee did not assign an exact number of feet to this description as they were aware that a bright child would figure out how far away from school property he/she should be to begin bullying.

h)       Mr. Mudge has concerns with paragraph four which states that the victim has the right, by federal law, to request a transfer to another school if he/she is uncomfortable continuing in their school.  Mr. Mudge would prefer that the perpetrator be transferred.

i)         Vote on the acceptance of the policy: 4 in favor, and Bill Mudge opposed with objections.

j)         Kevin Mulvey responded to Mr. Mudge’s stated objections by raising a point of order asserting that Mr. Mudge had clearly pointed out his objections to this policy during the discussion.

k)       Denise Coppa agreed and asked that Mr. Mudge’s stated objections be stricken from the record, which has been done.

l)         Ray Spear weighed in on the final argument stating that this policy was based on guidelines written by a committee formed by the RI Department of Education by order of the State Legislature.  It was given to all local school districts, and RIDE’s legal counsel has reviewed it.

 

2.        #JICD.1 Sexual Harassment Involving Students (Appendix C)

a)       Kevin Mulvey motioned to accept the policy with a second by Carol Hueston.

b)       Mr. Mudge questioned what precipitated the writing of the policy; is the district having a series of harassment problems?

c)       According to Ray Spear and Denise Coppa it is simply a policy update.

d)       Mr. Mudge questioned page 3, paragraph 5 with concerns about staff, and “assigning teachers certain responsibilities”.

e)       Mr. Daly responded that there is training involved for all staff members from teachers through administrators.

f)        Mr. Mudge stated that he feels that all of the policies should be put on the website.

g)       Carol Hueston made a point of order that this is not the topic of discussion.

h)       Mr. Mudge made a motion that he would like to see all of the policies on the School Committee website.  This motion did not receive a second.

i)         The vote to accept policy #JICD.1 was 4 in favor; Bill Mudge abstaining.

 

 

 

 

3.        #JICD.1-R Regulation for Sexual Harassment Involving Students (Appendix D)

·         Kevin Mulvey motioned to accept the regulations; Carol Hueston seconded the motion.  The vote to accept the regulations was 4 in favor; Bill Mudge abstained.

         

C.       School Modernization Implementation

 

·         Joe Quinn stated that the School Modernization Advisory Committee, chaired by Dave Burnham, has been meeting regularly, and is scheduled to give their presentation, along with Glenn Stinson, to the School Committee at the next Worksession.

 

D.      2004-05 School Budget

 

1.        Dr. McGregor informed the committee that if the Town Council cut the school budget as proposed to the tune of $750,000.00 that Dr. Halley has stated that there will be a substantial impact on programs and positions throughout the district.  He urged the community to attend the Town Council meeting to be held on Thursday, April 22, at 7:30 at Wickford Middle School.

2.        Mr. Mudge stated that he had a couple of emails questioning if football might be cut.  He also feels that the schools’ list serves should not be used by Dr. Halley in seeking parental support for the school budget.

3.        Dr. Coppa defended Dr. Halley’s use of the school department’s web system in this manner, stating that he is “doing his job. He is rallying his forces.  He has put everyone on notice that we are going to have to make cuts.”  She also urged everyone to come out to the Town Council meeting, stating that it was the first time she could remember the school department having to absorb such cuts.

 

E.       2003-04 School Budget

1.        Mr. Mudge stated that he requested information regarding special education expenditures, but he has not received it.

2.        Committee members, Joe Quinn and Maureen Buck advised him that these items are in the budget and they believed that was how the question was resolved when he originally asked.

3.        Mr. Quinn and Mrs. Buck guided Mr. Mudge in how to best determine the totals he is looking for within the budget.

 

F.       2003-04 School Committee Goals and Objectives

·         The KeyWorks meeting scheduled for May 19, 2004 has been replaced with the next School Committee Worksession.  The next KeyWorks meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2004.

 

II.      New Business

 

·         There were no items, no discussion, nor action taken.

 

III.      Reports

 

A.      Enrollments

1.        Mr. Mudge asked that a line item be added at the bottom of the report to indicate the number of Jamestown students, and columns to show how many students are in which grades.

2.        Maureen Buck stated that they are already listed that way in the tuition report.

3.        Dr. Coppa said that she did not see the need for this information to be separately listed on the enrollment report since the committee does receive the information.  She asked if there was any support from the committee for the enrollment report to be changed in that manner.  She did not receive a consensus.

4.        Maureen Buck stated that she would obtain the information for Mr. Mudge.

 

B.       Standing Committee Reports

 

·         There were no items, no discussion, nor action taken.

 

C.       Ad hoc Committee Reports

·         Denise Coppa mentioned that the School Committee had received minutes from the School Modernization Committee, dated March 23, 2004, and they are appended to these minutes.  (Appendix E)

 

IV.      Citizen Comments

 

A.      Barry Martasian stated that he was disappointed that Eric Seabury has not been able to make his presentation to this committee.  “I would like the School Committee to be able to communicate to the Asset Management Commission through Mr. Seabury.”

B.       Mr. Mudge stated that Mr. Seabury has served quite well on the Asset Management Commission, and he “has not been given any information with respect to our projects.”

C.       Carol Hueston mentioned how “proud we all are and what an honor it is” to have Kathy Mellor, the National Teacher of the Year, as a member of our school department.

D.      Korrine Erickson also stood up and cheered in honor of Kathy Mellor.

 

V.      Adjourn

 

  • Motion to adjourn was made by Carol Hueston and seconded by Kevin Mulvey at 9:00 pm, cc: 1:47:21:29.  There were no home schooling, negotiations, or personnel matters for School Committee members to attend to, and therefore they did not adjourn to Executive Session.

 

 

                                                                                               

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                                                _______________________________________

                                                                                                Konnie M. Mazur

                                                                                                School Committee Secretary

                                                          Approved 5/26/2004